Woman Returns To The Handicap Spot To Find Ignorant Note On Her Car

Everyone has had a moment in which they regret making a snap judgment about someone or a situation. In some cases, those judgments can come back to haunt us. After all, we hardly ever see the full picture, and it is often much more comfortable to judge someone when you only see a small piece of the story. One of the saddest ways this happens is in the cases of those with disabilities, in particular, accessible parking spots. Disabilities don’t always mean that a person uses a wheelchair, so there are those folks who have legitimate reasons for parking in a handicap spot. However, they can often be looked down upon because of their outward healthy appearance.

Sadly, this is precisely what happened to a 41-year-old woman with multiple sclerosis. Justine, from all outward appearances, does not seem as though she has a handicap. But, as you may know, multiple sclerosis is a progressive disease. And for Justine, it started with numbness in her hands and feet when she was 35. Since then, it has slowly gotten worse.

“It’s difficult, every day it gets a little bit harder. I can’t do zips up, can’t do buttons up, probably won’t be able to drive soon and lose a bit more independence, unfortunately.”

And there are times when people see Justine parking in a handicap spot and walking away from her vehicle. These folks jump to conclusions, under the impression that she’s doing something wrong or dishonest. There are also those individuals who take their assumptions a step further to shame that person. But they end up hurting the type of person they are trying to protect!

Unfortunately, far too often, Justine would find herself in this situation. Recently, she was out with her daughter for what was supposed to be a fun outing, when she returned to her car and found a rude note on her windshield.

Justine finally had enough. So she decided to go to her Facebook page and post a picture of the note as well as voice her story. If just one person who typically would do something like this learns a lesson from her post, it can make a difference. Since the time she made her post, it has gone viral.

“To person that left this on my car last week at Mitcham Shopping Centre – I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when I was 35. Not just MS but the worst one that never goes away and is slowly crippling my life. My kids have had to deal with things that kids shouldn’t ever have to deal with and all of our futures are forever changed. On the day you saw me I was having a good day, I was walking with my daughter unaided having a nice day. Thank you for ruining that. You made me feel like people were looking at me, the exact way I feel when I can’t walk properly. I am sick of people like yourself abusing me on my good days for using a facility I am entitled to. A disability doesn’t always mean a person has to be wheelchair bound but lucky for you I one day will be. Right now my focus is to walk into my best friends wedding next September and not have to be pushed. I will be 42. Before you ruin another persons day remember you don’t know everything and just because you can’t see it it doesn’t mean a person isn’t struggling to put one foot in front of the other.”

After she posted her message, support from all over the world started pouring in. We hope that telling her story would not only provide her with some comfort but also help others who have gone through similar experiences for not “looking the part” of what some folks think a disabled person should look like. It’s never right to judge a book by its cover. Please be sure to share Justine’s story with your friends and family.