Parking Spots

First of all, I know I haven't written anything for awhile but here I am again! This morning I read an article about Lady Gaga being under fire for recently appearing on stage in a wheelchair because her costume bound her legs together. Today at an appearance Lady Gaga made, she was egged by people who are furious after the wheelchair concert stunt. I posted on Facebook about the stunt and got into a conversation about what she did and compared it to a person who is not handicapped parking in a handicapped parking spot. This made me wonder if people really understand why these spots are so important to keep open for disabled drivers....I thought I would explain why!

People in my case need extra space to get wheelchairs in and out of the car. I have been stuck in situations many times where I cant get to my car because someone is parked to close to my drivers side door or I can get to my car but cant open the door all the way to pull the chair in or even remove the wheels from my chair due to lack of space. When these situations happen I find myself having to either climb in the car from the trunk, pulling the wheelchair in with me all the way up to the front or climbing in from the passenger side. This is a struggle but I have had to do it a few times. Some people don't have the independence like I do to have these options. So, the handicapped spots are important because they do provide the extra space needed for easy access in and out of the car.

In this respect it is not just about a wheelchair, other equipment is needed for some people so they can drive and live independent lives traveling by themselves. Lifts, ramps and swivel chairs provide extra assistance to disabled people that aren't able to just throw a chair into a car like I do. My point is extra equipment takes up extra space and the handicapped parking spaces give the disabled the extra space they need.

Another reason these spots are so crucial, one most of you have probably thought of disabled or not, is that the handicapped spots are close to the desired destination. For people who walk with walkers,crutches or wear leg braces it is hard to walk long distances, sometimes painful to walk and these spots provide easy access to their destination. Many able bodied people park in these spaces because they are close to destinations and probably because of the hassle of searching for an open spot, but does that make it right?

The answer is no, its not! All i'm asking is for anyone who is not disabled to think about  and educate yourself about the importance of these spots to the disabled. Please think twice before you park there in the future! Help provide continued independence to the disabled by thinking about it before you park in that close blue and white painted spot for your convenience! Walk the extra steps from an open parking spot that might not be right upfront. Take the initiative to respect others and teach others respect by leading by example. Let me know your thoughts on the subject and remember bottom line, its just a chair!