ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The Missouri Planning Council for Developmental Disabilities wants to removed the word "handicapped" from signs indicating parking spaces for the disabled.
Susan Pritchard-Green heads the council. She says the word "handicapped" is derogatory and insulting for people with disabilities.
Instead, she says she'd like to see the spaces marked in blue to be known simply as "accessible parking." The council and other advocacy groups say they'll push for legislation to change the language of the state law governing the parking signs.
Pritchard-Green says some other states have already made the change.
The story on KMOV
Maybe I am missing something. I do not see the word 'handicapped' as derogatory? Is a disability, not a handicap? And if they remove the word from the sign, and just make it say accessible parking, are we not all still, in our heads, seeing 'handicapped accessible parking'?
Susan Pritchard-Green heads the council. She says the word "handicapped" is derogatory and insulting for people with disabilities.
Instead, she says she'd like to see the spaces marked in blue to be known simply as "accessible parking." The council and other advocacy groups say they'll push for legislation to change the language of the state law governing the parking signs.
Pritchard-Green says some other states have already made the change.
The story on KMOV
Maybe I am missing something. I do not see the word 'handicapped' as derogatory? Is a disability, not a handicap? And if they remove the word from the sign, and just make it say accessible parking, are we not all still, in our heads, seeing 'handicapped accessible parking'?