Handicapped Parking Permit Reforms Needed
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Is everything kosher with the handicapped parking system?
I never park in the handicapped-marked spaces, even if I have to park in the north forty. I’ve had disabled friends and could not imagine taking their close spot so my healthy legs could save a mere minute of walking.
However, we see people all the time who do park in handicapped spots. I’ve heard their excuses (nobody uses them, the handicapped don’t want special treatment) but they are just excuses for being a crude person. I think taking a handicapped parking spot is as low as kicking the crutches out from someone or jamming a stick into a wheelchair’s spokes. It is just as mean.
I also hate seeing the folks (almost always at Wal-Mart) who double park near the entrance. They are illegally parked, not in any space, their exhaust fills the entrance area and enters the store, because they are too lazy to park and walk inside to shop. We know their excuse is that they are only going to be a minute, but I’ve observed several times when I enter and leave a store while the same car is idling outside the front doors. I wish our police would patrol Wal-Mart more often to ticket these violators, since local Wal-Mart management and employees seem unwilling to address the problem.
The worst offense in the entire handicapped parking system must be healthy folks carrying handicapped placards. You know when a car parks in a handicapped spot, the handicapped placard hangs from their mirror, and yet the driver jumps out and sprints into the store? Or how about when you see a person park in the handicapped spot, then hang up their handicapped placard before running into the store (I witnessed a local tire store truck do this). Don’t you wonder why that person has a handicapped placard? Did they get the placard from a short-term injury and they still milk the benefits? Do they have a family member who earned the placard, but they unfairly milk the benefits when the disabled person is not a passenger?
How can we crack down on these problems? I think stores can first help by posting signs that directly ask people not to park in the handicapped spots if they are able to walk a few extra yards. I think better signage could help deter some of these thieves more than the current passive blue markers.
What is the penalty for parking illegally in a handicapped spot? The last I heard was $75, any verification on that? Imagine if the statute were amended to split the fine with ordinary citizens who video record a healthy person parking in these spots? Many folks have video cell phones in hand today, and many teenagers are hanging around parking lots with nothing to do. Imagine how many of those idle teenagers would scope out the handicapped spots and video record healthy folks violating the law if they could earn $35 each violation? How many violators are there in each big box retail lot every hour? Teens could probably earn $100 an hour doing this work.
The police cannot be everywhere in our city at once, and cannot race to a parking lot in time to write a ticket. The quick video evidence should be enough to justify a ticket. The cop writing the ticket could instruct the reporter to email the captured video to a generic police source for record keeping. I believe we would quickly see local teenagers working for the public good, earning some honest money, and handicapped parking offenses would drop.
What are the hurdles for getting a handicapped parking tag? I’ve heard that doctors will give a handicapped placard for minor ailments if asked, and these handicapped placards do not expire. Perhaps temporary handicapped tags can be issued, for up to one month, bearing a bright yellow color and with the expiration date clearly printed on them.
We should also make these handicapped placards expire, give them colored registration stickers that are easily viewable from a distance (such as with license plates), and have them expire each year. Force these people to re-certify if they still deserve the handicapped placard, and I think we will see a sharp reduction in handicapped parking fraud.
What do you think?
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Comments
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0 
0 Joe,
You have made some great points with this article. But, to often people assume things about a situation without seeing the whole picture. Having a sister in law who is a paraplegic I have often parked in a handicapped space and ran into the store to help her out with her wheelchair - especially in the snow. I also know that due to broken femur that even though I don’t look like a person with a disability that there are times when a long walk into the store is more than I can take. No, I don’t use a handicapped parking pass but there have been times when I wished I had one! On the other hand, I do get angry when people who seem perfectly capable use the spaces because it is darn hard to get a person in a wheelchair out of the car in a regular space as they need more room. Personally, I think more education at a young age is the key. Generally if you teach children to respect those persons with disabilities and they will carry this concern with them throughout their lives. I really don’t see handicapped parking as a major issue that requires valuable time and energy by law enforcement. I prefer to have them concentrate on real crimes!
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0 0 That’s a great point Westernmom, about not knowing the person’s circumstances. I definitely don’t want to prevent people who legitimately need those spots from getting them. I just think there is too much abuse in the current system, and no way of telling who is abusing the system.
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0 0 Nine out of ten times, it’s never somebody that’s actually “handicapped” parking in these spots, but fat lazy and obese people that got that way by NOT walking! I’m so sick of these overweight people that whine and complain that they have health issues and that’s why their fat. NO….your fat because you eat too much and you don’t bother to get up off the couch. THAT’s what caused your health problems.
Then you see them puttering around WalMart in those little electric scooters because, once again, their too lazy to walk!
I think they need to stop giving these handicapped placards to people just because their overweight. If anything THEY should be the ones made to park in the north 40!
Oh I’m sure I’ll hear all about how insensitive I am regarding this subject. But bring it on. The truth hurts doesn’t it? We all need to stop dismissing this issue like its not an epedemic. People are so afraid to talk about it for fear of hurting someones feelings. I say who cares? If it hurts your feelings than do something about it!
I’m willing to bet the amount of handicapped placards being issued would drop by 75% if they stop giving them out to overweight/obese people.
but that’s just my opinion!
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0 0 007,
We finally agree on something - kinda’. I too get disgusted while watching overweight people riding around in the stores and think if they would get up and walk they would lose some weight! But, overeating is an addiction like all of the others. It requires lifestyle changes that many aren’t willing to make. I guess instead of being disgusted we need to pity these people.
I had alway been very slim and didn’t believe that a person couldn’t lose weight if they really wanted. But, turning 50 and lifestyle changes made me realize that losing weight is darn hard to do!!!
Again, it really comes down to walking a mile in their shoes…
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0 0 Anyone that’s seen the show “Biggest Loser” can tell you these obese people CAN loose the weight. This show has proven it over and over for the past 4-5 years. No, I don’t pity these people. They let themselves get to that point by eating fast food and sitting on the couch all night.
As an American I’m ashamed and embarrassed! We are the only country in the world in which 2/3’s of our population is considered obese. That’s sad AND it’s disgusting!
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0 0 As a member of the “wheeled society” (paraplegic for 20+ years) I’ve witnessed good and bad things about handicapped parking.
The good: There are a lot more disabled parking stalls that there were 20 years ago when I was hurt. There were very few curb cuts, I had to learn to jump my chair up and over sidewalks. Now they are just about everywhere. There were very few accessible bathroom stalls in public restrooms, or those that were labeled as such were really too small to get a chair into. many businesses had stairs or steps to get into their shops. Since the ADA, most of these issues have disappeared. Which brings me to the bad.
The Bad: The ADA. It has been a double edged sword. While it regulated and proscribed needed changes, it has also created an entitlement class that wasn’t needed. But I digress. On with the bad list. Rules for qualifying for a handicapped parking permit are left up to a doctor and $25 bucks for a “blue” placard, or a freely issued temporary (they have them Joe and they are Red) placard. IMHO, there needs to be a 2nd opinion from a second doctor or a doctor and a physical therapist combo signature/witness to qualify for a disabled permit. These permits should be issued for 5 years max, then re-evaluated. No exceptions. Next, the pitiful fine of $75 bucks should be increased to $200 and allow business owners to issue violators a ticket. If it’s not written into the law already, add the stipulation that the owner of said parking permit must be in the vehicle when it is used. I realize that LEOs have more important things to be doing that parking violations, but if the law isn’t going to be enforced, why have it? Doesn’t IF have a parking enforcement division that could spread out from downtown?
Lastly, I have seen many gross violations over the years, and I remember one occasion where a young man and his friends wheeled into a parking stall, whipped out a blue placard and then he and his buddies SPRINTED into WalMart. I stuck around and confronted him after he came out of the store. He “claimed” to have a disease I had never heard of but the name sounded real impressive as I recall. This disease that he had would leave him ambulatory impaired on some days and other days he felt just fine and how dare I question his right to have a handicapped parking permit. So, you never know why they might qualify for one. I guess we just assume that it’s a mental disability if no physical disability is evident.
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0 0 Joe,
Thanks so much for bringing up this topic. My wife has MS and is now in a wheelchair. Years prior to her being in a chair she would refuse to get a handicap sticker and would never park in those spots, she said they were reserved with people that truly need them. She said the extra steps would help her out and give her excercise that she needs.
Today things are different and I am amazaed at the people who use these spots. I have a whole new appreciation for these spots now and truly need the space to load and unload my wife’s chair. I have to be honest though, when I see someone parked illegally in these spots I will call the police and they will respond and ticket the vehicles or have them towed.
I attended a track meet at Thunder Stadium last spring and all five spots near the gate were reserved for handicapped and not a single car had the blue handicapped window hangers or license plate. The problem about parking some where else in this parking lot is the gravel and it makes it difficult to drive across for a wheel chair. The county police officer that responded actually had them announce the car plates over the PA system and told them they had five minutes to remove their cars or they would be ticketed and towed. They were removed from the spots with a verbal warning by the sheriff’s office. The interesting thing is I expected it to be teenage drivers and they weren’t, they were adults that wanted a closer parking space.
Thanks for bringing this to the attention of the drivers out there. These spaces truly serve a purpose for individuals that have physical challenges in their lives. We appreciate those who are truly considerate.
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0 0 Wow, Westernmom that was a little harsh about overweight people using the store scooter’s to get around. I myself am extremely over weight, but I don’t use the scooter and I have yet to see the pounds melt off. Next time that you see overweight people using a scooter consider these issues. This person may be arthritic and mobility is a challenge. This person may have MS and have a hard time walking due to lose of balance or nerve damage. There could be any number of other medical reasons. Please don’t judge the book by the cover. What really grinds my gears is when you see a group of healthy and energetic teenagers riding around the store like it is their own personal go cart.
Lastly, don’t equate being overweight with over-eating. While it might be true for some, it is not true for others. There are all kinds or medical conditions that will cause a person to become overweight.
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0 0 Whatever Mohawk! There’s always an “excuse” regarding your weight isn’t there? That’s so typical!
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0 0 Oh, I am SO on this issue!
I used to be skinny. Then I started gaining weight, but I was still very ambulatory. I used to be so disgusted at seemingly healthy and ambulatory folks parking in handicapped spaces. I’d even make snide comments, such as “It must be mental” within the range of their hearing.
I got put in my place at the courthouse one day after saying my “mental” comment. The young woman said she was there to pick up her dad, who was on crutches (and yes, she had the tags). Now, I didn’t hang around to see if that was true, but I was ashamed and embarrassed that I’d been making a judgement and assumption without knowing all the facts. It got me to thinking, and although I’ve seen those situations since, I refrain from saying anything publicly. (I have to admit I still privately speculate…)
Now. On the obese folks riding the scooters at WalMart. I happen to be one of them. Just accost me any day you see me and tell me to get my fat ass out of that chair and walk around, a little. I’ll just hike up my floor length skirt and show you my legs…
I have ankles that are 20″ around at the base, and my feet are so swollen that I can’t even get shoes on them anymore (only bedroom slippers.)
I have a condition called bilateral lymphedema, and my legs/feet started swelling up about 11 years ago, and there’s nothing I can do about it except suffer the indignity of being barely able to walk. In fact, about 4 years ago the swelling got so bad that I could no longer wear pants (hence the floor length skirt.)
Perhaps you’ve seen me about town (very few people wear floor length skirts all the time). I’m short and fat, and I’m getting fatter.
Because I eat too much? Well, it’s probably true that I eat more calories than my body uses, as the swelling gets more and more terrible, I slow down and do less and less movement due to the extreme pain. It hurts just to walk.
But I don’t do pain pills. I also continue my employment at a desk job. It wasn’t until last spring that I broke down and got a handicap tag for my car. And then last fall I broke down and started using those damned riding carts.
I’m not asking for sympathy. I’m not asking for understanding. But it’s really easy to assume you know what lazy good for nothing bums us fat people are who use handicap tags and ride the scooters.
And you know the most terrible part? I still think the same thing, when I see some OTHER fatty riding the scooters. So I’m just as bad as the rest of you even though I should know better.
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0 0 007 Your ignorance and judgmental attitude are exceeded only by your nastiness
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0 0 Why is that? Because I speak the truth? Often times the truth hurts, and I personally think more people should speak out about this epidemic that has plagued our nation over the last decade or so. Sure their may be some people (and I emphasize SOME) that have a ligitemate problem with their weight, such as Nemesis, and for those people I DO sympathize with. However, you and I both know 9 out of 10 people that ARE obese, it IS because of their lack of excercise and their gluttoney. This country has become a lazy “fast food” nation and it makes me sick. I for one and not afraid to speak out and tell you how I feel about this issue. It’s high time more people did the same. I see it time and time again at every job I’ve ever held, fat lazy people who complain all the time, call in sick, take the elevator up one flight because their too lazy to take the stairs and drive around for 20 minutes looking for the closest parking spot everywhere they go. These same people moan and complain about how difficult it is to lose weight, blaming it on medical conditions or thyroid issues and every other thing they can come up with. When most need only to stop stuffing their faces with junk and processed food, and do some moderate excercise throughout the week.
So if you want to call me ignorant and judgemental, go right ahead. Keep ignoring your problem, I for one don’t feel sorry for you. You put yourself in this predicament and it didn’t happen overnight. You continued to stuff your face and sit on the couch and buy larger and larger clothes, not caring about your health, your appearance, or the impact on not only yourself but your friends and family. What really bothers me is seeing whole family’s that are obese. You see it everyday at Wal-Mart where the parents are overweight, and you look down and see the children are well on their way to having the same weight problems. It’s a fact that the majority of overweight people have overweight children and I for one think it’s child abuse! Next time you’re in Wal-Mart or Fred Meyers or wherever you shop for groceries, look in their shopping cart and you’ll see exactly where the problem lies. They pack their carts with chips and soda and cookies and processed foods, no fruits and vegetables and they wonder what the problem could be. Its really quite pathetic. And then they have the nerve to tell me and the rest of the world, they have a “medical problem”.
If you haven’t watched the show “Biggest Loser”, I would encourage everyone to check it out. Our family isn’t overweight, but we enjoy watching these people get control of and transform their lives. It really is quite amazing AND inspiring. For years they’ve been turning peoples lives around, or rather giving them their lives back. The same people that moan and groan and cry about so called “medical problems” and want to give up 2 days after their there, are the same ones that end up losing 100+ pounds within 6 months. And all it took was a little excercise and a change of diet. It’s not rocket science people.
So feel free to call me insensitive and ignorant. It may not embarrass you, but it embarrasses me as an American to know that the rest of the world thinks we’re a bunch of spoiled, fat, lazy, people who think we own the world. I’ve travelled to other parts of the world and have heard the whispers behind my back. I’ve been to France (where I might add, I was told to my face by this seemingly nice couple when they found out I was American, that all Americans are rude, lazy & arrogant! And a few choice words in French that I didn’t understand!) I’ve been to Rome, Amsterdam, Germany and our closest neighbors Canada and Mexico. NONE of these places have the weight issues that our country has. NONE.
It’s time people started talking about this issue and taking action. Instead of making broken promises to ourselves and New Years resolutions that only get broken 2 months down the road. It’s about a lifestyle change, not a “diet”. Diets don’t work! Unless you change your eating habits completely and start getting outside and becoming active, nothing will ever change. As a society, we need to take back what’s ours. We need to boycott any restaraunt that has a “drive in”, and get control of not only our lives, but our country. This is an epidemic that needs to be stopped now before we continue to spiral out of control. Deaths in America related to obesity are second only to smoking and the Center for Disease Control claims it will soon surpass smoking as the leading cause of death.
You may not agree with me, but you know deep down that I’m right and that something needs to be done about this epidemic NOW. We need to stop sweeping the issue under the rug for fear of “hurting somebody’s feelings”. We need to stop being such “cry-babys” and wake up and realize this is an important issue that needs to be addressed.
Have a great day!
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0 0 I get really sick of when people have a handicap sticker for a family member and abuse the privledges when the family member is not in the car. They say parking farther away in a parking lot could actually help you lose weight after a time, right? OK Idahoans… no… Americans in general:: Cut the laziness, let the handicap people have the parking spots they NEED and lets try to make ourselves anything BUT the most obese country in the nation?
And actually, some handicap people DO need it. I know a man, he was a smoker for a long time, he quit when his lungs basically shut down on him. Down he gets short of breath just walking from the handicap spot to the door. Can you imagine if the closest spot was at the back of the lot? He could pass out or die, seriously! So yes, a simple thing like parking in a handicap could be a life or death decision, which will you pick?
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0 0 Yes, obesity is a serious health problem, but people struggling with it are not helped by condescending attitudes. How about this? Let’s let the overweight work on losing those extra pounds and YOU work on losing that arrogance and that superiority complex. Chances are they’ll have a much easier time of it.
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0 0 The above comment was addressed to 007 and not music girl
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0 0 I agree that obesity is a problem, and that diets alone typically do not work (they didn’t for me). Exercise is the key, and healthy eating habits (and no, none of my children are obese, or my grandchildren).
The subject was handicapped parking spaces and abuse of them. It’s almost impossible to really know if someone truly “deserves” to have the sticker/plates. I am as judgmental as anyone else out there, even though I have and occasionally use, the tags when my legs are killing me.
So, it seems that almost anyone can get them (and what doctor will tell you ‘no’ and lose your business?) so maybe some reform is needed in what kinds of conditions qualify for the tags.
The abuse of the tags by healthy family members, I think that’s a big problem. But again, I don’t know the answer.
Joe suggested sending out parking monitors to take pictures of abuse. I’m thinking that would be great, but I’m also betting that the retail establishments would not like to have their customers scared off by potential fines…so it’d probably only work in public parking areas (library, state office building, city streets, etc.)
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0 0 5861:: first, thank you for not yelling at me, heh heh, I got nervous when you said that. For one, I think its AWESOME that you’re willing to say “You know what, whether its right or not, I do it.” However, after reading what you write, I think that your condition is acceptable. I think we’re all talking about the people who are skinny little 30 year old girls who are just too darn lazy, or even worse, ignorant teenagers (Yes, I’m 18, and I absolutely HATE teenagers… probably why I don’t have friends, i’ll get over it). I’m not talking about the people who are questionable or even the people who may need it every once in a while. The people who piss me off are the ones who look like freaking body builders and you see NO sticker (or a sticker for a family member) and they park there! Sorry but that one REALLY makes me angry!
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0 0 You calling me arrogant has nothing to do with the fact that the majority of our nation is obese. So sorry to hurt your feelings, but get over it. I’m entitled to my opinion just as you are. And the only people that will get offended to what I wrote or won’t agree with what I posted, are the ones that have the problem themselves.
Best of luck to you in 08!
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0 0 Guest_007 says: Whatever Mohawk! There’s always an “excuse” regarding your weight isn’t there? That’s so typical!
I’m not excusing my obesity or anybody else’s, I was simply pointing out that some overweight people have very real reasons for their usage of scooters provided by business’s around town. I am well aware why I am the way I am. I make no excuses for it. My issue was with making a snap judgment about a person solely based on their size. Nuff said.
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Music_Girl: I agree with you about family members that abuse the tags that hang in a family car. Nothing made me more mad than trying to find a parking space at ISU, only to watch one of my classmates pull into a handicap spot because one of his family members had handicap tags.
l8r
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0 0 007 You are right, you have a right to your opinion. I also have a right to mine - which is that you could use a little more compassion and tolerance.
Two of my family members have struggled with weight issues for years. One has a medically diagnosed metabolic disorder and must drop below 900 calories a day to loose weight, near starvation. The other has a muscular disease which makes it impossible for him to exercise. No one demographic group in today’s society is looked down on more than the overweight. They are riduculed, shunned and discredited. Do you think they really choose, or want to be that way?
If you’ve kept up on recent medical news you must know that a “fat gene” has recently been identified which makes the battle of the bulge terribly difficult. I wonder if future research will show that with some individuals, their weight is as genetically programmed as their height, although no one should use that as an excuse for avoiding what they can and should do to keep healthy.
I realize that there are plenty of people out there who are gluttenous, irresponsible and reckless with their health. But there are others who do not deserve such harsh judgement. Since we don’t know who is who, let’s reserve judgement.
Since this is supposed to be a discussion on handicapped parking, I will not post on this issue again. But this is where the subject was brought up and I wanted to respond.
Actually, 007, I’ve always enjoyed reading your posts - just didn’t agree with you on this one. You have a happy new year too!
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0 0 I thought it was time I “weigh in” on the issue! 
I think 007 is right regarding the weight issue and it does have alot to do with the original handicapp parking post. I think what 007 was trying to get at, was that the majority of abused hadicapped tags are given to overweight people merely because their overweight, as oppossed to other medical issues. Then of course you’ll see the seemingly healthy folks that park their because their either driving the relatives car or use their tag improperly.
I for one do keep up on medical issues and I’m not entirely convinced of this so called “fat gene”. It’s certainly isn’t “genetically programmed” as some would believe. Otherwise we would have seen this problem throughout history, instead of just the past 20 or so years.
Many obese people that have medical problems, have them because of their obesity and once the excess weight is lost, these problems dissapear. I know first hand as I’ve had a couple of obese relatives that had numererous medical issues. They both lost the weight, one by getting her stomach stapeled, and the other by just hard work and change of diet. Once the weight was lost, so was the diabetes, arthritis, heart problems, etc etc.
I also believe that way too many people use their “medical issues” as an excuse for their weight problems. Not to say there aren’t exceptions like the previous poster noted, but these exceptions are extremely rare. I also believe that overeating is an “addiction” just like alcohol or drugs. However, this is usually due to much deeper issues within the individual.
It’s ashame that our society looks down on such people, but they also look down on alcoholics and drug addicts. I believe the reason they are looked down upon, is because it’s an issue that CAN be solved, IF the person wants the help and actually puts forth the effort to change their lives. Its sad that so many obese people in our society just don’t care enough about themselves to want to change.
So regarding the handicapped tag issue, aside from your occasional healthy person pulling into these spaces to run into the store for a few minutes, I believe the weight issue is a huge factor in the abuse of these parking spaces and hadicapped tags themselves. And until our doctors stop handing these tags out to every obese person with bad knees, I don’t see the problem going away anytime soon. imo
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0 0 Interesting talk on this topic.
Okay, I accidentally parked in a disabled spot last night outside of Blue Hashi because there is so much ice I didn’t see the paint on the asphalt. Lucky for the person who might have needed that spot - my partner did see a faint edge of blue and said “Hey kym you’d better move, you’re in a handicapped spot”, so I did.
My opinion - we need the poles and signs. Just having the sign painted on the asphalt and curb doesn’t cut it in the winter here.
As for obesity - I’m not obese. Eight years ago I weighed 103, now I weigh 160 (and I STRUGGLED my buttocks off losing those thirty pounds and finally gave it up so I can EAT and so therefore am likely to stay right here forevermore).
My thyroid died is what happened to me, and whilst I am not obese nor do I shop at Walmart, I AM one who knows that people can and do gain weight for freakish reasons which have nothing to do with food consumption. My consumption - organic, free range, hormone free, non-GMO, I am very much into whole foods, if the list of ingredients is more than three or four, I won’t buy the packaged product. Ask my friends, they’ll tell you - I’m a freaking food purist.
I eat very healthy - to put it mildly - AND due to my propensity toward easy weight gain, I also exercise 1.5 hours every day, yep, EVERY day, rain or snow - the only exception is when I’m down with the flu, which doesn’t happen often due to the fact that I eat such healthy food.
I AM overweight though.
And I think people who claim all overweight people overeat - are projecting their own insecurities. That is their problem, that’s how I see it, so it doesn’t faze me in the least but it DOES faze some who are sensitive to their own weight, so I don’t mind saying - to those of you who knock down overweight people as all being lazy - please stop it, it’s rude and it shows a certain level of ingrained ignorance on your part. In other words, it looks BAD on you, perhaps worse than extra weight looks on that person you’re picking on.
Peace in ‘08!
kym
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0 0 Just one more “excuse”….but I digress.
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0 0 Ditto….thyroid conditions, “metabolic disorders”, mystery genes……the reality is that if you take in more calories than you burn off in a day, you will gain weight. If you reverse this equation, you lose weight. End of subject.
Thyroid conditions are easily diagnosed and treatable but rarely account for substantial weight gain. I know; I come from a family of obese people and believe me, it is a lifestyle and a mindset…and a personal choice. Oftentimes people become seriously overweight and then claim, “well, I have this medical condition…” Usually, the medical condition FOLLOWS the weight gain, as your body cannot stay healthy carrying significant extra weight.
I am not being judgmental; I could stand to lose a few pounds (maybe 10) and I know how hard even that is. I also know that when I am being completely honest about every bite I CHOOSE to take and every bit of exercise I DON’T, I have made some real choices about my own health and I can’t blame anyone or anything else.
Ann Landers did a great piece on losing weight many years ago; it was in a New Year’s resolution column and her advice was something like: “You and only you are in control of every time you lift your fork to your mouth or sit down on the couch, remote in hand…” It is so true: we truly are in charge of our own destiny especially when it comes to our weight. I think that is what makes it so hard!
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0 0 Very well put Babs!
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0 0 If you honestly work out everyday for an hour & a half, and you eat right, you will not be overweight. Period. I don’t care what “condition” you think you have, it’s just not gonna happen.
Often times people trying to loose weight will reach a plateu (sp?) and even though their working out, the weight still won’t come off. In such a case, you need to change your workout routine to challange your body in other ways. The remaining weight will come off though, its just a matter of changing up your routine.
Back to the handicapped spots: do you think businesses should have the right to issue citations when somebody illegally parks in a hadicapped spot? I think so. Often times an officer won’t be around when the infraction occurs, which is why it happens as much as it does. People know they won’t get anything other than a dirty look or two.
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0 0 I’m just betting that businesses don’t do more for the handicapped parking abuse because those that are parking there are paying customers who would leave in a huff if they were targeted by the business, even legitimately…
I think the business would rather that the ‘court of public opinion’ does its dirty work for it…and then it can always point out to the folks with handicap tags that it provides these spaces for them, so…the business can make both sets of folks reasonably happy and not lose out.
It’s the city or municipality that has to take the lead here, it’s their laws that are being violated, so they need to enforce them. I just bet that the reason they don’t, is that the businesses don’t want any of their customers chased away…
Here’s another issue that’s mildly related to this one…did you know that the large white line area down toward the bottom of the tags (under the tag number) is a section of text that says “Do not display placard from mirror while vehicle is in motion” ??? True story. The handicap mirror tags are supposed to be removed from the mirror when the vehicle is moving. (Probably a vision blocking issue).
How many times do you see these dangling from the rear view while the vehicle is traveling down the road? Hundreds of times. Being unable to walk great distances to access the building does not mean you’re too stupid to follow the rules and remove your tag if you’re driving, does it? Oh, it’s inconvenient to move it? Too bad!
And before this comment sets off howls of outrage, remember that I have the handicap tags, myself. I used to take them off after I first got back in the car, but then I’d get the dirty looks as I was pulling out of the marked parking space…so I leave them on the mirror until I’m well into the driving lane of the parking lot, then I remove the tag and place it into the glove compartment.
It’s not too much to do, for the privilege of being able to access closer parking when I need to.
I also agree with the statement that the tags are often given due to obesity and strain on the knees…my inlaws got them for this very reason.
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0 0 LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!
“Thyroid conditions are easily diagnosed and treatable”.
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!
You are very much wrong on that. I gained NINETY POUNDS shilst simultaneously firing dr. after dr. who kept telling me “Your thyroid is fine - you’re eating too much”. I begged and pleaded for an antibody test and was told repeatedly “You don’t need that, you’re just trying to come up with an excuse for being overwright by choice.”
I went to a psychologist after a year of this - feeling quite suicidal.
Six drs. later - geeeeeeeeee what do you know, my antibodies were well over 2,000 (normal being around 40).
And guess what else? In the past eight years I’ve helped two dozen local Idaho Falls people correctly dx with high antibodies too - it’s pulling teeth from a lion to get a dr. to do it, but I know of ONE in the valley who will.
Oh yeah, and I lost thirty pounds my first month on the CORRECT thyroid pill (for a person with autoimmunity, which is NOT the thyroid pill most drs. offer to hypothyroid people).
You’re seriously misinformed to think certain diseases are “easy” to dx. Good God that shows a real lack of depth on your part.
Part of being in charge of our own body is KNOWING when something is “wrong” regardless of how many drs. and diet gurus tell you “golly gee, just eat less, exercise more, and you’ll lose wight - calories in and exercise out WILL lead to weight loss”.
It didn’t with me and I KNEW something was wrong. I am a red-haired mean cranky old broad who fought like mad to get a correct dx, and this was in the face of “professionals” telling me I had no problem. Imagine if you can possibly see beyond the end of your own nose a person who is not as red-haired cranky as me, who DOES take the professional opinion of a (often wrong) dr.
There you have it - a sad little person with too much weight, who gets depressed because it’s their own “fault” they are overweight.
Yeah, I was told that, dozens of times.
And it wasn’t true.
I was a twig, a year later I was obese - now I am pleasantly plumpish (just slightly) and NONE of it has ever been due to how much I ate. In fact, before my thyroid died it went hyperactive for a decade, which is why, incidentally, I could NEVER eat enough yet had a hell of a time keeping weiht ON.
Yeah, that’s my fault too, right?
Some of you guys are truly ignorant.
The world would be a better place if you’d self-educate instead of finger-point.
Peace in 08 - yes even for the most ignorant among us.
kym
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0 0 I agree with you Kym. Some people will always see weight gain however they want. I’m glad you have focused your efforts and energy on those who can benefit from your experiences. Others have undergone blood tests repeatedly, and unless the “magic one” shows the abnormality, usually little is done for the patient.
This thread is about disabled parking permits and I have a fair knowledge about them, both since I have two of them. And, because I have an MD colleague who urges family members of certain patients to obtain disabled parking permits, given their unique situations. It is ill-legal and a provision of having the disabled placard, that one not have it hanging while driving the vehicle.
I was kind of interested in the fact no one mentioned disabled license plates vs. just placards. Maybe ID doesn’t print license plates for those with permanent disabilities. I don’t know, and hope someone can enlighten me.
Kym, so you took some risks (mostly in your life, not here - although you did take risks here knowing someone would write off what you had to say), I want to absolutely back your words. I don’t want to be too technical here, so let’s just say this is a check and balance system in the glands. The thyroid has 3 measurements which should be a check and balance on their own, and a T-7 should measure them all. But seriously, how many doctors order a T-7?
Additionally, problems in the pituitary or sometimes even hypothalamus (or close lesions) can give false negative results as the endocrine system is far more complex than some may understand.
If diagnosing thyroid disease were easy for all patients and their physicians, there wouldn’t be such a large amount of literature on the Internet about differential diagnoses, treatments and even the names of doctors known to address the total thyroid.
Simply put, some of us always show the major thyroid test to be normal. The one not routinely run, a T-3, is the most reliable for me and thousands of others. Reliable enough the physician who found it sent me for a bioposy immediately, then a double dose of radiation to “kill my thyroid,” given all the nodules. Still, years later part had to be surgically removed.
I edited what I originally wrote here, not wishing to be too technical. Suffice it to say the thyroid requires more than one hormone to work correctly. Not all of us who receive the standard treatment are totally “treated” until we receive the second replacement medication.
So good for you, Kym, and others who have pressed on to find the right answer for you. Let me know if you aren’t connected with the national websites as a lot of info is available. Some people don’t even realize that thyroid disorders can present as what many would diagnose as mental illness. Thank goodness thyroid labs are run on every patient admitted to a psychiatric hospital, or at least that is that is the standard I was taught and know.
Since this thread is about disabled stickers, first I totally support the obesity gene discovery. Science allows us to advance different pieces of knowledge not when convenient, but when technology is available. Probably my favorite example is how the dialysis machine was invented.
Disabled parking stickers - yes as I mentioned earlier I have two. I didn’t even think about getting one for years. It took a non-medical friend asking me why I didn’t have one to even make me wonder why she would have asked that of me. After talking to a MD friend asking why my non-medical friend would have asked me about getting a disabled sticker, I was truly surprised at that answer. It was an abrupt reality for every MD I asked to say, “You don’t have one, how come? We thought you did. Get the paperwork NOW!”
Some of us tend to think in “abilities” not “disabilities.” I reluctantly got a disabled placard and finely realized how much of life I just had learned to live without. It wasn’t pride, it was simply not realizing how much I’d given up over years after such a delicate spinal surgery. I felt blessed to walk everyday, given what should have happened with my spinal cord. Consequently, I didn’t really understand how much I had stopped or changed in my life that simple parking sticker would allow me to do.
So count me in with saying I’m pro-disabled parking spaces. If I don’t need one, I don’t use a space. And because I refuse to show my back to all who question me, I’ve had some rather nasty things said to me. I always try to smile and say something appropriate for the situation.
The days I use my disabled placard, it’s evident to all why I have parked in a disabled space. I tend to believe people are mostly honest and want to help each other instead of ripping each other off.
While I’m not saying this works for everyone, I’ve learned for me the less I judge and the more I try to understand others, it is a better formula for me. I can’t see someone’s heart, lungs, possible cancer, spine, know when s/he left dialysis, post-op status etc. or disabled family member going in the store. I also can’t see who is at their breaking point emotionally and needs a kindness that day that perhaps no one else could give but me. Always, I benefit, if I’m wise enough to remember there is some reason someone else used that parking spot. Perhaps I’ll find out, or perhaps their ability to care for themselves or another will have a ripple effect in my life.
I appreciate the businesses that also designate parking for “almost moms,” so women close to their delivery date can park nearby. Many of those same businesses also have signs for a few parking spots for seniors.
Especially after reading Jay’s comments, as well as Kym’s, I wonder again why it is easier for us to doubt our relatives or fellow human beings, than try to understand them more? Those who want to judge always will. But, I sincerely hope a few more of us will try to understand others, or give science the benefit of the doubt. I would hope that AIDS and HIV would have taught us a few lessons about scientific knowledge when in discovery vs. what we know now.
Perhaps a few of us will even understand how truly those who have less have more.
Thanks to all for participating in this thread. I believe there are some really great comments in this thread and a chance for all of us, including me, to learn more about others. And this gives us the opportunity to highlight those in the community who do make a difference for others.
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0 0 What’s interesting is what the last two posters forgot to mention about thyroid malfuntions is that not ALL people that have thyroid issues are overweight. And many of us have personally known obese people to use the “thyroid issue” as an excuse. But more importantly, two of the main factors in controlling your thyroid malfuntion are excercise and eating healthy. And just because someone eats so called “organic”, doesn’t necessarily mean they eat healthy.
It’s definately a sensitive issue with some as nobody that is obese wants to believe it’s their fault they got that way. The fact that the majority of the people that I personally see use the handicapped spots are obese people. And I’m sure not all of them have “thyroid issues”.
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0 0 Anonymous,
I don’t recall mentioning weight at all in my thyroid discussion. If I did, please highlight it for me to clarify. I believe if you read carefully, I wrote that I edited what I originally wrote.
If you want to discuss the function of every gland in the endocrine system, please start a new thread, pick your gland of choice and I’ll be happy to post in that thread.
I did offer support to someone trying to help others learn locally about options. I’d do the same for someone trying to help others learn more about other diseases.
Since this thread is suppose to be about handicapped parking permits, I know many medical conditions, contrary to a person’s weight, all may be factors. I’m not sure patients receiving chemotherapy are all obese.
I do know most chemo or radiation patients are tired (and many other symptoms) after their treatments. Additionally, IF they are able to somehow enter a business after their chemo that day, I hope they can park as close as possible to the store. I also hope they receive superior customer service!
Your comments do allow me the opportunity to once again emphasize I try not to judge others, as I don’t know their total situation. I hope the same can be true for me. However, even if others form an opinion of me without knowing all the facts, I have no control over their way of seeing the world.
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0 0 Kym, no offense, but your first statements: “I went to dr. after dr….” immediately sends up some flags; if you want to argue one doctor is a quack, fine, but please don’t insult us all, especially where you are alleging that you had numerous tests and all were fine, that you saw dozens of doctors and THEY WERE ALL OUT TO GET YOU! Just doesn’t happen.
I am sorry that you are having problems. Thyroid tests are quite reliable and thyroid conditions are easily fixed with thyroxin.
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0 0 ps no one gains “90 lbs” from hypothyroidism. like I said above, only one person controls what and how much a person puts into their own mouth.
here is the info from the Merck manual re: hypothyroidism; note the use of the term “moderate weight gain”, which is usually attributable to water retention:
http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec12/ch152/ch152f.html?qt=hypothyroid&alt=sh
This article also details the treatment for hypothyroidism. Good luck!
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0 0 Good point Babs. I was going to respond but you know what, it’s not going to matter what anyone else says. And like Anonymous noted, overweight people are (& always will be) very sensitive (& very defensive) about their weight. I too thought it was odd that so many Dr.s were “out to get” this person. That just doesn’t happen. While I agree that there are those people that may seemingly appear healthy but use handicapp placards, or seemingly appear healthy and use the little electric scooters around the store, none of us really know whats truly going on.
With that being said, I can give my point of view regarding the obese people I know personally. I can name at least a dozen that are anywhere from 40 pounds overweight to over 140 lbs overweight, and every single one of them are otherwise healthy, except for there weight. Oh they claim they’ve got this issue and that issue and the whine and complain all the time about not being able to loose the weight. Yet there isn’t a single one of them that do any type of moderate or even light excersice throughout the day. And each one of them consume fast food or junk food on a daily basis. You may ask how I know this. Well I happen to work with 9 of them, and I’ve known them for many years, so I know them on a personal level. The other 4 are family members who I’ve seen pack on the pounds little by little over the years.
So while there MAY be the occasional person with a so called “medical issue” in regards to their weight gain. I’d have to agree with the 90% qoute that an earlier poster noted, that have no medical issue.
And for Ok4now, this has A LOT to do with hadicapp placards, as I personally know a half a dozen people who have them, specifically because they are obese and are too lazy to walk more than 30 ft to get in the front door. So lets not kid ourselves here.
As for the healthy people that are just “in a hurry” and “will only be a minute” I say SHAME ON YOU!
Personally I park way out in the back 40, mainly because I have a nice car that I don’t want getting dinged. But then again I’m lucky enough not to have any “medical issues” myself.
Take care & Happy New Year to all!
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0 0 Shame on YOU JoseCuervo, for being so harsh and insensitive! What is this world coming to? Can’t we all just love & accept each other as we are?
(as I break out singing my own rendition of “We Are The World”)
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0 0 Hey JoseCuervo, great post; I, too, park in the “back 40″ at all opportunities; good quick burst of exercise and it leaves the closer spots for the elderly and the moms with young kids (kind of a forgotten “disability”) as I will someday be elderly and I have been the mom with two toddlers and an infant in a carrier, trying to herd them safely through a parking lot. So, in my own way, I try to create spots that are more convenient for those groups.
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0 0 Well American obesity is a valid topic, and maybe we should have an article/discussion on that alone. I recommend watching “Supersize Me” for a perspective on obesity.
However, in this discussion I’d rather learn about the problems and solutions associated with handicapped parking.
I want people who need the spaces to be able to get them. That’s why it burns me up when I see folks who clearly do not need it using the spaces.
Maybe they do have family members who need the placard, and maybe someone is healthy one day and deathly sick the next day. But if at the moment they park at the store the driver and passengers are able to leap out of vehicle and run in, then they should not be allowed to park there.
Maybe if we added towing and impound penalties to this equation, there would be more deterrence than merely a ticket?
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0 0 Although I believe obesity has alot to do with the handicapped parking issue, I also think store owners/management should be allowed to issue these citations and have vehicles towed. When’s the last time any of us saw and officer giving a person a ticket for parking in one of these spots illegally? I cant say that I ever have. (at least not in Idaho) The fact is, police officers just don’t have the time or the manpower to patrol parking lots looking for these offenders. Even if somebody is parked there without a placard, they still can’t afford to sit there and wait for this person to finish shopping and come back out to their car, to give them a ticket.
So I believe giving the store owners/managers the authority to hand out tickets and/or have these vechicles towed is the only way we’re really going to
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I think insufficient signs are a real killer in many cases. I often see people parked on the expanded area next to a handicapped spot (which is just as important as the proximity) simply because the lines are invisible under snow cover. Some indication needs to exist other than just paint.