Not judging someone based on their appearance is a lesson commonly taught to children 害羞草研究所� and one a Parksville woman wants members of the community to remember.
On Wednesday (April 28) Kim Cooper, 53, pulled into a designated disability stall at a Parksville parking lot when a woman began to aggressively yell at her.
害羞草研究所淚 wasn害羞草研究所檛 even completely parked, my sign was on my dash where it always is. And I opened my door and said 害羞草研究所榓re you yelling at me?害羞草研究所� And she said 害羞草研究所榶es, where害羞草研究所檚 your handicap sign?害羞草研究所� And I went 害羞草研究所榠t害羞草研究所檚 on my dash.害羞草研究所� And she just kept going on and on and on.害羞草研究所�
Cooper survived a heart attack approximately 10 years ago and has lived with congestive heart failure ever since, a chronic and progressive condition that affects the pumping power of her heart. Living with such a condition can leave her winded while walking long distances, which can stress her heart and further exacerbate her condition.
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Due to the nature of her condition, she has a disabled parking permit that allows her to park in the designated stalls near a building害羞草研究所檚 entrance.
害羞草研究所淚 was going to the dry cleaners, and she害羞草研究所檚 complaining about me in Bosley害羞草研究所檚, and I went to open the door at the dry cleaners and she attacked me again.害羞草研究所�
While still visibly distraught, the co-owner of Bosley害羞草研究所檚 by Pet Valu, Brianne Carson, approached Cooper and offered to walk her back to her vehicle.
害羞草研究所淎nd I just burst into tears. She probably spent 35 minutes with me. I mean, I was just shaking,害羞草研究所� said Cooper. 害羞草研究所淎nd it害羞草研究所檚 not right. I think we need to address the situation that 害羞草研究所榟ey, not everybody has a visible handicap害羞草研究所�.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淭o judge someone based on what we see is something we teach our children not to do, so as adults we shouldn害羞草研究所檛 be doing that either,害羞草研究所� said Carson.
The chair for the , Sandra Hobson, said while experiences like Cooper害羞草研究所檚 are uncommon, they are not unheard of.
害羞草研究所淭here are certainly instances where somebody who has a has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or a heart condition - they may not be able to walk the length of the parking lot. And they need those accessible spaces,害羞草研究所� she said.
害羞草研究所淚t could also just be someone who害羞草研究所檚 really sick, or they害羞草研究所檙e recovering from a surgery. Even if it害羞草研究所檚 temporary, it might not be visible but it still is genuine.害羞草研究所�
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Hobson said that while we think we害羞草研究所檙e not an ableist society, many instances show we are. Such a mentality may cause people with genuine disabilities hesitate to claim the services they require, simply so they害羞草研究所檙e not seen as playing the system.
害羞草研究所淭he more stigma there is, the less people are likely to claim very necessary services,害羞草研究所� she said, noting such behaviour can injure a person害羞草研究所檚 self-esteem and cause them to feel further devalued.
As identified by , the organization to manage B.C.害羞草研究所檚 Parking Permit Program, someone who needs to park close to a building entrance because their health prevents them from walking far would qualify them for a parking pass permit. On their website it states that a parking pass permit for people with disabilities ensures that a person with mobility limitations can park in one of the designated parking stalls throughout British Columbia.
As per their application form, all applications require a referral from the applicant害羞草研究所檚 doctor.
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