We’ve all seen it; drivers who take that open parking spot closest to the store so they can run right in for a few things without the inconvenience of having to walk across the parking lot. They think, “What’s the big deal? I’m only going to be a minute.” What they don’t think about is the inconvenience they are causing people with disabilities and impairments that can make mobility difficult. What really happens when a driver selfishly takes a handicapped parking spot is more than just a law being broken and it’s more than just a selfish act. It can create difficulties for people with disabilities and make a simple trip to the store (something most people take for granted) and make it a stressful ordeal.
Sometimes seeing that blue and white reserved parking sign isn’t enough for people to make a real life connection. For 8-year-old Catie Flournoy of the Kansas City metro area, if people only knew who they were directly affecting by taking these reserved parking spots, they may think twice before doing it. That’s why Catie launched “Catie Cares.” As a part of this campaign Catie made signs with her picture on them to put a face to the issue. By posting her pictures, with text that reads, “Think of Me, Keep it Free,” underneath handicap parking signs, Catie believes this will give people pause. Catie plans to post more of these signs in parking lots throughout the area to make the public aware of what really happens when they park in these reserved spots and how it impacts individuals and families who deal with disabilities every day.
