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.

If you’ve ever seen one of those documentaries about the charities that deliver wheelchairs to third world countries, you know what a life-changing gift a wheelchair can be. Images of poor, neglected, disabled children scooting along the ground or walking on their knees or hands can be heart-wrenching.

Those scenes do help all of us recognize how incredibly important the functional aspects of wheelchairs are. This recognition can make a discussion about the design of today’s wheelchairs—specifically the unimaginative design of so many of today’s wheelchairs—seem immature or ungrateful. However, in a country where there are many wheelchair options that all satisfy the same basic functional duties, it certainly is not unreasonable to question why the aesthetics of so many of these products are drab and uninspired.

Take for instance other “functional” products such as sunglasses or motorcycles. Look at how manufacturers have used design aesthetics to offer large measures of self-expression along with the necessary function.

Is the sterility of wheelchair design a reflection of the prevailing attitude towards human disability? Is there room in the wheelchair market for innovation and inspiration? Don’t members of the disabled community—who already deal with tremendous daily challenges—deserve the opportunity to express themselves?

Thanks to products like the Jazzy Select power wheelchair, there is some hope. This product features a seat that looks like something designed for a great road-trip car. The splash of color injects a bit of personality. The blend of form and function offers a much more visually appealing option. Hopefully other manufacturers can put time and resources toward serving up more inspired designs in the future.