Question
Hello. I recently asked my physician to complete a form so that I could get a disabled parking permit. He refused stating that walking is good for me. Now I feel embarrassed like I shouldn't have even asked. I have a muscle disease called mitochondrial myopathy that causes fatigue and pain, as well as dysautonomia, which causes my heart to race and makes me feel like I am going to faint. While my symptoms are not constant, there are days when I need to go to the store just to pick up something and the long walk from the parking lot to the building is just too much. Not to mention, I've had appoinments at a university and the extremely long walks to the building have left me shaking and too fatigued. While I enjoy walking on good days, I feel that just because I look healthy I can't ask for help. Do you think I was wrong to ask for a permit?

Answer
Most people understand that you can look healthy and still have problems, and the flip side is that some people in chairs have more strength and stamina than many people walking do.

I can see both sides here. Most of my clients at work are in very poor physical condition and many use wheelchairs, walkers, etc. When no handicapped stalls are available, they suffer both because of the distances and the lack of good, safe places to unload their chairs. It is heartbreaking to see a wheelchair-equipped van crusing for parking spaces when you watched several of the people leaving cars in the spaces and just strrolling on into the store.

Sure- these people could be suffering from any of a hundred debillitative diseases or conditions, but on this occasion you have to wonder if they were just taking advantage of the permit.


On the other hand, I have conditions that leave me with bad knees, swollen legs, poor aerobic endurance, etc. and the average Wal-Mart trip requires that I stop somewhere in the parking lot to catch my breath. I really wish there was a permit and parking situation for me and others in similar situations (pregnant, elderly, etc.) that don't need special sized spaces or curb cuts, just shorter walks.