Monday, May 14, 2012

Finally a Show Dedicated to Women in Wheelchairs!

Alright, so I heard about this new series Push Girls, a few months ago. But a friend recently brought the series back to my attention. I checked out the "First Look Video" and my excitement can barely be contained right now. These women seem to be on the very same mission myself and some many other women I know in chairs are on! The link to the website is HERE, check it out. I swear it is worth the time. Like I said I am super psyched. My new mission is to be the next Push Girl, Michigan/Ohio installment.

This is short and sweet, promise to give another blog very soon!

Thursday, May 3, 2012

I'm Back and all Fired Up!!

Can't believe it has been over a month since my last post but time flies when you are having your soul sucked away by college... well sort of. I know everyone is probably thinking this is a post about my last few weeks of school but its not. I am in need of some venting, so here it goes...

As I have mentioned before and is echoed by most paralyzed folk handicap parking is annoying. The people who don't deserve placards, people who don't have one and park there anyway, and finally the most infuriating people who park in the lines. I am under the assumption that most don't know what the lines mean so let me inform you. The lines aren't just there for you to have extra space to swing the door wide open or park in, they actually serve a very critical purpose. Some who are in chairs have lifts that come out the passenger side of their vans which need extra "loading" space. Also people who transfer in and out of the driver seat need the extra space to assemble their wheelchairs and do their business. Alright that being said, on to yet another one of my enjoyable adventures.

My mom and I did grocery shopping today, which I don't totally love doing anyways because people gawk at me. On our way out we watched a man (in his mid-forties) whip into the handicap parking spot next to mine. Now I will admit that I was already judging him for not"looking handicapped" and parking in a handicap space. I know it is rude and you can't judge a book by its cover but it is human nature. So as he is finishes parking I thought it was a joke because at this point I had already opened my ramp and he literally parked diagonal is his space. Half of his front end was in the lined space, giving me just enough room to get in my van. I gave him this look of disbelief and threw my hand up. He made eye contact with me smiled, hopped right out of his Lexus, looked at my ramp and walked away. I was shocked I couldn't even say anything (moments like that I wish I was quicker at speaking up but I am usually so blind with frustration I can't think of anything). I also noticed he was wearing scrubs, and walking just fine. Mom and I packed up the groceries, left him a kind little note and left. Now looking back I should have stayed and confronted him because I am so sick of people thinking they can do anything they want with little to no regard for others.
This is a No No
Also a No No












I can't even begin to express the frustration when someone blocks me in or prevents me from using a Van Accessible spot because they parked in the lines. They need to realize those spots are literally the only spots I can park in. I can't just park wherever, I need the extra space for my ramp. Not to mention how freaking dangerous it is for me to wheel through parking lots, I am at the level of a small child and we all know how little people pay attention in parking lots. So anyways, pay attention people have some curtesy for others. The world doesn't revolve around you.

Side note, anyone who has something to say about how you can't see everyone's handicap, please keep it to yourself. You have no clue just how frustrating it is to be unable to do something because of the inconsideration of others. I will never back down on my opinion of most of the people who have placards abuse the handicap parking spots.