Posted by Maria Kay on 10/9/2007, 7:09 am, in reply to "Re: Handicapped fraud website"
71.224.141.27
Fox and Friends had another spot on this website including an appearance by the owner of the site Ms. Birdsill this morning. The DID emphasize the fact that many people do NOT have a visable disability and I thank them for saying that. Also, Ms Birdsill mentioned that this allows for curtailing fraud without personal confrontation. I wrote them another email this morning. Here it is:
Dear Fox and Friends,
I saw your spot on the Handicapped Fraud Web Site yesterday and it immediately got my back up. I have been one of those unfortunate people that have been harassed by unknowing persons for using my handicapped plaque when "I don't look sick". I have a few invisible disabilities: lupus, avascular necrosis in the ankle, fibromyalgia, asthma. I immediately emailed fox news and the IDA(Invisible Disabilities Advocate), upset to hear of such a website which to me seemed like vigilante practices and encouragement of the "Big Brother" mentality pervasive in our society and facilitated by the modern technology at hand i.e. picture cell phones.
I saw your follow up spot on this morning's program, and I just wanted to write to you again and say thank you for having Ms Birdsill on explaining her website in more detail and your emphasizing the fact that many people have invisible disabilities and that it's not our place to judge. It has eased my mind some.
I agree, there are those out there who indeed abuse this privilege and I think that's deplorable and should be stopped and this website allows the reporting of such fraud without personal confrontation. However, I still have reservations about it. I don't like the idea that my vehicle license plate number, or photos going into the DMV database should someone report me. I know that Ms Birdsill said there were no repercussions about reporting to the DMV but I wonder. I also think it opens up the possibility of abuse in that if someone should just have, let's say, a personal grievance with someone, they could report them just to be mean.
In lieu of this I am going to change my practice of using handicapped parking. There ARE days when I'm feeling better than average, and on those days I will look for a regular parking space close to where I'm going and bypass the handicapped space...I DON'T want to be reported. I feel like someone's always going to be watching and perhaps taking pictures and I don't want to be reported. It's a sad state when you feel like your rights are being invaded and subject to judgment by persons unknown and it gives me the creeps thinking about it. Where does this policing and dime-ing out end?
Sincerely,
Maria C. Kay
I sure hope they get alot of feed back about this.
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