The Colorado mum had parked in a disabled spot outside a local Target store before going inside with her daughter Kaitlyn. When they returned to their car, they were greeted with a note claiming Kaitlyn wasn’t "really handicapped".
"I observed you parking in this Handicapped parking place today. It appears that you are not really handicapped -- perhaps just in a hurry, or worse, just plain lazy.
“In case you don’t know, these spots are reserved for people who are truly handicapped, and because of idiots like you, they have to park farther away or not be able to come here at all.”
“Before you throw this away, know that I have called in your license plate number to the local police. Have a great day!”
Speaking to The Huffington Post about the incident, Naomi says their disability sign was actually visible on the rear-view mirror at the time the note was left and that her daughter Kaitlyn was incredibly hurt by the letter and took it personally.
The reason the family has disability access is that 10-year-old Kaitlyn has a rare genetic disorder known as hypophosphatasia. This condition is classed as “potentially life-threatening,” as it affects the quality of bone and muscle structure and can also lead to seizures and respiratory failure.
During her 10 years, Kaitlyn has already suffered through 30 fractures, as well as two skull surgeries and a knee operation. Because of her condition, the young girl has difficulty walking for a significant period of time and is easily tired. She also often uses crutches and even a wheelchair on days when her pain is too much.
On this particular day, Kaitlyn felt up to walking unaided and therefore didn’t ‘look’ disabled. Naomi says judging people’s disabilities based on how they look is a dangerous practice. "Disabilities come in many forms, several of which you can't see just by looking at someone."
Admirably, the family is currently looking at the positives of the situation. While the note was upsetting, Kaitlyn’s mum hopes it "helps remove the stigma of what some may think a disability or handicap should look like."
For more information about Kaitlyn’s condition and to contribute to her care, you can visit the family’s GoFundMe page.
