Greetings everyone and I’m Scott Savoy back from a bit of a vacation along with our team.
It was good to get away and just relax but now we’re back.
Today, our president Donna J. Jodhan focuses on those who fake a disability in order to gain privileges.
She wants to hear from you!
Please send your feedback to her at donnajodhan@sterlingcreations.ca.
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Illegal to Fake Disability
By Donna J. Jodhan
In any fair society, accommodations for people with disabilities are not special favors—they are necessary supports that make public life accessible and dignified. Priority seating, accessible parking, mobility aids, reduced ticket rates, and shorter wait options exist to level the playing field, not tilt it. That’s why it’s so troubling when individuals exploit these systems by pretending to have disabilities they do not live with.
This isn’t a victimless shortcut. When someone falsely uses a cane or mobility aid to skip a line, they are taking time and space from someone who genuinely needs that accommodation. When a person misuses a wheelchair-accessible parking permit, they may force someone with limited mobility to park farther away, turning a simple errand into a painful or even impossible task. When fake passes are used to claim reduced rates or special access at events, it undermines programs designed to ensure inclusion—not to hand out perks.
Let’s be clear: disability is not always visible. Many people live with chronic pain, neurological conditions, or other impairments that aren’t immediately apparent. We should never police strangers based on appearances or assume someone is “faking” because they don’t look disabled. That kind of suspicion harms people who already face barriers and stigma.
But acknowledging invisible disabilities doesn’t mean ignoring real misuse. Where fraud is clear—counterfeit permits, altered documents, or deliberate misrepresentation—there should be consequences. Many jurisdictions already treat the misuse of accessible parking permits and similar credentials as offenses, with fines or penalties attached.
Enforcing these rules consistently helps protect the integrity of accessibility programs.
The goal isn’t public shaming or vigilantism. It’s accountability paired with respect. Businesses and event organizers can help by verifying eligibility where appropriate, training staff to handle accommodations sensitively, and designing systems that reduce opportunities for abuse without creating new barriers. Governments can strengthen safeguards, streamline legitimate access, and educate the public about why these supports matter.
Most importantly, we as a community should uphold a simple standard: if a support isn’t meant for you, don’t take it. Accessibility exists so that everyone can participate fully in society. Treating it as a loophole to exploit doesn’t just break rules—it erodes trust and harms people who rely on those supports every day.
Being disabled is not illegal, and it should never be treated as a shortcut or advantage. Respecting that distinction is a basic measure of fairness—and of decency.
I’d like to leave you with this for your consideration.
The car slips into the wide, clearly marked accessible parking spot near the mall entrance, the blue wheelchair symbol painted boldly beneath it. The engine cuts off, and for a moment everything is still. Then the driver’s door swings open. Without hesitation, the man hops out, landing lightly on his feet. He straightens up and, instead of pausing or reaching for any assistance, strides off briskly toward the mall doors, his pace quick and purposeful, blending into the steady flow of shoppers.
Image = A gray sedan is parked in a blue-marked accessible parking space outside a modern shopping center, with its rear door open and a disabled parking permit hanging inside the window, suggesting possible misuse of the permit, while a woman walks away toward the entrance and an elderly person using a walker moves across the lot in the background, with clear wheelchair symbols painted on the ground and a matching sign posted nearby under a bright daytime sky.
To learn more about me as an award winning sight loss coach and advocate visit www.donnajodhan.com