Silly question.
When is the appropriate time to get these? Ewan just turned eight and is still walking, but I hate to have him march all the way from the far end of the lot at a place like, say Wal*Mart or the mall. We, of course, need a physician's letter, so I assume our neuro would be the best one to sign that. If I'm off base in thinking that we should get the placard yesterday, let me know. Otherwise, I'm getting the letter signed. :-)

Views: 112

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

There's another discussion about "business cards" that can be made up for situations just like this -- something to hand out to people who don't understand, when you don't have the time or the inclination to launch into the whole explanation for them. The discussion's here:
http://community.parentprojectmd.org/forum/topic/show?id=1187424%3A...

Danelle Dickerson said:
Our MDA doctor gave us our script at our very first appt. Like others have mentioned, we don't use it all of the time, but in large parking lots, it's a lifesaver. I have had several unfortunate occasions where observers have given me a hard time for using it. Usually, it's a person who also has a handicap placard who has decided that I don't look like I need it. I can take it, but it's been challenging to have them yelling at me from their vehicle in front of my kids. I've been tempted to type up an explanation letter that I can pass out to such individuals, so I don't have to say anything. They are looking at me walking just fine and seeing 4 kids climbing out of the van, and they assume we are taking advantage. They somehow miss the little guy that struggles to get in and out and is a little clumsy.
Absolutely get a placard!
My son is the same age as yours and has a certain amount of understanding about why we use it (we say we are "saving our steps for the fun stuff"). We live in a city and it is a make or break for us (even going to drs appts we have to walk three blocks from car door to clinic without it). Even with the placard I often feel that there isn't enough easy access for my son in most public places (even his public school has far more takers for the blue spots than you could imagine).
Let me also put a plug in for early Make-A-Wish trips too! Traveling before it's too difficult/complicated/ hard on your child and having a great time together when you all need it, can't be beat.
Rebecca
I get my letter 2 days ago. I was purchasing stickers for our cars and I get idea to ask about handicapped plates. It turns that there are plates and placards. After reading more about I decide to go for placards , as you can remove them and hang in any car Jacob would drive in , according to needs. Jacob is also walking without problems , but I pictured our last very snowy winter and decided to have something lake this in our glove compartment on those occasions like snowy , slippery roads in Illinois. Placards are good for 4 years.(here).Also for placard we don't have to pay extra as for new handicapped plates.
A few people mentioned -glares. We get those often in warm therapy pool. We were successful with straiting up staff( previously they all were asking as every 5 minutes why he is the pool , even there was prescription from doctor on files.You can strait up staff by talking with management , but unfortunately you can't strait up elderly members.I do not have any problems to comeback to pool after my son would walk out and "mention" that he has muscular dystrophy.
I may be wrong but I always assumed plates were for drivers with disabilities therefore our family couldn't use them (at least until my kid drives!).


Bozena Sporna said:
I get my letter 2 days ago. I was purchasing stickers for our cars and I get idea to ask about handicapped plates. It turns that there are plates and placards. After reading more about I decide to go for placards , as you can remove them and hang in any car Jacob would drive in , according to needs. Jacob is also walking without problems , but I pictured our last very snowy winter and decided to have something lake this in our glove compartment on those occasions like snowy , slippery roads in Illinois. Placards are good for 4 years.(here).Also for placard we don't have to pay extra as for new handicapped plates.
I would get it now.... We got Alex's when he started Kindergarten 3 years ago. We use anytime we can't park close to entrance. The less he walks and tires out, the better. Get it today. Our peditrician signed ours.

Good luck. Kim
Yes, your assumption is correct maybe for other state, then Illinois. In Illinois we can have one of both. The only problem in young age is that plates go on one car, but my son is passenger of about 4 cars, so placards are definitely choice for now , when still ambulatory.

Rebecca S. said:
I may be wrong but I always assumed plates were for drivers with disabilities therefore our family couldn't use them (at least until my kid drives!).


Bozena Sporna said:
I get my letter 2 days ago. I was purchasing stickers for our cars and I get idea to ask about handicapped plates. It turns that there are plates and placards. After reading more about I decide to go for placards , as you can remove them and hang in any car Jacob would drive in , according to needs. Jacob is also walking without problems , but I pictured our last very snowy winter and decided to have something lake this in our glove compartment on those occasions like snowy , slippery roads in Illinois. Placards are good for 4 years.(here).Also for placard we don't have to pay extra as for new handicapped plates.
Does anybody in California know how to get more than one placard, or if it's even possible? I drop the boys off at school, and Cheryl picks them up so Alex could be in either car at any given time, and it would be really convenient to have one placard for each car. When I picked up his placard at AAA, they told me I could only have one, and I shudder at the thought of trying to work this at the regular DMV office.
Many years agoa at our DMV office we got a handicapped plate for our van and one for the rearview mirror (cardboard or stiff paper) for my husbands pickup...it was no problem

Paul Cliff said:
Does anybody in California know how to get more than one placard, or if it's even possible? I drop the boys off at school, and Cheryl picks them up so Alex could be in either car at any given time, and it would be really convenient to have one placard for each car. When I picked up his placard at AAA, they told me I could only have one, and I shudder at the thought of trying to work this at the regular DMV office.
According to the California DMV website, you can have only one placard. Click here for the page.

Paul Cliff said:
Does anybody in California know how to get more than one placard, or if it's even possible? I drop the boys off at school, and Cheryl picks them up so Alex could be in either car at any given time, and it would be really convenient to have one placard for each car. When I picked up his placard at AAA, they told me I could only have one, and I shudder at the thought of trying to work this at the regular DMV office.
I guess I never even considered getting a handicapped endorsement until Chase (5) was in a wheelchair (hopefully never!). He's perfectly mobile now, maybe just slower and tires much easier.

I may have to think about the 'save steps for fun things' theory.

Thanks for the ideas!
Patty and Barbara,

Thanks for the responses. I guess I'll go with the "my dog ate the placard" plan, since the idea of registering an 11 year old as a vehicle owner seems even weirder.

Reply to Discussion

RSS

Need help using this community site? Visit Ning's Help Page.

Members

Events

© 2023   Created by PPMD.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Privacy Policy  |  Terms of Service