Disable Parkings – lack of consideration
Disabled parking – disregard for the needs of the Differently-Abled and lack of monitoring by the Traffic Department.
After continual reminders regarding the procedure to be followed should a person require either a temporary or permanent Disabled Sticker, those who are Differently-Abled have been well informed and are, I am sure, obtaining their stickers as laid down by the law.
However, the lack of consideration for those who are permitted to utilise the limited parking that is available is, to say the least, shocking in the extreme.
My volunteers have identified at least 4 disabled parking bays centrally located and one on Lookout Beach, that are constantly being taken up by those who are NOT in need of them.
I am currently awaiting feedback and times for a meeting with the Heads of the Traffic Department. The discussion will not only cover the lack of supervision of the Disabled Parking bays accompanied by heavy fines but also how to make the obtaining of Disabled Stickers less stressful.
If you have been following the Differently-Abled articles regarding how we are trying to organise not only accessibility but also integration into society by way of sports and more, you will know that this is an ongoing mission.
Being “Differently-Abled” means just that. You may be restricted in some way from functioning perfectly but are brilliant in other aspects and need to be treated the same as everyone else.
Do not be too complacent, the law of averages decrees that somehow, in some way, it is going to happen to YOU – WITHIN SECONDS, and you will need those same facilities that we are trying so hard to make accessible for all.
So, next time you think you are just going to “run in quickly it will not matter” think again – IT DOES MATTER.
Rita Hardaker – ritav@global.co.za
DIFFERENTLY-ABLED AWARENESS CAMPAIGN