I got a
letter from my doctor’s office referring me to a cardiologist. This isn’t about
the letter but is related. Did you know that 73% of disabilities are invisible?
I and many others have been the target of presumption or presumptuous people or
as the Bible would put it presumptuous sinners. To assume without evidence or real
proof is to presume.
So, when
people with invisible disabilities are out in the world most folk don’t notice
us until…we park in a handicapped zone or god forbid, there is a run in with
the law. From my own experience, I find that some folk have appointed
themselves the official handicapped police. They are bent on policing handicap
parking areas when suspicious folk like me show up. I have been watched
intensely, how I walk noted, and rude and presumptuous comments are made in the process
of this ‘policing’. Some people have followed me to make their presumption
known to me while expressing themselves loudly out of their car window. I feel like I’m wearing a scarlet letter or
something. Have you done this sort of thing?? If you have done this sort of thing…cut it out
now. I’m going to add that these intrusive types are not just the able bodied
but other severely handicapped individuals. Why do they take it upon themselves
to persecute the invisible disabled handicapped? I don’t know. I’m a
psychologist not God.
Now, what
happens when the ‘unofficial police’ call the police or sheriff? Do some folk with
invisible disabilities get harassed, injured or killed by police? Yes. Some do.
In 2016 NBC News reported that over half of all police killings were people
with disabilities. Police don’t seem to care if you can’t breathe. They don’t
care if you have Down Syndrome or you’re schizophrenic or you’re calling out
for your momma or your daddy…they just don’t care. I’m just asking my fellow
citizens to exercise some restraint when
calling cops on folks. Didn’t you see the placard on the dashboard or the
handicap license plate? Some people walk real good but they still have multiple
orthopedic injuries. Some people are very frail but look perfectly alright. Who
are you to judge? Why is it your damn business to police a handicap parking
space???
Who are the
invisible handicapped? Well, there are people with all types of handicaps such
as those with orthopedic injury, breathing disorders, heart disease, auto-immune
disorders, significant fatigue, neurological disorders/damage, TBI, mental
illness, developmental disability, chronic pain and more and more and more. Some handicap people don’t use canes,
crutches, walkers or wheelchairs and sometimes those very same people do…when
they need to. Please stop putting others at risk by calling the police on them
for parking, you don’t want to get somebody hurt or killed. What if the person’s
deaf and doesn’t hear police commands? And please stop yelling at or making
unnecessary comments to the invisible disabled handicap person. Stop.
