Each of us is free to choose whether or not we wish to avail ourselves of
handicapped parking stalls.  But none of us has the right to tell any of the
rest of us whether or not we may choose to do so.

Being blind, one is, by both law and definition, handicapped / disabled.
The parking stalls are reserved for those of us who are handicapped /
disabled.  Meeting the qualifications thereof, we are entitled to request
and receive a handicapped placard from our respective Departments of Motor
Vehicles.  There is nothing unlawful or immoral in requesting and using such
a placard, and there is no such thing as one disability having priority over
any other.  If you legally have such a placard in your possession, you are
freely entitle to use it, whenever and wherever you so desire, and you owe
nobody  any explanation for using it.

Those who wish to jump on their high horses, and try to tell the rest of us
that we may not, or even should not park in such handicapped stalls, may
certainly lead by example, parking in regular stalls, as much as they wish,
and I will certainly not fault them for doing so.  But I will definitely
take advantage of the vacant handicapped stall they leave behind for me!

If, for whatever reason, there are not enough handicapped parking stalls
available, it is certainly not the fault of any disabled person for parking
in that stall, it is the fault of the location for not providing an adequate
number of disabled parking stalls to accommodate the number of disabled
patrons who frequent that parking lot.

So if anyone wishes to campaign for or against something, then I suggest
that they do something constructive for a change, and get the shopping
centers to designate additional handicapped parking stalls, and leave the
rest of us alone to enjoy life as best we can with the disabilities with
which we have been burdened.

-- George


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