you dont look sick

I think i will and take them information/pamphlet on invisible disabilities lol

I first received my handicap placard in 1989. I used it at the grocery store since I was going to have to walk miles to get my groceries within the store. I was 42 at the time. I headed to the produce aisle and a guy came up, screamed in my face that I should be ashamed to park in a handicap spot! He didn't bother to see the card. (In Ohio back then, there was a plastic card that you laid on your dashboard.) I yelled back for him to call the police on me then and boy did I wish he would do that! LOL

You can't let judgemental people bother you. YOU know you have chronic pain and aren't trying to pull off something. I still get dirty looks when I use the placard and I'm 68 years old now but I just consider the source. These people are ignorant about these invisible illnesses and will continue to be unless they develop one. Let's face it. Before we experienced this, we might have questioned others illnesses too since they "didn't look sick".

It might be good to ask your doctor for a handicap placard and then carry the receipt of purchase in your purse. Then if you are questioned, you can pull that out and prove you have a handicap! I have Crohn's disease and have a card stating I NEED to use the bathroom. I got it from the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. I also won't shop anywhere where if, they don't have a public bathroom, they won't let you use their private bathroom.

Sherrine

I deal with this a lot. I also walk with a slight limp due to a tilted pelvis. My entire spine is covered in osteoarthritis, and my cervical spine is curving/fusing together, and has 2 bulging disks. My right shoulder is tilting forward. You have to look closely to see that I'm slightly out of shape. I also have asthma, so walking long distances in cold or humid or hot weather can really trigger a bad spell.

People don't look closely. I have a service dog, and he carries my wallet, phone, keys in his backpack so I can go get groceries. I have significant loss of strength especially on my dominant side. People stare, because they don't understand why I have a service animal.

When someone questions me, I respond with "Even though it's against the law for you to ask about my disability, I want to help educate people about invisible illnesses, so I'll tell you about a couple of the disabilities I face." Usually, at that point, they apologize and walk away. Some do persist. If I'm in a hurry, it's very frustrating.

I think you should take some ADA cards to the tag agency, and tell them that you want to help educate them so that they won't treat another customer the way you were treated. Let them know how hurtful it is for people with autoimmune, neurological, and structural disabilities, because of the fact that it isn't obvious what is wrong. Explain that not all disabled people are in wheel chairs or using canes or walkers. My son has cystic fibrosis, and it's a terminal illness, but you wouldn't know it to look at him.

The cards I have pertain to my service animal. You should go to the Americans with Disabilities Act website. Click on laws & regulations, and you can print out specific pages stating the laws for public places.

I'm sure if you spend some time with Google, you can find a place that sells pamphlets or business cards. I used to have some from a place about invisible illness, but since they sell things, I won't post websites. I believe it's against our forum rules.

Anyway, I think we have to be willing to educate people if they are willing to listen & learn.

My biggest issue with the dog is people who let their kids run up to him. Even adults try to pet him sometimes. He needs to be monitoring my heart rate and blood sugar. He also carries my valuables, so I don't want people messing with his vest. If he is distracted by people, he can't do his job for me.

I get these kinds of looks too due to my limitations that people generally don't understand.

I think one positive way to look at this is we are sensitive caring individuals and I'm proud of that. People who are sensitive and caring wouldn't act like some of the culprits you have mentioned.

I think that is why I keep holding off getting my placecard. I look healthy, but I can't walk more that 200 ft before I'm about to pass out. Florescent lights drain all of my energy in stores. Walmart nearly kills me with their lighting and skylights. I get nasty looks when I ride the carts and my 79 year old mother walks beside me.

Almost is right. Why let strangers determine how we will live our lives? We know we need these things. Doctors can't legally give out placards if you are not disabled. They could lose their license over that! These staring, grouchy people are ignorant about chronic, invisible illness. They are judging you and will have to answer for that some time down the road.

Do what you need to do to be comfortable and live more successfully with these illnesses. We owe ourselves that much. Don't be a martyr to ignorant people. Just smile at them and say "good morning!" as you walk a few steps to the store. Keep smiling and be as nice to people as you can be and you will feel wonderful inside. The grouches will have a lousy day.

Sherrine