It's kind of funny. This morning I thought about writing this blog to educate the non-using handicap space members of society about the importance not parking over the blue lines. Then I went out and got lift-bound. Someone parked right next to my side door where I unfold the wheelchair lift to get Alisha in and out of the van, which prevented me from using the lift. I had to move the van two more times on the stone-grated parking lot before I could successfully get the lift down and we could be on our merry way.
This is going to seem like a gripe session but bare with me or just humor me. Just trying to do a little handicap parking education. There are two kinds; the regular signed "Handicap Parking" and the "Van Accessible Only" spots. Not complicated you say.
If someone parks in a handicap spot they have been given an extra wide (although not always) lane to park in and some blue diagonal lines next to their space indicating the area where the person with a disability could be unloaded from the vehicle. These blue lines are not painted to make the parking space more symmetrical in appearance or ascetically attractive to the human eye. No, they actually are a sign as important as other signs on the road like the famous "stop" sign or the not always respected "yield" sign.
If you park in a space with these diagonal blue lines you want to do one thing and one thing only- park anywhere but on the diagonal blue lines. If you do park on the diagonal blue lines someone is not going to get into their vehicle very easily. Someone is going to be unhappy. You may even become at risk. Not saying for what.
There are people in this world who will become unglued if you park over the diagonal blue lines. They may want to hurt you. Not me of course. I really try to remain more rational than some.
Now, the words "Van Accessible Only" is a whole other matter. My husband who happens to be one of the more even-tempered people I know in this world is transformed into the likes of Dr. Jekyll when he sees a car parked in the "Van Accessible Only" spot when there are plenty of regular "Handicap Parking" spots available. Even though I told you the handicap spots are extra wide, they are not wide enough for vans. When deploying the lift we take up an extra six feet. The only way to ensure the lift will go down with ample room to get Alisha out is to park in one of these spots. Nine times out of ten parking in a regular "handicap" spot will result in being lift-bound. There is definitely a shortage of these Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Golden Ticket parking spots. So when we see the "Van Accessible Only" spot it's like a teen opening an iPhone on Christmas morning. But when we can find no where to park and see cars parked in these rare "Van Accessible Only" finds, some of us come unglued. Not saying who.
So if you ever park near or in a handicap parking spot think about these things. It just may save your life.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Friday, September 28, 2012
IDEA
Yesterday a friend of mine gave me an important assignment. She doesn't know she did and I hope she won't mind that I took her misunderstanding to inform others.
Having a daughter, Alisha, who has been profoundly impaired since birth I have been involved in the special education process for eighteen years. I have watched my other kids pass her by quickly in milestones only to move onto things I was fairly certain Alisha would never reach.
She does not talk, walk, eat by mouth, sit up, pick up objects, scratch her face, roll over, push away people trying to harm her, brush her teeth, blow her nose...
She laughs inappropriately, plays with toys a six month old would enjoy, has seizures, vomits unexpectedly, wears three different devices to help combat high muscle tone, uses a cochlear implant to help her to hear, has eyes that float in different directions, drools excessively...
If I stop there you may wonder what's the point of going to school. By the word's standards she will never "fit" in. Some in the world do not think her life has value at all.
In 1990 the federal government passed a law called The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, (IDEA). It is designed to protect the rights of students with disabilities ensuring that all children receive a free appropriate education no matter what the disability.
Special education is not some sweet name we call education to refer to kids who are "special". It is to differentiate the type of education needed. Specialized. Tailored. Specific. The education Alisha receives is based on what Jeff and I along with her teacher, physical therapist, occupational therapist,and speech and language therapist determine are the goals to work toward for the school year. It is called the Individualized Education Program, (IEP).
Without this law and plan Alisha may be sitting in a classroom without any assistance, with typical peers, learning about chemistry and geometry. Now that makes me say, "what's the point?".
The placement for kids who have disabilities is not always clear or easy. Often imperfect. And the purpose is not to make typical students more compassionate or tolerant towards those with disabilities. Although it does happen and is certainly hoped for. Most importantly their placement is valuable for them. They are valuable.
Over the years I have struggled with where I want my daughter to be on the "charts" and where she really is. It's almost a lifetime of grieving. But it is also an enormous opportunity to move closer to God and what He values.
IDEA is to me an idea. It is the idea that all people matter. It is an idea to strive toward individual goals that matter. It is an idea that gives hope to students and parents.
Having a daughter, Alisha, who has been profoundly impaired since birth I have been involved in the special education process for eighteen years. I have watched my other kids pass her by quickly in milestones only to move onto things I was fairly certain Alisha would never reach.
She does not talk, walk, eat by mouth, sit up, pick up objects, scratch her face, roll over, push away people trying to harm her, brush her teeth, blow her nose...
She laughs inappropriately, plays with toys a six month old would enjoy, has seizures, vomits unexpectedly, wears three different devices to help combat high muscle tone, uses a cochlear implant to help her to hear, has eyes that float in different directions, drools excessively...
If I stop there you may wonder what's the point of going to school. By the word's standards she will never "fit" in. Some in the world do not think her life has value at all.
In 1990 the federal government passed a law called The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, (IDEA). It is designed to protect the rights of students with disabilities ensuring that all children receive a free appropriate education no matter what the disability.
Special education is not some sweet name we call education to refer to kids who are "special". It is to differentiate the type of education needed. Specialized. Tailored. Specific. The education Alisha receives is based on what Jeff and I along with her teacher, physical therapist, occupational therapist,and speech and language therapist determine are the goals to work toward for the school year. It is called the Individualized Education Program, (IEP).
Without this law and plan Alisha may be sitting in a classroom without any assistance, with typical peers, learning about chemistry and geometry. Now that makes me say, "what's the point?".
The placement for kids who have disabilities is not always clear or easy. Often imperfect. And the purpose is not to make typical students more compassionate or tolerant towards those with disabilities. Although it does happen and is certainly hoped for. Most importantly their placement is valuable for them. They are valuable.
Over the years I have struggled with where I want my daughter to be on the "charts" and where she really is. It's almost a lifetime of grieving. But it is also an enormous opportunity to move closer to God and what He values.
IDEA is to me an idea. It is the idea that all people matter. It is an idea to strive toward individual goals that matter. It is an idea that gives hope to students and parents.
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