# @jessicatatianalong on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CE67UBypj5a
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/19164080-jessicatatianalong-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/5867413d3a.jpg
- **Posted:** 2020-09-09T15:25:17.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Jessica Long (@jessicatatianalong) — https://gondola.cc/jessicatatianalong

## Caption

I was never bullied as a kid (thank goodness), but as I got older I actually started getting bullied by other adults... from parking in a handicap spot 😂 ⁣
⁣
I get 2 to 4 comments a week just going about my normal routine and parking in handicap spaces. I’ve had people yell at me, leave notes on my windshield, knock on my car window or wait for me to get out of my car just to tell me I can’t park there. My worst experience to date was a older couple that followed me around a grocery store and kept making comments because they wanted the handicap spot I took and said that I didn’t need it. I even explained I had two prosthetic legs and they told me I was a liar 🤔😅
⁣
I am a bilateral amputee with about two inches of bone below the knee. My legs hurt. Even though I have an incredible team who fits my prosthetics perfectly, some days they still just hurt. I could’ve had a long travel day, leg day in the weight room, or a busy day with a lot of walking. Every day is different. ⁣
⁣
I rely on my handicap pass so much.

In the summertime, my legs get super sweaty. Imagine wearing silicone socks and then trying to walk in 100° weather. (That’s the thick insert I wear over my knees to keep my prothetic leg and my real leg together.⁣)
⁣
In the winter, walking in snow and ice is really difficult. If I fall down, I need a hand to help me up. ⁣
⁣
And don’t even get me started on rain 💁🏼‍♀️⁣
⁣
Less walking is best for me and as havenfaithshepherd said in a recent post - amputees only have a certain amount of steps each day before we get tired. ⁣
⁣
My point is this: you never know what someone is going through, but kindness always wins. Maybe you can’t figure out why a young person is parked in a handicap spot, and that’s okay... there’s a lot of “invisible” disabilities. I shouldn’t have to justify myself to strangers every time I use my handicap pass while wearing long pants. There’s nothing wrong with showing some kindness and assuming you don’t know the full story and that it’s not your job to figure it out. ⁣
⁣
So to the handicap police, be kind 🤍
⁣•⁣
•⁣
• ⁣
#handicapparking #amputeestrong #lovemyhandicappass

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 4,654
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 207

## Tags

amputeestrong, handicapparking, lovemyhandicappass

---
Copyright (c) Gondola