You can't park here!
The Ouch weblog's very own Lady Bracknell, who always has a good nose for disability stories from all corners of the world, sent me a link to from the US city of Cleveland. And although it's a story from thousands of miles away, it's about a subject that's close to every disabled person's heart, no matter where they're from - yes, it's those non-disabled people who park in disabled parking bays. Grrr. Must. Keep. Calm.
However, rather than just report on the parking abuse, NewsChannel5 went one better and actually went out with a camera to film these people and ask them why they were parked in a disabled space. The video makes for some great viewing. Watch 'em squirm!
Best response: "It's for my son, but you know what? I'm having back problems, I'm going through therapy. So, I'm kind of applying for it." Er, right.
Comments
Grrr! The use of phrases like "handicapped" and "the disabled" in the report are as bad as the issue involved.
This use of american disability language is very normal, the use of handicapped and the disabled is wide spread right across the USA, I think they have still to catch up with the rest of the world, when it comes to words and phrases, perhaps its just us Brits which have the positive words which describe disability in our society.
Yup, I live in the States and "handicapped" is the most prevalent word used by both the general public and the mass media. This is slowly changing but most people do not even realize that there is any negative connotation to the word.
For Chrissakes, Pagey, it's an AMERICAN STORY. Pick battles you can win.
Agree with Chris. found the language bordering on the offensive: Confined to wheelchairs, confined to wheelchairs?! what, are they tied up to them or something??
This happens in the UK as well. What is annoying as well is blue badge holders who abuse the privlage and park where-ever they want and block things, near a busy shopping area in my city is bits of the road where it is doubled yellow lines ont eh road next to a fire exit, this is there to allow people clear exit in an enmergency, they also park oppisite loading bays (also on double yellows) for delivery trucks which then have to block the road becuase they have no room to turn into the loading bays. This kind of action gives all blue badge holders a bad name and some non holders feel ripped off so some park in disabled only spaces as a kind of payback.
Watch out for a forthcoming Thirty Minutes documentary on Channel 4, Friday 17 March, 7.30. Includes undercover footage from UK of people confronting disability parking bay abusers in North London.
*blinks* 8 responses, 2 of them have anything to do with people parking in disabled bays, the rest all finding nothing more to complain about than the -words- used? how about changing people's behaviour before worrying about what language is used? actions speak a lot louder than words, and the actions of the people in that report definately have a greater effect than the language used to report on it. doesn't matter if they say "disabled", "crippled" "handicapped", or anything else. they're still parking where they shouldn't. politically correct language won't change -that- fact, but I have to wonder - if the report -had- used politically correct language, would the commenters here have found that to be a "good sign", even given the report's contents? or have people given up on trying to actually fix the problems, figuring it's easier to just make it -sound- better? ~miika a wheelie, and proud of it.
Best excuse I heard was on a very wet day at the local Tesco.A woman pulled into the bay nearest to the shop, putting her umbrella up as she got out of the car.When I asked why she'd parked there without a badge, she just said:"Well, it's raining, I've just had my hair done and I'm in a bit of a rush!" My response is unfit for delicate ears/eyes since I had had to park much further down and the use of elbow crutches prevents the use of an umbrella and I looked like a drowned rat. I told the staff, who tackled her about it and they were told that she couldn't see what all the fuss was about!! Just about sums up the attitude of an awful lot of people- or should that read: a lot of awful people??
Obviously many Ouchers have a preference for a certain type of "correct" language when applied to disability issues - although I note that most will still cheerfully massacre the mother tongue is virtually all other contexts. What bothers me is the apparent inability of many to see beyond this. If I spend my time correcting every misuse of disempowering words such as "wheelchair bound", "suffering" or "...with a disability", I'd never achieve anything towards the greater goal of true equality. There are times when it is appropriate to pick people up on their choice of words but others when it will be more productive to let it pass; in other words one should always choose one's battles wisely. Being unable, or unwilling, to see past the words and focus on the issues is a real handicap ...err ...Disability ...um ...impairment.
It is very simple we live in a country of very selfish and lazy people. The abuse of diabled parking spaces is just another symptom of this and the compempt this society has for disabled people.
Apart from serious fines for abuse of disabled spaces, i.e £1,000+ as in California, there should be a system so that offenders can be reported by phone to the local enforcement unit and the nearest enforcement officer is then contacted and proceeds to the site ASAP to fine them. Only when it realy hurts these selfish people through money or naming and shaming will their actions change.
It is time that this and other abuses of disabled people were tackled hard as things are not going to change by igonring these issues or thinking it doesnt matter.