As someone with severe mobility issues, handicapped spots can mean the difference between me being able to go the store or not. I also have a child on the spectrum. He was a runner with poor danger awareness, but still small enough for me to restrain if I never let my guard down, and occasionally resorted to a leash/backpack. I feel if kids don’t grow out of those problems, yes a placard is reasonable. However, meltdowns happen. Just have them where you are, please don’t take the vitally needed spots from people with a physical disease. You know how rough it is when people don’t make reasonable accommodations for your kids autism? Well, walking that extra 10 feet really will hurt me, possibly long term. Please accommodate my disability too.
Lynn currie - 5 years ago
Most definitely as should parents who have children with autism to ,my grandson is nearly 7 not like some but still panics in some situations
Susan - 5 years ago
For all the reasons mentioned (running, meltdowns, and lack of spacial awareness), we have had a handicap placard for many years. Our son is almost 26, and has the ability to walk, cross with a light, and ride a city bus; but when it comes to a parking lot, he has a hard time navigating so many moving cars from different directions. I think it does depend on the individual, but I'm relieved I'm not the only one with the same issue!
Seija Clark - 5 years ago
I think it depends on the individual child. My son had many more problems than autism growing up and I couldn't even take him supermarket shopping most days. If I was taken shopping with a friend it would have made things easier for us to go out as many of us are confined to the house. Now he is grown up and I wouldn't need it but I think on an individual basis our children should be assessed for disabled parking so that at least families with autistic children or adults are able to get out and about even if it's only to a supermarket. It's a hard life when you are isolated as many are!!!
Seija Clark - 5 years ago
I think it depends on the individual child. My son had many more problems than autism growing up and I couldn't even take him supermarket shopping most days. If I was taken shopping with a friend it would have made things easier for us to go out as many of us are confined to the house. Now he is grown up and I wouldn't need it but I think on an individual basis our children should be assessed for disabled parking so that at least families with autistic children or adults are able to get out and about even if it's only to a supermarket. It's a hard life when you are isolated as many are!!!
Susan Lacey - 6 years ago
As a carer of two children with Autism, I find that parking away from the place we need to be can be extremely difficult. A child doesn't need to have a 'meltdown' to have difficulties. Although not physically disabled, one of the children can experience Sensory overload which renders them unable to stand or walk. They cannot be touched as this is physically extremely painful so carrying or lifting is not an option. You to not need to have a physical disability or wheelchair to need an accessible parking space.
Nad Mccoy - 6 years ago
Its for people who have mobility issues.reason its close to store. Anyone can have a meltdown. But they can still walk.
Pam C - 6 years ago
Yes. My son is non verbal and autistic. He is 16, 6’ and 225lbs. If he starts having behaviors or wants to bolt, having access to our vehicle quickly makes a huge difference. Not to mention he has difficulty coordinating his body movements to get in and out of any vehicle, so having added space on whichever side he enters or exits, allows enough space for us to assist him. I don’t think there should be separate places, signs or badges. People shouldn’t need to advertise what their disability is. If their doctor feels it’s needed and the dmv agrees, then that is all anyone with a disability needs. Splitting hairs about who is more disabled is not helpful. There should be more reserved spaces, but not limited by what type of disability you have.
Nikita - 6 years ago
Maybe not all will find them beneficial or need them. But for us with our autistic son they are a god send. My son meltdowns regularly in fact the older he gets the more sensitive he is to triggers and much too heavy now to carry. So closer the better for us as hes in danger of hurting himself or others in the moment. Also regular spaces are tight for opening doors etc to get a child with poor co ordination in/out without hitting the cars to the side and impossible to get a child mid meltdown into the car in such tight space. My son does however also have a currently undiagnosed issues with his hips which make walking painful at times so does also use a wheelchair when needed. Bottom linr is that some autistic people have developed amazing coping mechanisms and are more tolerant of stimulant whereas some like my son are uber sensitive and will fully meltdown over the silliest thing and having thr car closer helps us remove him from the situations quicker reducing thr risk of him harming himself or inadvertantly hurting someone else
Michelle - 6 years ago
As before I have a child with autism. He looks perfectly normal, has none of the aggressive or hysterical meltdowns people might recognise but has zero awareness of his or others safety. To be able to get him out of the car and safely in a space he can wait while u get a bag out or close the door before he decides to walk off or if other cars are trying to park next to you would be a bonus. You can not take him to the pavement and ask him to wait like other children may do as he panics and would either wonder off trying to find me or chase after me without ever thinking to look if there are cars about. There is a campaign for disabled toilets with the sign - not every disability is visable, the same is true for mental health. Just because you have a missing leg and are in a wheelchair doesn't mean that you are mentally incapacitated - most would be able to recognise the danger of a moving car. Children with autism don't even realise what is pavement and what is the road. They don't look for danger and their movements can be so erratic that one moment they are walking along holding your hand and the next they have bolted into the road - possibly in front of a car - because there is a stone lying in the middle of the road they have spotted and want. No telling u what they are doing, no checking for danger or cars. So absolutely!
Leanne Perceval - 6 years ago
GOD YES!!!!! I have autistic twin girls and I'm a single mum. One of the twins can bolt at the drop of a hat and has no awareness of her own safety even though she is high functioning. Also if shes in full meltdown and is kicking and screaming and flinging herself around. Try and get her into a car in a normal spot with out damaging the car next to yours. A disabled car spot is paramount if I take her out if I cant get one Ill go back home. Cant afford to fix other peoples cars if she damages them. Think outside the square people. I wouildnt have it for her unless she needed it. Not to mention the dangers of trying to drag and kicking and screaming child through a busy car park and praying her twin who is also mild autistic does freak out and unknowingly step out in front of a car.
Kathleen - 6 years ago
I think some more disabled spaces should be created closer to the entrance of the stores, event sites, etc. But different signs should also be made for these spaces. For the physically disAbled parking spaces already available... On the sign is someone in a wheelchair. I have also seen in the parking lot of the Stop & Shop near me, spots for families with young children closer to the entrance. If there could be a sign created that would represent the mentally disAbled population well and appropriately... Then by all means, please create those spaces. But to be eligible for those spots you should also need a blue tag with the right symbol on it. To be eligible... The parents or guardians for this person should need to prove to their state where they live, (or country), that the person that they are caring for has a disAbility to the point where they need to park closer for safety reasons or for something along those lines.
Shell - 6 years ago
I'm sorry but no, not to wider mobility access parking or no to blue badges for them if they are not wheelchair bound of mobility challenged too. I'm seeing this from both sides as I have raised 2 autistic children and I additionally have mobility disabling conditions. As much as they sometimes used to be runners when they were younger (they are adults now) I managed going places accordingly and managed them with coping techniques, I never needed a spot closer to cope with them and having one would of made little difference. There are plenty of standard sized parking spaces close, enough for children with difficulties. However there are already a limited number of blue badge holder spaces for those that actually need them to be able to maneuver out of a vehicle and be close enough to venues as walking distances causes them pain. If there was chance to turn a select percentage of standard size spaces into an autism adapted spaces and have a special permit for that then that would be a very different situation.
Rosalind Antill - 6 years ago
Disabled spaces are made wider to accommodate wheel chair users access. Able bodied users reduce the number of places for wheel chair users. I appreciate autistic people would benefit from being closer to entrances, so suggest specific regular sized disabled spaces be created close to entrances thereby leaving the larger spaces available for the disabled who really need them. I am a wheel chair user and can not shop if I can't get my chair out of the car and I need to be able to open the passenger door fully to get out and into my chair, not possible in ordinary parking places. I have sometimes had to abandon my shopping trip because all the disabled spaces are full.
Chris V - 6 years ago
My son is Autistic, and we as parents have his Melt downs fairly under control, I do recognize that some parents may have different issues with their child and may require parking closer. I've had plenty of issues in the middle of the store because he didn't get some candy or toy. but I have rarely had to take him home because of his meltdowns, and never have I needed a closer parking spot just to get him out of the store. sure I've had funny faces and even people yelling at me to parent my child. While me and my family does not need a handicap tag. people that have multiple children on the spectrum should if they feel they need it... But I see it all being abused as many do it already.
Michelle Skigen - 6 years ago
NO... those parking spaces are for mobility issues only. I am autistic, myself. I have raised a son with serious disabling issues in addition to autism - he is adult and now diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar, among other things, along with autism. Needless to say that as a child, he was a handful. I do know what it is like to parent a heavy, impulsive, wiggling wanderer/runner. There is a huge difference between the demands of wrangling a kiddo who is a handful, and not being able to walk far due to serious mobility challenges. I ALSO have active generalized myasthenia gravis affecting my breathing (I'm oxygen dependent when having to move around) and increasingly painful arthritis. THAT is what the placard is for... and when my child was little and I was healthy, it never crossed my mind, hanging onto my young man when he was young, to ever impede on spaces where people dealing with equipment like wheelchairs, or slowly hobbling to where they could use a scooter, or getting to the next place to sit down because that was a huge trek for them. There is no comparison.
Gary Simpson - 6 years ago
As someone on the spectrum myself, I'd actually prefer the disabled spots go to those with a physical disability. I do agree that yes, parking closer would be safer, but there are those in more direct need of those spaces. I personally would rather put myself in a stressful situation if it meant someone who needed it could have it.
Carol Keating - 6 years ago
Absolutely. I'm raising my autistic grandson whose a runner. He also has meltdowns everywhere and he's so heavy, I can't carry him all around a huge parking lot kicking and screaming. I'm not young anymore!
Spike Foley - 6 years ago
Hyper-mobility is the issue. A lot of autistic children are bolters i.e. they just take off, without considering traffic, pedestrians, or their own safety. Being able to park close to the entrance makes it safer and less stressful for the parents and/or caregivers.
Robyn Best - 6 years ago
I have 2 Autistic sons and to me it would seem very beneficial due to I some Autistic children are what we call runners. That means that they just simply take off with no regards to traffic or dangerous situations. Depending where the child is on the spectrum means alot, most Autism children need assistance with all their daily activities .
Robyn Best - 6 years ago
I have 2 Autistic sons and to me it would seem very beneficial due to I some Autistic children are what we call runners. That means that they just simply take off with no regards to traffic or dangerous situations. Depending where the child is on the spectrum means alot, most Autism children need assistance with all their daily activities .
Rachel Sinclair - 6 years ago
I believe this would be invaluable, I have 3 children on the spectrum and one thing that I always had issues with was their spacial awareness.....they would walk in front of moving vehicles.....being able to park closer would have been so much safer
As someone with severe mobility issues, handicapped spots can mean the difference between me being able to go the store or not. I also have a child on the spectrum. He was a runner with poor danger awareness, but still small enough for me to restrain if I never let my guard down, and occasionally resorted to a leash/backpack. I feel if kids don’t grow out of those problems, yes a placard is reasonable. However, meltdowns happen. Just have them where you are, please don’t take the vitally needed spots from people with a physical disease. You know how rough it is when people don’t make reasonable accommodations for your kids autism? Well, walking that extra 10 feet really will hurt me, possibly long term. Please accommodate my disability too.
Most definitely as should parents who have children with autism to ,my grandson is nearly 7 not like some but still panics in some situations
For all the reasons mentioned (running, meltdowns, and lack of spacial awareness), we have had a handicap placard for many years. Our son is almost 26, and has the ability to walk, cross with a light, and ride a city bus; but when it comes to a parking lot, he has a hard time navigating so many moving cars from different directions. I think it does depend on the individual, but I'm relieved I'm not the only one with the same issue!
I think it depends on the individual child. My son had many more problems than autism growing up and I couldn't even take him supermarket shopping most days. If I was taken shopping with a friend it would have made things easier for us to go out as many of us are confined to the house. Now he is grown up and I wouldn't need it but I think on an individual basis our children should be assessed for disabled parking so that at least families with autistic children or adults are able to get out and about even if it's only to a supermarket. It's a hard life when you are isolated as many are!!!
I think it depends on the individual child. My son had many more problems than autism growing up and I couldn't even take him supermarket shopping most days. If I was taken shopping with a friend it would have made things easier for us to go out as many of us are confined to the house. Now he is grown up and I wouldn't need it but I think on an individual basis our children should be assessed for disabled parking so that at least families with autistic children or adults are able to get out and about even if it's only to a supermarket. It's a hard life when you are isolated as many are!!!
As a carer of two children with Autism, I find that parking away from the place we need to be can be extremely difficult. A child doesn't need to have a 'meltdown' to have difficulties. Although not physically disabled, one of the children can experience Sensory overload which renders them unable to stand or walk. They cannot be touched as this is physically extremely painful so carrying or lifting is not an option. You to not need to have a physical disability or wheelchair to need an accessible parking space.
Its for people who have mobility issues.reason its close to store. Anyone can have a meltdown. But they can still walk.
Yes. My son is non verbal and autistic. He is 16, 6’ and 225lbs. If he starts having behaviors or wants to bolt, having access to our vehicle quickly makes a huge difference. Not to mention he has difficulty coordinating his body movements to get in and out of any vehicle, so having added space on whichever side he enters or exits, allows enough space for us to assist him. I don’t think there should be separate places, signs or badges. People shouldn’t need to advertise what their disability is. If their doctor feels it’s needed and the dmv agrees, then that is all anyone with a disability needs. Splitting hairs about who is more disabled is not helpful. There should be more reserved spaces, but not limited by what type of disability you have.
Maybe not all will find them beneficial or need them. But for us with our autistic son they are a god send. My son meltdowns regularly in fact the older he gets the more sensitive he is to triggers and much too heavy now to carry. So closer the better for us as hes in danger of hurting himself or others in the moment. Also regular spaces are tight for opening doors etc to get a child with poor co ordination in/out without hitting the cars to the side and impossible to get a child mid meltdown into the car in such tight space. My son does however also have a currently undiagnosed issues with his hips which make walking painful at times so does also use a wheelchair when needed. Bottom linr is that some autistic people have developed amazing coping mechanisms and are more tolerant of stimulant whereas some like my son are uber sensitive and will fully meltdown over the silliest thing and having thr car closer helps us remove him from the situations quicker reducing thr risk of him harming himself or inadvertantly hurting someone else
As before I have a child with autism. He looks perfectly normal, has none of the aggressive or hysterical meltdowns people might recognise but has zero awareness of his or others safety. To be able to get him out of the car and safely in a space he can wait while u get a bag out or close the door before he decides to walk off or if other cars are trying to park next to you would be a bonus. You can not take him to the pavement and ask him to wait like other children may do as he panics and would either wonder off trying to find me or chase after me without ever thinking to look if there are cars about. There is a campaign for disabled toilets with the sign - not every disability is visable, the same is true for mental health. Just because you have a missing leg and are in a wheelchair doesn't mean that you are mentally incapacitated - most would be able to recognise the danger of a moving car. Children with autism don't even realise what is pavement and what is the road. They don't look for danger and their movements can be so erratic that one moment they are walking along holding your hand and the next they have bolted into the road - possibly in front of a car - because there is a stone lying in the middle of the road they have spotted and want. No telling u what they are doing, no checking for danger or cars. So absolutely!
GOD YES!!!!! I have autistic twin girls and I'm a single mum. One of the twins can bolt at the drop of a hat and has no awareness of her own safety even though she is high functioning. Also if shes in full meltdown and is kicking and screaming and flinging herself around. Try and get her into a car in a normal spot with out damaging the car next to yours. A disabled car spot is paramount if I take her out if I cant get one Ill go back home. Cant afford to fix other peoples cars if she damages them. Think outside the square people. I wouildnt have it for her unless she needed it. Not to mention the dangers of trying to drag and kicking and screaming child through a busy car park and praying her twin who is also mild autistic does freak out and unknowingly step out in front of a car.
I think some more disabled spaces should be created closer to the entrance of the stores, event sites, etc. But different signs should also be made for these spaces. For the physically disAbled parking spaces already available... On the sign is someone in a wheelchair. I have also seen in the parking lot of the Stop & Shop near me, spots for families with young children closer to the entrance. If there could be a sign created that would represent the mentally disAbled population well and appropriately... Then by all means, please create those spaces. But to be eligible for those spots you should also need a blue tag with the right symbol on it. To be eligible... The parents or guardians for this person should need to prove to their state where they live, (or country), that the person that they are caring for has a disAbility to the point where they need to park closer for safety reasons or for something along those lines.
I'm sorry but no, not to wider mobility access parking or no to blue badges for them if they are not wheelchair bound of mobility challenged too. I'm seeing this from both sides as I have raised 2 autistic children and I additionally have mobility disabling conditions. As much as they sometimes used to be runners when they were younger (they are adults now) I managed going places accordingly and managed them with coping techniques, I never needed a spot closer to cope with them and having one would of made little difference. There are plenty of standard sized parking spaces close, enough for children with difficulties. However there are already a limited number of blue badge holder spaces for those that actually need them to be able to maneuver out of a vehicle and be close enough to venues as walking distances causes them pain. If there was chance to turn a select percentage of standard size spaces into an autism adapted spaces and have a special permit for that then that would be a very different situation.
Disabled spaces are made wider to accommodate wheel chair users access. Able bodied users reduce the number of places for wheel chair users. I appreciate autistic people would benefit from being closer to entrances, so suggest specific regular sized disabled spaces be created close to entrances thereby leaving the larger spaces available for the disabled who really need them. I am a wheel chair user and can not shop if I can't get my chair out of the car and I need to be able to open the passenger door fully to get out and into my chair, not possible in ordinary parking places. I have sometimes had to abandon my shopping trip because all the disabled spaces are full.
My son is Autistic, and we as parents have his Melt downs fairly under control, I do recognize that some parents may have different issues with their child and may require parking closer. I've had plenty of issues in the middle of the store because he didn't get some candy or toy. but I have rarely had to take him home because of his meltdowns, and never have I needed a closer parking spot just to get him out of the store. sure I've had funny faces and even people yelling at me to parent my child. While me and my family does not need a handicap tag. people that have multiple children on the spectrum should if they feel they need it... But I see it all being abused as many do it already.
NO... those parking spaces are for mobility issues only. I am autistic, myself. I have raised a son with serious disabling issues in addition to autism - he is adult and now diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar, among other things, along with autism. Needless to say that as a child, he was a handful. I do know what it is like to parent a heavy, impulsive, wiggling wanderer/runner. There is a huge difference between the demands of wrangling a kiddo who is a handful, and not being able to walk far due to serious mobility challenges. I ALSO have active generalized myasthenia gravis affecting my breathing (I'm oxygen dependent when having to move around) and increasingly painful arthritis. THAT is what the placard is for... and when my child was little and I was healthy, it never crossed my mind, hanging onto my young man when he was young, to ever impede on spaces where people dealing with equipment like wheelchairs, or slowly hobbling to where they could use a scooter, or getting to the next place to sit down because that was a huge trek for them. There is no comparison.
As someone on the spectrum myself, I'd actually prefer the disabled spots go to those with a physical disability. I do agree that yes, parking closer would be safer, but there are those in more direct need of those spaces. I personally would rather put myself in a stressful situation if it meant someone who needed it could have it.
Absolutely. I'm raising my autistic grandson whose a runner. He also has meltdowns everywhere and he's so heavy, I can't carry him all around a huge parking lot kicking and screaming. I'm not young anymore!
Hyper-mobility is the issue. A lot of autistic children are bolters i.e. they just take off, without considering traffic, pedestrians, or their own safety. Being able to park close to the entrance makes it safer and less stressful for the parents and/or caregivers.
I have 2 Autistic sons and to me it would seem very beneficial due to I some Autistic children are what we call runners. That means that they just simply take off with no regards to traffic or dangerous situations. Depending where the child is on the spectrum means alot, most Autism children need assistance with all their daily activities .
I have 2 Autistic sons and to me it would seem very beneficial due to I some Autistic children are what we call runners. That means that they just simply take off with no regards to traffic or dangerous situations. Depending where the child is on the spectrum means alot, most Autism children need assistance with all their daily activities .
I believe this would be invaluable, I have 3 children on the spectrum and one thing that I always had issues with was their spacial awareness.....they would walk in front of moving vehicles.....being able to park closer would have been so much safer