Special Ed Director Misuses Parking Spot
Categories: Kids 8-11, Special Needs
There were times when I took my father out, only to have to turn around and go home because some jerk decided to block the disabled parking space. For me, it's very personal and, being a large, loud, obnoxious guy, I have berated people, argued with them, and even gotten them ticketed for parking in a disabled spot when they didn't need it. So I completely understand the frustration an Arizona father felt when he was unable to use the parking spot at his sons' school because the director of special education was parked in it.Chris Beckham's sons both have muscular dystrophy and one uses a scooter. He needs to be able to use the parking place closest to the school. But when he arrived to find Special Education Director William Santiago parked in the spot, he was appalled at the man's "absolute arrogance". When Beckham asked him not to park in the reserved space, Santiago told him "Just because you have a hard life doesn't mean the world owes you everything."
For someone in his position, you would think Santiago would have a better understanding of why those parking places need to be left available for those that need them. Hopefully, Santiago will learn from this experience.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Stephanie 12-03-2008 @ 7:15PM
If I were in charge at this school, Mr. Santiago would be fired. And I'd call the police to ticket him and have his car towed.
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Linda 12-03-2008 @ 9:10PM
I have a "friend" whose husband just killed himsellf. It was such a sad time for everyone involved. The husband had a handicap and used his Handicap status to make things easier for him when he was out and about. I was so very sickened when I invited my "friend" and her family to attend a function with us. When we reached our destination the woman just pulled into a Handicapped space with her dead husbands card...and said "hey, its my right park here, thank you so and so (her husbands name). I argued the point with her and told her my daughters and I are embarassed to park in spaces that are meant for the handicapped....she told us to get over it. Unfortunately most the people in the world operate like my friend...by the way she is no longer my friend I am just "friendly with her"
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cinabonspice 12-04-2008 @ 3:42AM
OK im 21 years old and i have a handicap placard. By a regular person's eyes i look "fine." well that is not the case i have fibromyalgia and it is sickening for me to go and look for a handicap spot and there is someone else who doesnt need it parked there.. i try to think that maybe they forgot to put up the placard.. because yes just even today i forgot to put it up.. but i find it ridiculous that this person parked in the spot and then had the nerve to say what he said. it would be so hard for me not to just punch him in the face.. i would sue him. there is no reason for such thing..
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LS 12-04-2008 @ 8:50AM
My husband is a new recipient of a handicap card. He is blind, and temporarily (we hope) walks with much difficulty, due to injuries sustained earlier this year in a car wreck. We often do not use those spots. Sure, now I use them more now that there is ice on the ground, and I don't want him walking too far over the ice. But when the weather was nice? The walk is good for him, and he has me as a guide.
What frustrates me is when I see someone pull to the front of the store, drop off the disabled person, then drive the car to a handicap spot. They then park there, and STAY IN THE CAR, with the placard hanging from the mirror... then when the disabled person comes back out of the store, they drive up and pick them up.
I've also seen cars full of teens using the placard... they come tumbling out of the car like clowns out of a VW Bug, not one of them disabled in any way. But they have that placard from somewhere, and by gum, they're gonna take advantage.
I've reported both of these incidents, but alas, I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle.
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James 12-17-2008 @ 2:00AM
I have seen people do the same thing here in my state. I can't stand it. I am currently in school to be a speacil education teacher. to work with handicapped children and can't see how anybody with a so called brain can do something like this. They have no heart for the needy. I myself have bi-polar and have had it since I was 16. Now at age 31, I really understand how parents feel. I don't have children yet but when i do, that is something I am going to teach them is respect for other children and adults who may have disibilities. And if one day my child has a disibility then I can't wait to catch some idiot in a handicapped bay.At 6'5" and 285 pounds maybe I can talk some sense into these people and hope that they will get the message.
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