Looks Can Be Deceiving About Who Is Disabled

Wed., Feb. 18, 1998

Amy Warren Special To Opinion

In 1991, when I was 26, I became disabled with a heart condition. I have an abnormally high heart rate at rest, and if I do anything, it shoots sky high. I get fatigued easily.

In 1994, I also developed leg problems for which I sometimes rely on crutches. We don’t yet know the cause, just that it’s constantly painful.

I do thank citizens who are disgusted with nondisabled people parking in disabled slots and speak out about it. We disabled people don’t appreciate it, either. But before you accost somebody, please consider the following.

What do disabled people look like? Are they 70 years old? Are they in wheelchairs? Or are they 20, with no visible handicap?

Not all handicaps are obvious. You can’t see heart conditions, early stages of degenerative disorders or orthopedic conditions.

Rarely a day goes by that I don’t get a dirty look, smart-aleck comments or someone yelling at me because I don’t look disabled.

If I need to use my crutches, sometimes I’m left alone. But ironically, I’m disabled because of my heart; my leg condition is secondary.

The other reason I’m targeted is because people look for the placard only. I have a license plate that allows me to use parking spaces reserved for the disabled. I use my placard only if I use a different vehicle.

If you feel compelled to accost a suspected abuser of disabled parking, look at the license plate first. Then be sure the placard isn’t improperly displayed on the dashboard.

Finally, remember that it’s nearly impossible to tell just by looking whether a person is disabled. That is why a physician determines that.

To obtain a placard or plate, you have to meet strict criteria.

I’m not saying there aren’t people who abuse the disabled parking system, but the greatest abusers are the people who park in disabled parking spaces without a disabled placard or plate. That’s a parking violation and carries a fine of $175.

If you feel someone isn’t disabled but is parking in a disabled spot, copy their plate number and call Crime Check (456-2233). If possible, they will send an officer to determine the validity of the placard or the license plate. That’s their job.

We disabled people are young and old. Some disabilities are seen; some aren’t. And please don’t tell us how lucky we are to park so close. We would do anything not to be disabled, so we could walk across the parking lot.

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MEMO: Your Turn is a feature of the Wednesday and Saturday Opinion pages. To submit a Your Turn column for consideration, contact Rebecca Nappi at 459-5496 or Doug Floyd at 459-5466 or write Your Turn, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615.

Your Turn is a feature of the Wednesday and Saturday Opinion pages. To submit a Your Turn column for consideration, contact Rebecca Nappi at 459-5496 or Doug Floyd at 459-5466 or write Your Turn, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615.

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