BARBARA'S TCHATZKAHS

Living with an invisible disability isn't easy. Living with any disability can be soul-wrenching. But the invisibly disabled get a special sort of prejudice and disdain from the healthy public that has to be one of the circles of Dante's hell. Hard enough that we have to go through rounds of doctors to finally ferret out what is wrong with us; only to be accused of doctor shopping . But when we finally are diagnosed, many of us have to give up our dignity, our dreams and a lot of people we considered friends don't stick around too long, either. Yesterday I had to go to pick up some medication with one of my children. I pulled into the handicapped spot and put up my placard. When I came out I went around to the back of my car and pulled a small box out to place it in the back seat for easier access when I got home. As I was getting back into the driver's seat I noticed a woman standing on the passenger side of my car, looking it up and down... glaring. ...

Hey! They Don’t LOOK Disabled! Who Is Allowed To Park In those Disabled Parking Spaces, Anyway? Have you ever seen someone get out of a car parked in a space reserved for the disabled, who did not LOOK disabled? Did it make you very uncomfortable or even upset? Did you let them know of your disapproval by giving them a dirty look or yelling something at them? Well, you are not alone. Many people are very disturbed by the sight of a seemingly mobile person stealing the space of someone who is truly in need of it. After all, we want to protect the rights of people for whom these spaces are reserved! However, in wanting to help those who deserve these parking spaces, we actually may be hurting someone who does have a legal right and a legitimate need to park there. H ow can this be true, you ask? Isn’t it obvious who is and who is not disabled? The answer is… NO. The qualifications for the general accessible parking spaces include those using chairs, walkers, crutches and canes, as well a...

“Do you know the fine for using someone else’s handicapped parking permit is $300?” “That parking spot is saved for the disabled! You should be ashamed of yourself!” Nearly everyone with an invisible illness has been told, “You don’t look disabled to me!” One of my friends replied, “Well, you don’t look stupid to me.” I just bite my lip to try to prevent the tears from forming, broken-hearted that I appear to be deceptive, when I would do anything to give back this parking perk that I use on a rare occasion. As I circle the parking lot a fourth time on this day I hope for a spot to open up within two-hundred yards of the store, but there is nothing remotely close at this bustling superstore where I need to buy my prescriptions and milk for my toddler. My rheumatoid arthritis is flaring badly, causing extra fluid in my knees to dislocate pieces of loose bones. Every step is painful and unpredictable. Finally I sigh in resignation and pull into the farthest “blue parking spot.” I reach ...