Handicapped Parking Placard

[snubbyfan]

I went and did it. I renewed my handicapped placard.
I wasn't gonna but my bout with sciatica showed me how quickly I can lose leg strength.
About 6 years ago, when my degenerative peripheral motor nerve condition started, my doctor helped me with the paper work to get a placard. He also offered to help me with getting an electric wheelchair.
I got the placard but decided to pass on the wheelchair.
Instead, I made it a point to relearn to walk using the muscles that still work.
Took most of a year to accomplish and now I'm still on my feet.
I thought, "I don't need no steenkin' handicapped placard, that's for handicapped people, I can walk on my own two feet."

In March I had a bad bout of sciatica and spent most of a week laying on the floor. I was amazed by how much leg strength I lost. It was difficult just walking around the house.
When we'd go out for groceries, I could just make it to the store, then I'd sit and wait for my wife.
I was glad for the handicapped placard then.
It was like a reality check.
After a coupla months and lotsa work, I've pretty much got my leg strength back and I have renewal stickers for my handicapped placards.

 

[PPS1980]

Congratulations on the hard work of regaining and retaining your mobility!

 

[DeathGrip]

Snubby, You're the kind of guy that would rather walk so my bet is it wont get used unless needed.

With your condition I would recommend you keep it current and hope you don't need it anytime soon.

Keep on chooglin

 

[jeffsmith]

I don't Always Park in the HP spots
But when i NEED to, i'm Glad i have my Placard

 

[6518John]

Keep at it Wayne!

Wayne:

“There’s a storm inside of us, a burning river, a drive. You push yourself further than anyone could think possible. You are never out of the fight.”— Marcus Luttrell

 

[Whitwabit]

So glad you passed on the wheel chair .. doc's did the same with me .. told them no chair !!

Have the window placard too .. but only use it when I need too .. other times I walk same as everyone else .. but on days I can hardly get out of bed it sure comes in handy if I have to go out for some reason ..

But on days and weeks I feel ok I let some one else use the handicap parking spot that needs it much more that day then me !!

 

[Watchdog]

I'll say this. If getting the placard renewed is what it took to make it a bit easier on yourself, then good. And don't make the mistake of thinking there's some sort of stigma attached to having a handicapped placard on display.

Thing is, you don't have to use it, don't have to always park in the handicapped space. You can use it when you need it and keep it in the glove box when you don't.

Besides, you're still hiking and biking...that's good. I walk and hike (not as much as you), and even when I'm doing mundane chores like grocery shopping, I see people my age or even younger who look like they can barely put one foot in front of the other without holding on to the grocery cart. Then I realize how fortunate I am.

 

[kwselke]

If you need to use it you have it. If you do not need it you can opt for a short hike.

Sent from my LGL44VL using Tapatalk

 

[phantomcycle]

My rant is the people that use the handicap parking and they don't need it many time I see people park in handicap that are not handicapped they just drive a vehicle that belongs to someone that has a placard so they use that spot because their too lazy to walk
Our local wally world has limited handicap parking and in 10 years of shopping there I've never found a handicap spot open even thou I normally dont park in handicap some days its hard for me to walk the extra distance to the store so a handicap spot would be nice

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[scooterfiend]

handicap parking placard

Surely a placard can be useful.
Kinda like any of the tools I use from time to time.
Glasses and hearing aids I use most of the time, the other tools I've accumulated, I use 'em when I need 'em.
I'm happy that I've lived long enough to appreciate all I've experienced.
The ol' man used to say "there'll be plenty of time for laying around".


Keep on keepin' on

 

[rburg]

I'm going to voice a different opinion. If you've got the sticker or plate, use it. All too often I see all the handicap places open and the normal places filled. It didn't bother me until I got stuck with the problem at work. We were informed by the local PD we needed to comply with ADA. They mandated so many places be set aside for our handicapped people. Kind of a problem because we only had 2. And they then refused to use those spots so they'd be open for someone "who needed" them. It resulted in the best parking spots being empty all the time.

I know no one likes to hear economic arguments, but we were short on parking spaces. Some days we didn't have enough. But those reserved spots were sitting vacant. I had to cajole and beg the users to park in those spots. Then had to argue with the local PD to not set aside more places. So now when I go back in to visit, you'd better believe I use one of the spots. By gawd I have the sticker and I'm certain no on will use that spot except some dope smoking person waiting for their job applicant who's inside.

 

[DeathGrip]

Oh Boy!!!

A placard use and abuse thread.

Groovy

Oh Well

The Rockets, "Oh Well" - YouTube

 

[bigwheelzip]

If your federally recognized as permanently disabled, a national parks Access Pass is worth having if you might ever use federal recreation properties. Access to the reserved for the handicapped campsites, at a discount, is wonderful when campgrounds are otherwise full.

 

[Kevin J.]

My rant is the people that use the handicap parking and they don't need it many time I see people park in handicap that are not handicapped they just drive a vehicle that belongs to someone that has a placard so they use that spot because their too lazy to walk
Our local wally world has limited handicap parking and in 10 years of shopping there I've never found a handicap spot open even thou I normally dont park in handicap some days its hard for me to walk the extra distance to the store so a handicap spot would be nice

Sent from my LG-K371 using Tapatalk

Agree. Even when mother is with me I won't use her card. No reason I can't drop her off and go park.

 

[BC38]

Always better to have and not need, than to need and not have.

Kinda like your favorite CCW...

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I got one last year. Never needed it before but now at 86 I do. My daughter lets me out & parks properly. When I come out with groceries or other stuff she gets the car & picks me up. Life is good..

 

[Dennis]

My daughter is 22 and blind. As well as other physical issues.
I only use it when we need a potty break, a meal, or Dr. appts for her.

 

[CH4]

There should be no stigma attached with having/using a handicapped placard, but it's unfortunate how many abuse the system - too many physicians sign off upon request.

 

[shouldazagged]

Dang, Snub, thanks for the post--I just realized I'm over a month past due to renew my placard.

I use one because I have no choice. Way too many things wrong with me, the worst of which are incurable and progressing.

I'm not ready to go for a scooter or even a walker--too damn much stubborn pride, I guess. But I'll use the placard without apology.

 

[Fishslayer]

Dang, Snub, thanks for the post--I just realized I'm over a month past due to renew my placard.

I use one because I have no choice. Way too many things wrong with me, the worst of which are incurable and progressing.

I'm not ready to go for a scooter or even a walker--too damn much stubborn pride, I guess. But I'll use the placard without apology.

I hear ya. My problem is none of my problems show. I have peripheral neuropathy & a kooked up lung. I look more like a diabetic than a cancer patient. My new treatment doesn't affect appetite.

Damned if I'm gonna get a placard although I suppose I could, walking is painful... but I'll be sheep dipped if I'm gonna use one of those little shopping scooters!