I have a neighbor who has a teenage daughter. She is a beautiful and talented young lady. Just a couple months ago, she was the star of the musical at the local high school. She is tall and very thin. In fact, she’s too thin. I found out recently that she is suffering from an eating disorder. It is tragic. And I found myself pondering about body image and the strange ways our brains will sometimes become deceived. For my neighbor, I can’t imagine how she looks in the mirror and sees anything other than skin and bones. Yet I know enough about eating disorders to know that she sees something entirely different. But what about those of us confined to life in a wheelchair? What about our body image? Do we struggle to look in the mirror and see reality? Or do we perhaps let our disability deceive our minds. I know that at times I fall into the trap of feeling like certain things are beyond my capabilities when the truth is I’m using my wheelchair as an excuse.

I’m sure you’ve run into it too. You’re trying to run your errands. You’re trying to be as self sufficient as possible. And there in the designated disabled parking sits a car without a permit. What do people like that think? Clearly, thinking isn’t their strength, but nevertheless, I’m compelled to consider what self-centered, spoiled imbecile would be so presumptuous.

Perhaps, they are having a bad day. Maybe a sprained ankle is slowing them down. Maybe they think they are just as “important” and need to park close to the building as anyone with a disability. Maybe they think the world revolves around them and they deserve special treatment.

Here’s the biggest frustration. They don’t get that it’s not really about being close to the building. It’s mostly about the extra space. Those who have never had to maneuver a power wheelchair, scooter, or regular wheelchair in and out of a vehicle, have no idea how impossible it is to do without the extra room.

We don’t need pity or to be coddled. We simply need the space to maneuver our chair. It’s simple physics!

Anyone caught parking in a disabled spot without a permit shouldn’t just get a ticket. They ought to be given an epidural spinal block and then be forced to try to get in and out of a wheelchair in a regular parking space.

Let’s face it, one of the challenging issues of needing a wheelchair is the time it takes to get places. Whether you’re traveling around the neighborhood just in your chair or scooter or you’re taking the time in a blistering hot parking lot to load and unload your chair.

So do any of you have ideas for how to stay cool while riding in your power wheelchair? Do you carry a water bottle? Have any of you used an umbrella for shade? Do any of you have attachments for your chair that provide shade—I’m not familiar with such a chair—does such a chair exist?

For me, I use loads of sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat. I might look a little funny, but what’s new about that?

Also, I try to get my errands done early in the morning when it’s cooler. If a store doesn’t open until 10 a.m., I’ll often just try to make my purchase online and pay for delivery rather than be out in the heat of the day.