NOT ALL DISABILITIES ARE VISIBLE. RESPECT GOES BOTH WAYS. ♿❤️ I want to share this encounter because there's a much bigger message here than just two people having words over a handicap parking space. First off, I have nothing but respect for individuals living with disabilities. I understand the struggles, frustrations, and how upsetting it can be when people illegally occupy handicap parking spaces they have no business using. Trust me, I get it. But here's the thing. You can't look at somebody and automatically assume you know their situation or what they're going through. Before this video started, I had already dropped my wife off at the front of the store. There were two vehicles ahead of me trying to park, and I was simply being considerate by allowing the young lady in front of me enough room to maneuver. Meanwhile, this gentleman behind me was laying on his horn. I even held our handicap placard outside my window so he could clearly see it. Instead of moving along, he continued cussing and being disrespectful. When he got out of his vehicle, his attention was immediately directed toward me, and he came at me with that same energy. AND HERE'S SOMETHING ELSE I WANT PEOPLE TO PAY ATTENTION TO IN THE VIDEO. AT ONE POINT, THIS GENTLEMAN QUESTIONS WHETHER MY WIFE IS IN A WHEELCHAIR. YOU CAN ALSO FAINTLY HEAR A BYSTANDER SAY SOMETHING IN THE BACKGROUND. OTHER PEOPLE WERE PRESENT AND WITNESSED THIS CONFRONTATION. I can't clearly make out what that bystander said, so I'm not going to put words in anybody's mouth. But what really stood out to me was his question about my wife being in a wheelchair. BROTHER, SINCE WHEN DOES SOMEBODY HAVE TO BE IN A WHEELCHAIR TO HAVE A LEGITIMATE DISABILITY? That's exactly the kind of assumption I'm talking about. LET ME MAKE SOMETHING VERY CLEAR: MY WIFE IS THE LEGAL HOLDER OF A CALIFORNIA DMV-ISSUED DISABLED PERSON PARKING PLACARD. HER DISABILITY IS MEDICALLY DOCUMENTED, AND HER ELIGIBILITY IS SUPPORTED BY THE REQUIRED MEDICAL CERTIFICATION AND DMV PAPERWORK. SHE IS LEGALLY AUTHORIZED TO USE ACCESSIBLE PARKING. AND FOR THE RECORD, I ALSO LIVE WITH A MEDICALLY DOCUMENTED DISABILITY, EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY NOT RECOGNIZE IT BY LOOKING AT ME. NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT CALIFORNIA LAW: Under California Vehicle Code §§ 22511.5 and 22511.55, accessible parking spaces are NOT exclusively reserved for people in wheelchairs. Individuals legally using a valid Disabled Person parking placard or qualifying disability license plates may use designated accessible parking spaces, including van-accessible spaces. CALIFORNIA LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE SOMEONE TO BE IN A WHEELCHAIR, USE A WALKER, OR HAVE A VISIBLE DISABILITY TO QUALIFY FOR ACCESSIBLE PARKING. California Vehicle Code § 4461 governs proper use of disability parking placards, including use in connection with transporting the person to whom the placard was issued. Now, here's another issue that really bothered me. MY WIFE'S MEDICAL CONDITION, HER DIAGNOSIS, HER MEDICAL RECORDS, AND HER PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION ARE PRIVATE. THE SAME GOES FOR MY OWN MEDICAL INFORMATION. HIPAA PROVIDES IMPORTANT PRIVACY PROTECTIONS FOR MEDICAL INFORMATION HELD BY COVERED HEALTHCARE ENTITIES. MORE IMPORTANTLY, NEITHER MY WIFE NOR I HAVE TO DISCLOSE OUR PRIVATE MEDICAL DIAGNOSES TO A STRANGER IN A PARKING LOT JUST TO SATISFY HIS ASSUMPTIONS. YET I STILL CHOSE TO SHARE PERSONAL INFORMATION ABOUT MY LIFE, MY WIFE'S DISABILITY, AND MY OWN MEDICAL CIRCUMSTANCES IN AN ATTEMPT TO CLEAR UP THE MISUNDERSTANDING. EVEN AFTER THAT, HE CONTINUED SPEAKING TO ME DISRESPECTFULLY. That's what really got under my skin. I wasn't trying to disrespect this gentleman. I wasn't trying to take something away from him. I was simply trying to park legally while being considerate of another driver. And brother, I understand you may have been through some things. Maybe you've dealt with people mistreating you, judging you, or illegally taking parking spaces that you genuinely need. - @jeremiah_0_0