Comments on: MPSJ’s Myopic View Of Disabled People

By: Criminal Offence To Abuse Parking Spaces For Disabled People - The Digital Awakening

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:02:08 +0000

[...] but only to residents of the municipality for parking spaces managed by the council which I have spoken out against. Apart from that, anyone can print the logo and display it on their car dashboard and claim the [...]

By: Anthony Khong

Anthony Khong — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:43:41 +0000

Hi! Peter
I believe ‘Disabled Parking Sticker or we called it Disabled Parking Permit’ should be a national initiative and not just a regional or catchment privilages. Disabled people do travel and they like able bodied people do like to explore different principalities. Disabled drivers would wish to see equality amongst their drivers and not been discriminated from one town, area, region or state. So I trust the central government could see sense and restructure their policies accordingly.
Best regards
Anthony Khong
Councillor, Ivybridge Town Council.

Peter:
Yes, it should be a national initiative. Totally agree. In the meantime, while such a policy is not in place, we have to start with the municipalities. As it is, most of the accessible parking spaces are being occupied by non-disabled drivers. There should be a central issuing body for parking stickers to reduce abuse and enforcement must be stepped up to punish offenders blatantly abusing these parking spaces. I am very interested to know how it is being done at where you are serving. Please do share if you have the time.

By: Amy

Amy — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:51:22 +0000

I’m happy to have stumbled across your blog while doing research for brainandspinalcord.org, a U.S. based spinal cord injury website/blog. It’s very interesting to see the perspective of a wheelchair user in a different country. This post clearly shows there is still a lot of work for advocates all around the world.

Peter:
Welcome. :)

By: ex penang boy

ex penang boy — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:05:23 +0000

Lets not venture into who’s right or wrong.I never make assumptions on who is right or wrong,its a zero sum game.
I don’t wish to be drawn into another round of parry and thrust so I’ll just stop right here.We’d both end up with bruised noses and no ground gained.Good Night buddy.

Peter:
It was a good debate though. This has given me a better understanding of how disabled people are still being stereotyped in issues like this. There is a lot of work for disability rights advocates to educate the public especially on the social model of disability as opposed to the medical model of disability. As for what is right or wrong in such matters – right is when disabled people are empowered by the removal of disabling factors and given the opportunity to achieve equality in society; wrong when the implementation of official policies puts disabled people at a disadvantaged position due to prejudices and misconceptions about disability. It is as simple as that.

By: ex penang boy

ex penang boy — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:21:58 +0000

There is sometimes a rather fine dividing line between a right and a privelege.By the same token, I could argue that manufacturers of washing machines should provide free laundry services to OKU who are unable to use their hands as they have not designed user friendly machines for those unable to use them.
Waiving of parking charges is a privelege not a right as you are getting something that an able bodied person would have to pay for.I’m sorry but that my view so lets agree to disagree on this buddy! C’est la vie.

Peter:
Your analogy of the washing machine is way out of point to the extent of being unreasonable. Washing machine manufactures are not like municipal councils. The former is a business concern and sell their products as is. The latter has a duty to ensure that its services and facilities are functional and accessible to the public which disabled people are part of. Disabled people have the right to live independently which is the very same rights you and everyone else has a claim to. If you had read my entry properly, you would have read that I said I am not asking for free parking. However, if the municipal council makes it impossible for me to pay my parking fees, then I am asking for a reasonable solution to that problem which MPSJ is already extending to disabled people residing in the municipality. Is the municipal going to lose anything tangible by extending the sticker to other disabled people? I did not say that it is a right to have the parking fees waived when it comes to disabled people. This is called reasonable accommodation which if implemented is not going to cause undue hardship to anyone. So tell me, in cases where disabled people drive alone, how do you suggest they use the parking meters that are not accessible? Do not go to such places or just stay at home and not go out at all? Of course you are entitled to your opinion but that does not mean that you are right. Perhaps, we can debate this further over a cup of healthy fruit juice when you are in town. :D