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.