When Naomi Barringer took her 10-year-old daughter, Kaitlyn Barringer, for a shopping trip at Target, they did not expect to be greeted with such hostility. Kaitlyn is disabled and struggles with a rare genetic disorder called hypophosphatasia.
The condition leaves her bones weak and brittle. In fact, when Kaitlyn was born, she had 13 bone fractures. The family drives a vehicle with a handicapped placard and didn't think much of parking in the handicapped spot.
When they returned to their car, they discovered a note that said the unthinkable.
The note read:
“Greetings. I observed you parking in this handicapped parking place today. It appears 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 the truly handicapped and, because of idiots like you, they have to park further 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 local police. Have a great day!”
“I was offended. I was hurt. Actually, I didn’t know people thought of me like that,” Kaitlyn told WFLA. “I am disabled and they may not know that, and I can understand that, because I do look normal. But I don’t think they have to do that.”
Just because Kaityln doesn't look disable doesn't mean she isn't. Kaitlyn has a special message for other people with disabilities who face the same suspicions.
“This made me really sad, so I feel like I should just try to comfort them and tell them that they aren’t stupid. They aren’t lazy. They have the sign because they need it,” she said. “Even if that need isn’t apparent at first glance.”
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