Dennis.....

Oh rats!  I think I've been on a few of  Capt. Cooks voyage with ya!  <avast
there, matey> (grin)

This discussion reminds me of the time my friend and I went out to dinner
together.

SHE has advanced lupus and I have PD - and we were both in an "off" stage by
the time we got to the restaurant.  She parked in a handicapped  parking bay
and hung her handicapped driver's tag from the inside mirror of the car.  We
staggered into the restaurant but after a relaxing dinner and assorted
medications for each of us, we were both in peak form!

After dinner, amidst warm and friendly banter and laughter we ambled out to
her car, only to be royally chewed-out by a couple of bystanders who angrily
informed us that two healthy women like us should NOT use handicapped parking
when poor SICK folks need those parking places!

My friend carries a small tote bag with her at all times containing a LOT
serious heavy-duty drugs for her lupus, and I thought she was gonna crack one
of the fellas over the head with it to shut him up!  She proceeded to give
them a very quick education on what constitutes "disabled" and/or
"handicapped," and told 'em more disabled individuals are not in a chair than
are.

This leads me to believe that while the international symbol of the figure in
a wheelchair IS immediately recognizable as indicating "handicapped," it
inaccurately leads the for-the-most-part well intentioned general public into
thinking that when it comes to handicapped parking places, one MUST be in a
chair to be eligible to use that type of parking.  Seemingly many don't think
beyond that chair and cannot picture the greater handicapped community.

I know that universal symbol's not going to be changed so it's up to all of
us, I guess, to educate the public.  THAT means we cannot let ourselves remain
invisible...

Barb Mallut
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From:   Parkinson's Information Exchange on behalf of Dennis Greene
Sent:   Monday, December 08, 1997 3:25 PM
To:     Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN
Subject:        Re: parking permits/ oz style

Just to add a Western Australian experience of parking permits to the
picture.

I have held a parking permit for about 5 years now.

It was originally issued after evidence of need was provided by my
GP.

It is renewed on application, every two years, without need of
medical input.

At no time has anyone raised any issues regarding my ability to
drive.

TRAVELLERS TALE - two years ago I visited England with my family. We
took along my West Aussie Parking permit (a white wheelchair symbol
on a dark blue background) on the off chance that we would be able to
use it. I never actually found out what the official position is but
I used the permit throughout southern England without incident,
despite the Brit permit being a totally different design and colour.
This included  on one occassion having the gates opened especially
and being allowed to use the reserved parking area within the grounds
at Hever Castle.

ETHICS - I had some reservations about using a parking permit as in
my "on" condition I can walk with the best of them. This lead to me
at first using the reserved bays only if I was "off" when parking the
car. This situation lasted until the day I parked way out on the edge
of a parking lot whilst "on" - and went into "off" mode before
heading back to the car. The return journey was a nightmare of
"parkivating" (navigating parkie style - i.e. pointing yourself at
where you want to go and shuffling off with a whisper of "stand aside
I'm coming through") through parking lot traffic. The distance to the
car, a mere inconvenience when "on", had became a journey to rival
Captain Cook's voyages.  I reached the car an emotional and physical
wreck. Since then I use disabled parking bays what ever my condition
on arrival.  If this leads to some strange looks from passers by, so
be it.  If on occassion I arrive and leave whilst "on" thats the way
it goes. I didn't invent this game or its crazy rules, I am just
forced to play it.  One rule I did invent - If there are free parking
bays near the disabled bay(s) I will always use them, in order to
leave the disabled bay free for some other permit holder.

Dennis.

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Dennis Greene 48/10
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http://members.networx.net.au/~dennisg/
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