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Somehow in the modern USA, the concept of physical disability has come to be synonymous with the wheelchair. While some of our most severely disabled folks do use wheelchairs, all disabilities don’t involve them.
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I recall a few years back, a Houston local TV station did a “special” on the abuse of disabled parking permits. Their cameo presentation involved depiction of a man whom they had followed & recorded, while he was using a restricted parking space, then followed him throughout the store, surreptitiously recording his shopping & departure.
Less than three weeks later, they aired the infamous segment, intending to publicly ridicule the gent.
But, his surviving Family was incensed !
For, he had been terminally ill at the time, and had died a few days afterwards. Before the airing.
I use this to illustrate that one can’t always tell, so “judgements’’ should only be made with care.
My own disability was from hereditary progressive inflammatory osteoarthritis. First, I had to quit running in my 30’s, then walking for exercise in my early 50’s. Got fat. Things progressively worsened until the pacemaker at age 75.
But, the underlying condition causes overall intermittent difficulties. Characteristic of the problem, “morning stiffness” and “stiffness” after any prolonged inactivity gradually lessens with resumed physical activity. So, on parking & exiting vehicle I often can barely walk. But after some 20” walking about a store, leaning on cart, when I come out I’m walking much better. Observers see, and think I’m abusing my permit.
Other than walking, my big problem is inability to bend over Yet, all ”disability” reserved facilities place everything at seated level, so are much worse for me and those like me.
Anytime I’m away from something I can quickly grab for support, I carry a walking cane. Folks at Church wonder why I always carry it, but rarely use it. Our Church is old, the parking is about 1.5 blocks from the door. I explain: “I never know when I’ll need the cane; but, once I do need it, I can’t go-get it.”
Please be careful when judging others.
leVieux
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Somehow in the modern USA, the concept of physical disability has come to be synonymous with the wheelchair. While some of our most severely disabled folks do use wheelchairs, all disabilities don’t involve them.
<>
I recall a few years back, a Houston local TV station did a “special” on the abuse of disabled parking permits. Their cameo presentation involved depiction of a man whom they had followed & recorded, while he was using a restricted parking space, then followed him throughout the store, surreptitiously recording his shopping & departure.
Less than three weeks later, they aired the infamous segment, intending to publicly ridicule the gent.
But, his surviving Family was incensed !
For, he had been terminally ill at the time, and had died a few days afterwards. Before the airing.
I use this to illustrate that one can’t always tell, so “judgements’’ should only be made with care.
My own disability was from hereditary progressive inflammatory osteoarthritis. First, I had to quit running in my 30’s, then walking for exercise in my early 50’s. Got fat. Things progressively worsened until the pacemaker at age 75.
But, the underlying condition causes overall intermittent difficulties. Characteristic of the problem, “morning stiffness” and “stiffness” after any prolonged inactivity gradually lessens with resumed physical activity. So, on parking & exiting vehicle I often can barely walk. But after some 20” walking about a store, leaning on cart, when I come out I’m walking much better. Observers see, and think I’m abusing my permit.
Other than walking, my big problem is inability to bend over Yet, all ”disability” reserved facilities place everything at seated level, so are much worse for me and those like me.
Anytime I’m away from something I can quickly grab for support, I carry a walking cane. Folks at Church wonder why I always carry it, but rarely use it. Our Church is old, the parking is about 1.5 blocks from the door. I explain: “I never know when I’ll need the cane; but, once I do need it, I can’t go-get it.”
Please be careful when judging others.
leVieux
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