Handicapp parking permit for your child! | Autism PDD

I see your point, but if a child's meltdowns require having to physically pick them up and leaving the area, then it helps to be close to wherever your at. This is something that is not used when I don't have my son as I do feel for all physically challenged individuals.  I'm sorry that this is a sore spot for you.  I only know that the doctor where I take my son for some appts saw that I had a difficult time transporting my son  and it was suggested and I'm ever so grateful. I can't tell you how much its helped me and at least twice been a lifesaver as he is a runner also.  Sometimes we have to do what is needed.  Thanks Linda!

I think it is an excellent idea!  If my child had issues with safety and parking lots ( he does not) I would apply for a permit in a heaartbeat.

I have one for my son and it has been a lifesaver.  He is a danger to himself and others.  My ds is severely affected and will run out in front of traffic.  He will also lay down in the middle of the road.

As well as safety issues my son suffers from constant exhaustion, there is no way I could carry him any distance, he is 70 pounds.

For info I rarely take my child shopping (it's too difficult), but we use the decal mostly for drs. appts. 

It's unfair to automatically assume the need of someone in a wheelchair is more than a person with a disability that is not confined to a chair.  A decal should not be given out to everyone with autism, but there are some cases where it should be considered.  I should not have to feel guilty because my son is one of those rare case where it is absolutely needed.

Four weeks ago he ran out the emergency door of the indoor playground at McDonalds and ran into the road.  I was only a few steps behind him, but if there had been a car that day, I would hate to think what could have happened.

We all need tolerance. 

This could help us, Sharlet can be EXTREME at the supermarket. I have just
become brave enough to start to try and tackle this with her autism
consultant who has met me at the supermarket for the first time the other
day. One of the reasons I am so reluctant to take her is because of the
problems getting her to the car during an extreme meltdown. If we were
right near the door it could make a big difference. I will think about doing
this, thanks for the idea.I don't have a problem with it, get those kids in an out of the store as quickly as possible.  I have a problem with people who use their granparent's car and take advantage.

I know a mom that has 3 kids all with aspergers that are totally mainstreamed and has it hanging in her suv..it always bugged her kids..they hate the attn. it brings on them...they are really private with their diagnoses.

If a child is disabled/handicapped and needs it though..that's what it is for isnt it? Parking lots are dangerous for some of our kids..this would be a literal lifesaver for some parents with kids that run off or meltdown and wont get up...

They have plenty of spaces for handicapped people here in the city..and most are empty.  Lots to share:)

I got one a few months ago. Ethan can only walk short distances (extreme low muscle tone) and is terrified of any vehicle that is running or moving and will not walk at all if a car is coming in, backing out of parking lots. I feel a tiny bit bad sometimes but, I always have to carry him and he is up to 45 lbs.  He has never walked in any store either. Too much going on, he just noodles out on me, always have to use a cart. I get some looks sometimes because he looks "normal". I'm not about to explain his disability to every one who stares. It has been a lifesaver for me. If I saw someome with a wheelchair  pulling up and there was only 1 spot, I of course would defer to them.  I never use it without him with me and Have usually found plenty of empties when we go out.  They actually put one up for me close to our building here at the apt.  This is a huge relief. I used to have to carry him a long ways to get him to the building. Was a disaster in the winter across the ice and snow.  I slipped and fell while carrying him more than once. Ouch!!!

I agree with Linda.....I don't have a problem with it, and I understand why some parents NEED it.....BUT....if I used one of these spots and saw some one in a wheelchair have to park furhter away because of me and my daughter......I would not be able to look that person in the face. 

I also know several women who have children on the sprectrum ( or other cognitive delays) and I have seen them use it when they are completely alone....no kids at all with them.....that bugs me and I think shame on them

Anyways.....I guess I'm undecided on the issue.....I know there are days I need any additional support I can get.....(closer parking included) and then I see others abusing it and it makes me angry.

 

Did you know, you could get a handicapp parking permit for your child with autism???
Yes, its true and I want to encourage all to do it. If your like me and your child has meltdowns that require a fast exit or becomes a safety issue, having that close parking space can be a lifesaver! My son's peditrician filled out the form from the local tag office and put on there a permanet life-long disability and it only requires renewing every 4 years.

Don't worry about what others think- I don't! Our children are just as disabled as the next and sometimes we need a lot help. If don't already have this, do it soon. Believe me you'll be glad you did!
I hope this helps a lot of you.
Take care and God Bless,

Joy Carey
INTROPACES(Introducing Parents of Autistic Children Encouraging
Services and support)

www.intropaces.org

If your child does this every time you go shopping,and is severe on the spectrum maybe ,but I believe the parking should be for Physically disabled only.

I have no hard feelings against anyone who uses them however,but wonder where to draw the line.

If they kept the spaces for wheelchair,walker,only,but made more spaces for Others Including ,Elderly, mentally Handicaped ,overweight ect...I could live with that,but that would get you farther away from the store.

I try to take my kids shopping during slow times,early morning ect..,then you can park closer,I had a child in a wheelchair for 16 years so this is a sore spot for me.

Linda

We have the permit and we use it all the time. I also have a "autism awareness" magnet on my car so i think it helps some of the looks. If anyone is really annoying and looks I just hold up the permit so they can see it  clearly and I just drive away!

Like someone else said - not all disabilities are visible. Yes, there are people who abuse the handicapped spaces. However, there are some disabilities (like autism in fact!) that are not necessarily seen - but they exist. For some people, even walking more than a short distance can cause heart issues.

If someone parks in a space and doesn't have a handicapped sticker - well, shame on them. But, if they have the handicapped sticker - I try to give the benefit of the doubt. You don't know what they might have and I am working SUPER hard on not judging others. I'm hoping it will set an example for when people try to judge me for ds' behavior!

Edited to add: I will not be getting one (although I thought of it when I was trying to keep ds safe at age 4 and also carry a one year-old through a busy parking lot!). Thankfully, ds has learned and will not run into a parking lot... But for those who have kids who do - I think it is totally appropriate!

snoopywoman39279.3572222222I think it is great.  Ali happens to be HFA but she does also have a hip bone growth problem, which has recently been giving her a lot of trouble.  She is complaining of pain (which must be real bad cause she does not usually know how to verbalize pain).  I also have severe asthma, a heart condition and fibromyalgia.  I will not hesitate to get this cause it would help us both out.  Hello everyone
I hope it is not too late to post to this
I have thought about this parking permit because my 4 yo daughter has problems in the parking lot, no matter where we are, she just breaks and runs, sometimes into traffic. I would prefer NOT to get a permit, but can anyone tell me who can help her? Is there some training for this? Our TSS just says "hold her hand tightly." Duh. I would like to address the problem behavior.
missnippy

I agree that people should use common sense and their own judgement.

My son loves going places, rarely melts down in public, and trots along in the parking lot holding my hand like a little champ.  I haven't had to carry him out of a mall screaming since he was 3.  My NT son always complains about holding hands but life is tough!  There is no way I could ever justify a handicapped pass.  However, given some of the situations I've heard other describe I see how it could be very appropriate.

Ironically, I do have a handicapped placard in my glove box because I shuttle my parents around a few times per month and my dad has a diability.  (They wanted me to have my own in the car so they don't have to always remember to bring their's with them.)  I have NEVER used it except when they are in the car.  It really bugs me when I see other people abusing this!

If you read the indications for a Handicap sticker it clearly states Neurological Disorders are included.  NOT just for the physically disabled.

A child's saftey is first!!! You should apply for the sticker.

I have a child in a wheelchair and another child with Autism (plus a newborn).  We never use a handicap space unless I have Avi (my child in the wheelchair) with us.  Asher (the one with Autism) can have meltdowns.  At least for me,  there have been too many times (way too many times) that there have been no handicap spaces open and I see people with no obvious handicaps jump out of the can in one of the spaces (including just this last week, a woman jumped out of her car, on her cell phone and ran into Starbucks).

I think people just need to use common sense and their own judgement.

Raquel

This is something I may have to consider when Jason gets too big for his stroller.  Right now, I either carry him or put him in the stroller.  He's perfectly capable of walking...right into traffic!  If we let him walk independently, he takes off, and fast!  We've already had one close call here at home, and that scared me enough that I simply do not allow him to walk independently much outside our home.

That said, I'm pretty sure I won't go the route of getting a tag unless I absolutely must.  For now, we either avoid taking him to the store, or we take him one-on-one (not the rest of the family along), or we ALL go, so we can do what needs to be done.  If I didn't have my DH to rely on here, I would seriously have to consider the tag, since it's a bit difficult to push a stroller and a shopping cart at the same time.  I wouldn't take a handicapped spot from someone who clearly had a mobility/health problem that would be much worse than what I am dealing with, though!  It makes me mad to see people taking advantage of those spaces.

 

Thank you all for your replies......I know it probably made some of us think, about  the true definition of the word handicapp.  I know some are undecided on this topic, but I just wanted to let everyone know that if your situation was like mine then it is possible to get one.  I wish I didn't have to get one, but I had to think of my child and myself.  Now as he gets older, we may not need it, but we're in the now and that's enough for me to have one.  

I hate to see, people park in expectant mother's parking spaces and definetly ones who do not have a permit......Just like we do not want people to judge our children's disability as they may look like a- typical child, we shouldn't judge them on theirs either.

Sometimes a disability isn't always a visability.  I hope the permit info helps some, if its truly something that is needed especially concerning safety issues like mine.

Thank you all!   

Joyful

you are so right, and just like you most of us don't take the idea of getting a decal lightly.  When I finally took the paperwork to our Pediatrician, he wondered why it had taken me so long to ask for one.

There are many people that abuse the system, whether the decal is for a child with autism, or an adult in a wheelchair.  When caught abusing the system I believe you should lose the privilege of having a decal, instead of receiving a fine.  Maybe then less people would abuse the system.

My son's condition continues to deteriorate (his autism is a symptom of something much more complicated), and as he gets bigger his behaviors continue to worsen. 

 

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