WATCHDOG REPORT: Disabled group photographs parking obstaclesBY RON MENCHACA
THE POST AND COURIER
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Photo Illustration, Photo by Maria Saxon A disabled resident took this picture at The Citadel as part of the Photovoice project. She was driving the van (at left) and barely could manage to get her wheelchair ramp opened and maneuver out. "A few minutes later he came and moved his truck," Maria Saxon said. "I think he kind of got that visual understanding, like, 'Oh, maybe I'm not supposed to do that.'?" 
Ruth Jones This car at Northwoods Mall in North Charleston didn't have a handicapped parking plate or placard displayed. They don't wear badges or carry ticket books, but their tactics may be just as effective when it comes to identifying parking cheaters. For the past year, a group of area residents with spinal cord injuries has canvassed sidewalks, streets and parking lots across the Lowcountry to photograph the types of obstacles that disabled people encounter. They've documented a variety of problems such as wheelchair access issues and handicapped parking violations, said Susan Newman, a nursing student at the Medical University of South Carolina who created the project as part of her doctoral dissertation. For the project, called Photovoice, Newman teamed with the Disability Resource Center in North Charleston and distributed digital cameras to 10 participants. "The purpose of the project was for them to document, with pictures, barriers and supports to their ability to participate in the community," Newman said. "It quickly became apparent that parking was a huge issue." A recent Post and Courier Watchdog investigation revealed widespread abuse of handicap parking placards by able-bodied people looking for free and convenient parking, particularly in downtown Charleston. Photovoice documented similar misuse. Participants also photographed other types of handicapped parking violations that make it difficult, if not impossible, for disabled residents to get around and maintain their independence. Among the most common issues project participants encountered were problems with handicapped parking spaces intended to accommodate wheelchair lifts. Such spaces include an adjacent striped area to allow room for the lift to open and the wheelchair to maneuver. But participant Ruth Jones, who is paralyzed from a spinal cord injury, said many people misunderstand the purpose of these striped areas and treat them as regular parking spaces or block them in other ways. It's particularly a problem in grocery and retail store parking lots, where people dump their shopping carts in the striped areas. One local grocery store placed its shopping cart return corral directly on top of the area designated for the wheelchair lift. Since the project's launch last summer, the group has amassed an archive of some 600 photos. Each photo is accompanied by a personal description from the photographer about how a particular obstacle affected his or her life and mobility. One disabled man photographed a series of brick steps outside a local restaurant where his co-workers hang out after work. "These steps provide access to much of the social interaction between my friends at work, the insight to private jokes and conversations of people I really enjoy. These steps stop me in my tracks." Newman hopes to organize a public exhibition of some of the photographs to help educate people about how they may unintentionally create obstacles for the disabled. For now, the project has achieved one of its goals: empowerment The cameras give disabled residents a voice and a sense that they can do something about the challenges they face, Newman said. "It's a community-based project that does research with people and not on them." Jones said the newspaper's recent series on handicapped parking abuses renewed interest among the group's participants, and another photographic crackdown is in the works. Jones also hopes to get some of the photographs in front of state lawmakers who recently wound down the legislative session without taking action on a bill aimed at tightening the rules for handicapped parking placards. "We need to educate these guys up in Columbia," she said. "Pictures can educate." |
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Comments
This article has 7 comment(s)
Posted by Rm080781 on June 26, 2008 at 12:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I just wanted to comment on this. I think the whole idea of giving camera was great. I think they should crack down on people who illegally park in those spots and the ones who try to park in the "in between" ones.
Now, there is one small problem with the rest of the experiment. I do see people who look like they shouldnt be able to park there. It gets on my nerves also. I hate having to drive around and wait on someone to leave. BUT just because someone "looks" like they arent handicapped, doesnt mean anything. I am in my 20s and have a child who has cerebral palsy. She cant use her right side. She isnt even close to standing, much less walking. She is a twin. I also have another set of twins (only 1 of mine is walking). She has a handicapped placard. Now, I only use it when I have her and another child in the car. Now if you saw me park in a handicap spot, pull out a stroller and go into a store; would you think we were abusing it? For us, I would rather use a stroller than a wheelchair while I can. Does that make her any less handicapped since she is a toddler? That brings up a whole different controversy, but.... just something for though. What if someone has heart problems? Would that person necessarily looked handicapped? Not all people who have placards and need them "look" like they do.
This subject just hits a nerve.
Posted by k5 on June 29, 2008 at 3:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you Rm080781 - you have hit the same nerve as mine!! I also have a 7 yr old with cerebral palsey that is legally blind and a 13 year old, 12 year old, 10 year old and 9 year old that have no disabilities and when we pile out of the car - I get the same "looks"!! It does hit a controversial nerve and the common outsider doesn't see it!
Posted by LadyTarHeel on June 30, 2008 at 4:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To the two posters above me: I understand your frustration with people who give you the dirty looks! I have a handicapped placard because I have multiple sclerosis (an invisible disease) and I use my placard mostly because my legs decide to do their own thing when they get good and ready! It makes me furious when I get those looks and snide comments. If only those people could walk a day in my shoes. I got an "illegal use of a handicapped placard" ticket downtown the other day. When I went to contest it, the guy asked me, "Is this yours?" After I showed him my registration and driver's license, both of which have my name on it. I wish both you the best of luck with your children. And do what I do, tell people to kiss your butt:o)
Posted by Thomas1776 on July 7, 2008 at 3:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
These people who park illegally in handicapped parking or fire zones have no respect or care for anyone nor even the law.
Make the laws stiffer, I agree. But these people who have been obtaining these place cards illegally from friends and their employment must not be afforded to escape prosecution; doctors included no matter who the doctor is. They must be punished.
Posted by STREETLAW on July 8, 2008 at 5:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What a bunch of idiots. Most handicapped parking places hardly give the handicapped much of an advantage. What they really need to do is make the handicapped spaces as close as they can to the businesses and make them for wheelchair bound people only. And how about a few dozen spaces near buildings that have doctors offices in them. Not just two or three. DUH!
As to the self righteous busy bodies who seem to practice medicine on the fly, I drive for my wife who is wheelchair bound and sometime you may not see her getting in or out or sitting in the car and somehow only see spry old me getting in or out and jump to the wrong conclusion.
I would love to set you straight on that.
I agree it is wrong for healthy people to use handicap spaces but many of them are no prize to begin with. And while you have nothing else to do, why don't you make citizens arrest of people who drive with handicap stickers hanging from their rear view mirrors and obstructing their view. That's against the law, too. Unless I guess they are mentally handicapped.
Posted by palmettotree on July 9, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My only argument are the people who park in the handicap slot and RUN or walk real fast into the building that they are going into. Also these overweight people who need to walk from the farthest reaches of the parking lot. I know that some may have a medical problem but their problem may just be the fact that they are overweight and the walk will do them some good. I am slightly overweight right now and park as far away as I can to the store.
Posted by geekguy2008 on July 13, 2008 at 1:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Obesity is NOT a handicapp. Get your fat a-- out and WALK!
The first time one of those "picture takers" gets stomped down, they'll think twice about minding someone else's business. You never know when you'll run into someone from the west coast....they don't play that crap. Leave the police work to the authorities or you had better have real good medical insurance.