Not judging someone based on their appearance is a lesson commonly taught to children B次元官网网址� 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.
B次元官网网址淚 wasnB次元官网网址檛 even completely parked, my sign was on my dash where it always is. And I opened my door and said B次元官网网址榓re you yelling at me?B次元官网网址� And she said B次元官网网址榶es, whereB次元官网网址檚 your handicap sign?B次元官网网址� And I went B次元官网网址榠tB次元官网网址檚 on my dash.B次元官网网址� And she just kept going on and on and on.B次元官网网址�
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 buildingB次元官网网址檚 entrance.
B次元官网网址淚 was going to the dry cleaners, and sheB次元官网网址檚 complaining about me in BosleyB次元官网网址檚, and I went to open the door at the dry cleaners and she attacked me again.B次元官网网址�
While still visibly distraught, the co-owner of BosleyB次元官网网址檚 by Pet Valu, Brianne Carson, approached Cooper and offered to walk her back to her vehicle.
B次元官网网址淎nd I just burst into tears. She probably spent 35 minutes with me. I mean, I was just shaking,B次元官网网址� said Cooper. B次元官网网址淎nd itB次元官网网址檚 not right. I think we need to address the situation that B次元官网网址榟ey, not everybody has a visible handicapB次元官网网址�.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭o judge someone based on what we see is something we teach our children not to do, so as adults we shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be doing that either,B次元官网网址� said Carson.
The chair for the , Sandra Hobson, said while experiences like CooperB次元官网网址檚 are uncommon, they are not unheard of.
B次元官网网址淭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,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淚t could also just be someone whoB次元官网网址檚 really sick, or theyB次元官网网址檙e recovering from a surgery. Even if itB次元官网网址檚 temporary, it might not be visible but it still is genuine.B次元官网网址�
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Hobson said that while we think weB次元官网网址檙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 theyB次元官网网址檙e not seen as playing the system.
B次元官网网址淭he more stigma there is, the less people are likely to claim very necessary services,B次元官网网址� she said, noting such behaviour can injure a personB次元官网网址檚 self-esteem and cause them to feel further devalued.
As identified by , the organization to manage B.C.B次元官网网址檚 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 applicantB次元官网网址檚 doctor.
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