Hello! It’s clearly marked RESERVED parking!

I recently obtained a Disabled Parking Placard to use when I am carting my son Percy around town alone.  It has already been a HUGE help.  I only wish I had know about it sooner!

Sometimes parking lots can be a NIGHTMARE when you have a child on the Autism Spectrum.  Percy likes to RUN AWAY.  This is because he, like many other children with an ASD, does not have an appropriate sense of danger, or  fear of being separated from his parents.  He often doesn’t respond well to verbal cues either, and keeps running when I see a Humvee bearing down on him and am frantically screaming “STOOOPPP!”  We have had lots of  heart-stopping moments.     

Then there is the whole meltdown issue.  Many a time at Preschool pickup I have wondered how on earth I am going to get my TWO boys all the way to the back of the parking lot.  I already have a tired & crabby Thomas & hands full of bags.  If you add a flailing-screaming-kicking Percy to that, it’s all over.  Carrying a child all the way across the parking lot in the midst of a meltdown is incredibly difficult (understatement).  Sometimes, when faced with a meltdown, I have simply had to sit in the Preschool lobby and wait it out, exhausted and helpless.  This can take a while. 

So when someone told me that I could get a disabled parking placard I was thrilled.  Turns out there are provisions for not only physical concerns, but also cognitive.  Percy has been officially diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum disorder, so he qualifies under the following: 

-Has been diagnosed with a mental or developmental amentia or delay that impairs judgment including, but not limited to, an autism spectrum disorder.

I just had to fill out the form from the DMV and get a Doctor’s signature, then bring it in.  We got the tag last week.  Only $5!  I am more likely to run errands now with Percy because I will have less parking lot issues.  But I will not abuse it, and will only use it if I really need it.  If there is close regular parking I will just use that.  We also do not plan on using it when Mapman and I are together in the car, or if I am at a church event where I know there will be lots of Senior Adults.   

It has already made preschool pickup so much easier!  Well, kinda… when I went to the church for pickup yesterday all the handicap spaces on the front row were taken.  And then I watched this Dad casually walk his son to his SUV parked in one of the spaces.  Seemingly able-bodied father, able-bodied son.  NO license plate stickers OR hang tags.  NOTHING.  I stood there, gaping at him in disbelief, searching for the right words to say.  I mean COME ON, he only had ONE KID with him!  He wasn’t even an exhausted Mom struggling with three energetic preschoolers.  I could not believe that guy’s audacity and self-centeredness.  Dude, would it KILL you to walk a few extra feet?  I suspect NOT.

He may assume that since the church has so many handicap parking spaces that it doesn’t matter.   Well, he’s wrong.  I could have used that spot that day.  Or the mom who uses a power wheelchair.  It also would have helped the mom I know who has serious arthritis and can barely walk some days.  Plus our church is full of Senior Adults who attend all kinds of daytime activities and need those parking spaces… on Sunday mornings there aren’t enough spaces!

So he may not know (even though the parking is VERY clearly marked).  Or he may just flat out not care.  Gotta love that.

Then there is always the off chance that he really did have the need and proper tags to park there.  Right? 

This has been a hot button issue for me ever since college, when I dated a guy who used a wheelchair.  That opened my eyes to how challenging it can be when parking lots and other areas are not properly accessible.   So now I have a new hobby… parking police.  You can be sure that from now on at pickup I will be staring around with eagle eyes looking for a chance to help others see the error of their ways.  I will be polite, don’t get me wrong.  But you can bet I will make myself VERY CLEAR.  Maybe I can print out something to place on the cars.  Do any of you know of a nice way of saying, “HEY! Stop being a selfish jerk!” ?