Day 13: Handicap Parking

Welcome to Day 13!!

Today I was scrolling down my Facebook page and someone posted this article HERE.   This article is about someone leaving a nasty note on a Veteran's vehicle, which has Disable Veteran plates.  This vehicle is parked in front of his apartment complex.  The Veteran leaves a letter that is not mean, but killing it with kindness to the nasty note person.  In this article, the Veteran states that in Texas, the disabled Veteran license plate does not need the handicapped placard displayed unless the vehicle is parked on Federal property.  He told the nasty note person to do your research before you leave a note.  He is so right.  Before you act, you need to do your research.  Each state is different I am thinking, but not sure.

I have been seeing more and more of this on Facebook or other sites.  I do not understand why people think it is their right to leave these nasty notes on someone's vehicle.  How can you tell if one person is disabled?  You can not.  Some people have what is known as invisible diseases.  My daughter and I are both disabled.  One of us you can see the disability with walking, but the other you can not.  

If you saw me parking in a handicap parking spot with my daughter, I would not get a note.  I would get looks because my daughter walks differently than kids her own age.  You can see her disability.  If you saw me parking in a handicap parking spot, I could get a note.  I do not look disabled, but I am.  What people don't think about is that I earned that placard.  I went through hell.  It hurts to sit, stand, walk, etc too long.  My daughter and I got our handicap placards the same way- through our doctors.  Our doctors signed off on it.  Doesn't people realize this?  Do they think I am using someone else's placard?  Why would I do that?  If I can walk more on a particular day, I am.  I do not use my placard, but it is there for days when I can not walk far.

My advice for those nasty note persons.  

1.  Think before you leave a note.  

So, you saw a person park in a handicap spot.  Think about what that person could have.  What if you were that person, would you want a nasty note?

2.  Are you really that mean?

For me, one who leaves a nasty note for whatever reason could live their lives more on the negative side then the positive side.  

3. Mind your own business.

If someone comes up to me and asks what is wrong with my daughter, I would happily tell you about HSP and what that means to my daughter.  But, if you come up to me and ask what my disability is, I am not sure if I would tell you.  

Melissa