Setting the Record Straight: The Golf Cart in the Handicap Spot

[@onefootedphoenix]

It’s frustrating to me when there are not enough handicapped spaces available, especially when I use my wheelchair. I feel like there should be handicapped spaces available only for wheelchairs and then some for other disabilities. When I’m in my prothetic I still need a space but I can go a few steps further.

[@nolimbjim]

Phoenix, your comment stirred a lot within me, bringing back memories of my own tumultuous journey. Many don't know this, but I only have one prosthetic leg. Medicaid only covered one before I lost my coverage, leaving me bound to a wheelchair or, on many days, walking on my knees, relying on kneepads. It's a reality that many would find hard to fathom. Yet, in spite of the challenges, I push forward, just as you do. Your story, much like mine, is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. The challenges we face - from parking woes to public perceptions - they're more than physical barriers; they're emotional and societal ones as well. When you mention the need for wheelchair-only ADA spots, I couldn't agree more. And I wish more could step into our shoes - or perhaps, our wheels - to truly understand. For those reading this, I'd challenge you, even if just for a day, to put yourself in a wheelchair. Experience the world from our vantage point. Feel the uneven terrains, the inaccessible spaces, the longer routes we often have to take. Not for pity, but for understanding. Not just to see, but to truly perceive the nuances of a world not entirely designed for us. It's easy to form an opinion from the outside looking in, but the experience can be enlightening, fostering empathy and igniting change. Phoenix, our stories intertwine in a shared tapestry of challenges and victories, of heartaches and triumphs. While our paths might have been paved with struggles, they are also lit with purpose. Together, and with others in our community, we can be a beacon of hope and a force for change. Let's not only advocate for a world that serves us better but inspire understanding and empathy in every heart we touch. 🦿❤🙏 #WalkInOurWheels #EmpathyThroughExperience #ADAForAll

[@onefootedphoenix]

@@nolimbjim it just makes sense to me and I hope and pray that I can convey this to law makers here that it’s so important for a wheelchair user to have hashmarks on BOTH sides of the vehicle. (I’m often a passenger when I’m in my wheelchair). I went down to the bigger city’s looking to move there and we had to park in non accessible spaces for me and it was rough! My Dad also has a bad back so I have learned to lift the chair myself in and out of the car while using crutches. But if I don’t have enough room to get out of the car it’s very difficult to navigate. I feel for you a ton even though I’m a little bit more of an ambulatory wheelchair user. My parents are both supportive and I live with them currently until I can fully function well enough on my own again. It’s amazing how much they now notice ADA violations as well! Wishing you all the best in the fight brother!

[@christinamiller1323]

I give you so much credit for still carrying on after all that you have been through, Jim God be with you always