I am writing in response to the article "Disability may not be visible" in your April 23rd issue.
The person who screamed at the family who parked in a disabled spot because their six year old son has difficulty walking due to muscular dystrophy was completely inappropriate and way out of line. It must have been a very stressful ordeal for the entire family especially the little boy.
I have been married to a paraplegic man for nearly 31 years. I cannot count the number of times we have had to park long distances from where we need to go because someone who is able to walk took the last wheelchair parking space available. A person who is still able to be ambulatory, no matter the difficulty, should never take a wheelchair parking space unless there are several more to go around. In the case of the family mentioned above they should either have a wheelchair for their son to use or they should assist him with walking (or carry him) to where they are going.
The day will likely be coming when the six year old son will need to use a wheelchair all the time, and then that family will experience what my husband and I have been going through for 30-plus years.
As long as your son is able to walk, you should park in a regular space as close to the disabled spots as you can but not in them. While he is still so little one or both of you should be able to assist him with his walking.
Karen Gardner