Spinal Cord Injury and Paralysis Community

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Handicapped parking: what would you do?

Posted by JLo
Friday, February 25, 2011

Comments (3)

In May of 2010, the Reeve Foundation announced the results of a poll, The Top Ten Things That Annoy People Who Use Wheelchairs. People wanted to talk, and we listened. With over 1,100 responses in the online poll and 13 options, abled-bodied people taking up accessible parking was the overall winner with 37% of the votes. (See the results of the poll here).

Recently, ABC's show What Would You Do? produced a segment about just that. The staged two able-bodied actresses parking in a handicapped spot. Soon after, an actress who is a wheelchair user in real life, approached the women about the spot.

While this surely is an issue, possibly an even bigger issue was how onlookers reacted.. or didn't react.

Watch the clip to see what happens.

What are your thoughts about this? Be heard!

Janelle

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Categories: Resource Center, Quality of Life, Community, General

Michael Collins: It brought back many memories--almost flashbacks, since they're so vivid. One effective method I use is just sitting on my lift platform and staring at them if someone non-disabled or sans placard pulls into an adjacent space. Me towering over them in my power chair is an imposing sight, judging by the reactions I usually get. Thanks for sharing.
Saralee Perel: Fascinating. The psychology showing here is that when people have group support, they're more likely to speak up. Thank you for posting this.
nanaboombala: When I see someone.....usually waiting in the car, in the handicapped space.....I slowly get my walker from the trunk,,,,,,,and hope that as they watch......they maybe will think the next time they feel they can just pull up.....pull in......and it won't matter........I just hope for some real recognition on their part. One can always hope.It was interesting.....the difference in peoples reaction when there was group support....as opposed to when there was noone else around. Very interesting dynamic.
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