Accessible Parking at Amcorp Mall

Wuan and I do not go to Amcorp Mall often. The only two attractions there for us are the BookXcess for books at bargain basement prices and J One Camera for reasonably priced cameras and accessories. We usually park at the open air car park which has an accessible parking that is just across the driveway from the main entrance.

Accessible parking at Amcorp Mall open air car park
Accessible parking at Amcorp Mall open air car park.

The few times that we were there, it was occupied although some of the vehicles do not have the wheelchair logo on the windscreen. To give the drivers of these vehicles the benefit of the doubt, I usually assumed that they carried disabled passengers. If not, may these inconsiderate drivers soon experience what I have to go through all the time.

The last time we went there to get a replacement for a faulty dry cabinet power adaptor at J One Camera, we found that a very conspicuous signboard was erected on the kerb of the accessible parking with the word “Physically Challenged Only”. While I appreciate the management’s effort in ensuring that undeserving people are reminded not to abuse the parking, the language used could be improved.

Parking for
Parking for “Physically Challenged Only” at at Amcorp Mall.

A “physically challenged” situation in this context is manmade. Disabled people are physically challenged only when there are no accessible facilities or such facilities are abused and disabled people denied usage. A more appropriate phrase would be “For Disabled People Only”. However, I believe the intention of the sign was to specify that the parking is reserved for wheelchair users and people with mobility impairments only.

Anyway, I have digressed. Amcorp Mall should be commended for considering the needs of disabled people. Perhaps, they can make it even more convenient by adding another one or two accessible parkings. One lot out of the entire car park is grossly insufficient. Better still, make these parkings sheltered all the way to the main entrance. Open air parking is an incovenience for disabled people when it rains. I am not sure if there are any similar parking spaces in the basement though.

Author: Peter Tan

Peter Gabriel Tan. Penangite residing in the Klang Valley. Blissfully married to Wuan. A LaSallian through and through. Slave to three cats. Wheelchair user since 1984. End-stage renal disease since 2017. Principal Facilitator at Peter Tan Training specialising in Disability Equality Training. Former columnist of Breaking Barriers with The Borneo Post. This blog chronicles my life, thoughts and opinions. Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

6 thoughts on “Accessible Parking at Amcorp Mall”

  1. I can bet that there is a entire line of parking places reserved in the basement.

    Peter, I feel just the opposite of you on this matter of terms to use. I feel that I am not disabled. I am ABLE to do a number of tasks in my life and some better than someone able-bodied. I am challenged physically. This doesn’t mean I can’t get things done but sometimes it’s a big struggle for me. That’s what being challenged is all about. I also have mental challenges because of the stroke. Nevertheless, I persevere.

    1. Glynis, you missed the essential points I made in the post. The term “physically challenged” here is in relation to inclusion and accessibility. If you feel that you are not disabled that is fine but what I am trying to say goes beyond the individual person. For many disabled people, our being “physically challenged” are mostly manmade. Amenities are provided without consideration for everyone that needs to use them. Ramps that are too steep or no ramps at all. Poorly designed accessible toilets and accessible parkings that are often of the wrong dimensions to be useful are some of the issues that put us in “physically challenged” situations. If these are all done according to the principles of universal design then then situations of being “physically challenged” would not arise. Read http://bit.ly/eUz7M4 for the definition of impairment and disability.

  2. Open air parking is an incovenience for ANYONE – able or disabled – when it rains.

    1. In the context of disabled people, especially wheelchair users, we have no free hand to hold an umbrella when our hands are pushing the wheelchair or holding the walker. We take longer than non-disabled people to get out or into the car. People assisting us would be drenched when they store or retrieve our wheelchair from the boot in the rain. The list goes on.

  3. there’s parking inside amcorp. its just behind. two basement parking and level 3A to 8 floor parking too.

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