[nabs-l] Handicaped parking

[Angela fowler]

Jim, 
	I've got no trouble admitting a "disability." I'm blind and I don't
hear too good. There I said it! What I have a problem with is that people
with "disabilities" are shunted into a protected class by the rest of
society. We aren't just regular folks, but we're "disabled people," or
"handicapped people" or "somehow-or-other impaired people." As such we are
viewed by society as less capable, less self-sufficient, and in need of
protection or charity, a fawning paternalism which fails to see us as the
individuals we so clearly are. 
	I won't use a handicap sticker, because I have no need of it, in
fact I don't mind sneaking in a little extra exercise. I won't use a
"disabled ticket" at an amusement park or something because it implies that
by virtue of my "disability" I am poverty stricken and can't afford to pay
the full price. 
	Society feels better about itself when it can place us in a
protected class. When we dare to break out of the protected class, it is a
threat to that good feeling. I don't mean everyone, not by a long shot, but
a good number of folks would subconsciously do things which keep us down,
send subtle yet insidious "you can't" messages which speak not only too us
but about us. Everyone is free to do what they want, and I'll be slow to
judge, but as for me, I'm not listening.  

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Jim Reed
Sent: Saturday, May 16, 2009 12:19 PM
To: NABS mail list
Subject: [nabs-l] Handicaped parking

Jedi, 

You said, "I personally don't feel guilty using my student pass. I feel
better using my student pass rather than a disability pass because being a
student means that I'm moving up in the world, and the disability pass is a
painful reminder of the long way we still have to travel to first-class
citizenship."

Are you sure that your preference for not using a disabled pass is not
linked to the fact that by using a disability pass, you are publicly
admiting a disability? It seems to me that blind people who are forced to
use a cane, the cane becomes more of a tool, rather than a symbol of
disabiliy. Maybe, since the "symbol of disabilility" is not associated with
a cane, perhaps it has been transfer to other things such as a handicaped
placard or a handicaped bus pass? 

Furthermore, why is it that no one ever complains about getting and using
SSI/SSDI funds, yet lots of people complain about using handicaped parking,
handicaped bus passes, and free national park passes? My theory is that is
boils down to privacy. Once that social security money is in the bank, it is
undistinguishable from any other money in use in society. Theirfor the use
of SSI/SSDI funds is not a public admission of a disability.

Just my thoughts,

Jim

Homer Simpson's brain: "Use reverse psychology." 
 Homer: "Oh, that sounds too complicated." 
 Homer's brain: "Okay, don't use reverse psychology."
 Homer: "Okay, I will!"


      
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