To Be Or Not To Be...Handicapped

As most of you dear readers know, I'm a licensed EMT...Emergency Medical Technician. You know, one of those Empty Minded Twits, which is how some of the high falutin' paramedics think of us. I've worked for several private ambulance companies and have seen more than my fair share of folks dealing with disabilities. These are truly handicapped people. They range from those with obvious handicaps such as missing or paralyzed limbs to the not so obvious cardiac conditions and COPD. For those who don't know, that stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, like emphysema. Some of these individuals still drive. Those who are wheel chair dependant drive specially modified vehicles, those who are not often have the same vehicles you and I drive. What sets them apart is the license plate or placard hanging from the rear view mirror, denoting them as handicapped drivers.


If you've ever seen a wheel chair bound person trying to navigate from their vehicle, up onto the sidewalk, through doors that don't automatically open and into a store to do some shopping, then you should realize that their life is a series of complications of the likes we, more fortunate, will hopefully never have to endure. I take their well being seriously. I've never complained about traffic due to construction of sidewalk ramps or the fact they have closer parking spaces. If I see a van with the wheel chair lift at the double side doors, I park elsewhere rather than right next to their passenger side. This allows room for the lift and for the individual to maneuver the wheel chair to access the lift. I never, ever park in a handicapped spot and I absolutely abhor those of sound body who do. And this brings me to my rant.

Yesterday we stopped at Wegman's (grocery store) and I parked in a non-handicap stall right next to the first handicap stall. There was a car parked there, the handicap placard suspended from the mirror in silent proclamation of the driver's right to be there. I stepped out of my truck just as the "handicapped" driver approached her vehicle. She was walking at quite a brisk clip with no noticeable limp or infirmity. Apparently she didn't fall into the "obviously handicapped" category. I saw no shortness of breath either. I stopped, stared at her, then pointed to the handicapped posting on the parking stall. She stopped as she fished out her keys and stared right back. Pointing to the placard above her dashboard she informed me that she'd already proven her need to the State and didn't have to explain herself to me. That said, she added a rather unladylike finale to her speech to which, I'm ashamed to say, I retorted in equal fashion. At the end of her mini rant she still showed no shortness of breath so I think the "not so obviously handicapped" category didn't fit her either.

I've made up a category for her and her kind. I call it "The dregs of humanity who know someone truly handicapped, have the plate/placard for them but use it to their own advantage even when driving solo" category. I saw a couple pull into the handicapped stall at a local Wawa. They were in a big Suburban. The female passenger got out and trotted into the store while the man driving got out, did a deep squat and looked under the vehicle! Clearly neither qualified for the handicapped plate on their car, but they were sure taking advantage of it. That kind of misuse really rankles me. I'd never have the gall to do something like that as I know those parking stalls are a Godsend to the people who really need them. If I was driving someone who had a handicap and I had the plate/placard granting me permission to use the handicapped stall, I'd still drop the person off (if they could be safely left alone), park elsewhere and walk to escort them through the store. I'd leave that parking spot for someone who might not have someone with them. Then again, I'm the kind of person who quietly stalks someone in a scooter/wheel chair and will swoop in to politely lend assistance for those hard to reach items on the higher shelves or deep in the chest freezers.

I don't know if a handicapped driver's license denotes them to be handicapped, but if it doesn't, I think it should. And I believe that when someone parks in a handicap parking stall, that despite the plate/placard, if they hop out and show no signs of infirmity, the cops should require them to show their license, prove the plate/placard is actually for them and if it's not, they should be ticketed and made to move their vehicle. I guess this is all about consideration and decency. In our self centered society where "me" is the be all and end all, I suppose that's too much to ask.

Yesterday was the first time I ever challenged someone who apparently abused this parking privilege. I always moan and groan to whomever's with me or snarl and mutter to myself if alone. But I promise you, it won't be the last time I challenge aloud this injustice when I see it. I plan to tell the next person they should be ashamed of themselves. Oh wait, shame has fallen by the wayside in our world along with consideration and decency. Maybe if we all spoke out, those three virtues would come back into vogue.