WHAT DON'T THEY UNDERSTAND --PART II

WHAT DON’T THEY GET—PART II ---- Handicap parking spaces...................... Last week my husband and I went out for breakfast to a small diner we've been to many times before. They have two handicap parking spaces in the front separated by a yellow striped walkway that leads to the cut out ramp to get up into the restaurant. Both handicap spots were empty, but a large delivery truck Van was parked on the yellow striped area, making it impossible for me to get my wheelchair out of my Van or open my door, or get my wheelchair up onto the sidewalk and into the restaurant. My husband went into the restaurant and found the truck driver talking to the owner. He asked him to please move his truck. In all fairness the gentleman came out immediately and did move his truck. I made the comment to him that it was very inconsiderate to park there. He looked at me like I was crazy. My husband says that he did not actually park in a handicap spot. He was just trying to make the delivery easier for himself. I don't see that as an excuse. I guess I am over sensitized to this issue. But too many times I have seen a car with handicap plate’s drive up to the supermarket, park in one of he few disabled parking spots, and two or three young able teenagers jump out and literally run into the store. It is obvious that they are driving their parent or grandparents car. This does not give them the right to park in one of those spaces. I know that if I called the police they would probably ticket the offending person, but by the time the police would get there, I am sure that the offending person and car would be gone. The police have better things to do. Am I wrong?

Have things improved for us over the past four years? The answer is absolutely yes they have. My husband and I are 61 years old. We have worked all our lives paid taxes, bought a home and were looking forward to “the Golden Years" of our life. Then, I became disabled. I cannot work, or drive and just when we thought we were making ends meet....the recession hit. Four years ago we were near bankruptcy and afraid of losing our home. We had to use most of our retirement funds just to stay afloat. My husband was unemployed, and without health insurance. I am permanently disabled and use a wheelchair full-time. Today: we have received a home loan modification because of the Obama “Making Homes Affordable program, which made it possible to stay in our home. My husband has a part-time job, and acts as my caregiver the rest of the time. I receive Social Security Disability benefits, and Medicare (These are not ‘Entitlements” these are things I paid into during my 35 years of working). We have been able to find somewhat reasonable, low-cost health insurance for my husband. We look forward to the Healthcare Reforms act becoming permanent and long-term for us and for others in our position. Through a Federally funded State run program I was able to get my bathroom remodeled to make it wheelchair accessible so that I could stay in my home and not have to go into a nursing facility. These types of federal aid have helped us tremendously. I believe in my heart that if it were not for programs we might be on the streets or living under a bridge. Yes. Life is better now.