Disability campaign to ‘Save my spot, nah!’
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Government and the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) have launched a grassroots public education and awareness campaign to promote equal rights and legal protection for those with disabilities, especially accessible parking or ‘blue spots’. The “Save my spot, nah!” campaign has been developed to encourage compassion and advocacy for members of the community with visible and invisible disabilities who rely on the spots.
It also aims to rally the community to protect accessible parking areas and better understand the rules of use. NCPD Chairperson Magda Embury is encouraging the public not to judge appearances or make assumptions about people they see using accessible parking but to be alert to vehicles that park in these spots without the approved permits or licence plates.
“Often, well-meaning onlookers may shame individuals for using the blue spots without knowing that they suffer from an invisible condition, and they are qualified to use the designated spaces for a better quality of life,” she said. “It is also important to remember that the additional space next to the blue spots, known as the ‘crosshatch area’, is not an extra parking space, but rather an essential exit-entry space needed for motorists with disabilities who use wheelchairs or other devices. Unfortunately, sometimes these crosshatched spaces are often occupied or partially blocked by able-bodied drivers.”
Disabilities are defined as any physical, mental or neurological condition that may affect an individual’s movements or senses, regardless of outward appearances. Someone may legally have a disability parking permit or licence plate without having a visible mobility assistance device, like a wheelchair, scooter or cane. Invisible conditions, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, heart conditions, asthma, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis may qualify someone to park in a blue spot.
According to the World Health Organization, nearly one in every seven people on Earth lives with a disability that impacts major life activities. As people age, the proportion with disabilities increases, and of those with chronic illness, 80% are considered to have an invisible or hidden disability. That equates to approximately one billion people who are living with an invisible disability. Locally, there are many people who need to use accessible parking spaces.
Acting Cabinet Secretary Jason Webster said, “It is our goal to always protect the most vulnerable in our society and to inspire a new wave of advocates to further the goal of protecting ‘blue spots’ for those that really need them. As we have entered the busy holiday season, we encourage the community to be ‘Blue Spot Heroes’ and leave the blue accessible parking spots for those who need them the most.”
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Category: Health, Medical Health
No it’s not; it’s the law. Both sides are required to pull over. It is even more important in Cayman with our little streets and blocked traffic.
A lot of confusion here. Let me translate, as I have a working knowledge of “other island”. The word they were looking for is “nuh”.
Moronic and depreciating slogan!!
It reflects the education level of most of our political and civic leaders and promotes uneducated speech. Unfortunately!!
The slogan could have been a lot more formally acceptable.
Agreed, unfortunately the comments below do not agree. Apparently the decline in education/literacy is endemic in Cayman. This does not bode well for the electorate to vote for more ethical, educated candidates. So sad of what this beautiful country has become.
Using a local dialect is no indication of one’s level of education. Being educated just means you can switch seamlessly between the dialect and “standard” English.
I don’t think it’s a great slogan either, but the use of Cayman dialect is not the issue.
But I suppose dismissing anything that comes from outside mainstream western culture, is nothing new
Enforcing the laws goes against Caymanian culture and everyone can see it. It can not be fixed. Those with no self respect can not respect anything or anyone else.
Start handing out $500 fines on a regular basis and I bet the illegal parking would stop.
No campaign needed.
Almost as stupid as “Caymankind”
Parking in a blue spot, failing to yield to ambulances and other emergency vehicles should be an automatic 1 year license ban. If that were the case, at least those driving with valid drivers licenses might pay attention and/or think twice about moving that extra 5 feet. This is why we have RFID readable plates. Readable from 200 yards away. CIG needs to instruct the RCIPS to start collecting all of the foregone penalty revenue under the Traffic Code. The ticket is the painful lesson, not the warning of a warning…maybe.
The only time you yield for an ambulance or emergency vehicle is if you’re in their way or at a junction. I often see people coming to a complete stop when the emergency vehicle is going in the opposite direction with ample space as the motorists in their way have pulled to the shoulder. That is an unnecessary obstruction of traffic.
No it’s not; it’s the law. Both sides are required to pull over. It is even more important in Cayman with our little streets and blocked traffic.
Agreed, except the laws won’t be enforced as the police have no ba.ls!
the answer I believe is quite simple. create a new division purely for traffic wardens. these don’t have to be trained police people, but spend their days looking for parking infractions (a busy day every day for them!). then when they find one, tag the plate and stick a ticket on the windshield. that’ll also have the benefit of cars getting logged against the main database, as one could also go as far as describing the make, model and condition of the vehicle in question to weed out illegal licences, tints and other things. this has been done for years in other countries, and also brings employment benefits too.
How about obeying the law. In the US nobody takes those spots and nobody enforces it. Do Caymanians have a different matter inside their skulls?
Not only Caymanians use the road or park in blue spots.
but the entire US is one big parking lot so there’s never a fight for spots. Different argument bobo
Usually it’s the ones that need a bit of exercise that occupy these spots. I have seen cars circling parking lots looking for a close spot to the door after I’ve walked the distance of the lot, gone in and purchased what I needed and walked back out to my car and there they are STILL circling the lot looking for a closer spot to the door…SMH
You are very mis-informed of the status/acceptance in the US for these signs. Sorry… “bobo”! (also a very discouraging sign-off; #Caymaneducationislacking) and you are a good example.
Stupid comment with no real context. Why was this even posted? And the term: “bobo” really reflects a very low level of education and communication skills. Please review 3’rd grade.
To the comment – yes! In the US handicapped slots are typically well-respected and not used by non-handicapped individuals. Cayman can aspire to do better.
You’re arguing the point over semantics here. Obviously the US is not an entire parking lot, but the point is they have huge swathes of space and no parking issues, hence the “respect” (lol) of US drivers if disable spaces – they don’t need them. We are a small island, and have a limit on parting, so having a team of enforcers out who will also have the advantage of bringing our aging database of drivers and vehicles up to date would be a very sensible approach.
And the term bobo is not a sign of poor education, don’t be silly. It’s an affectionate locally known term which I chose to use in this instance.
I’ve thought this for some time. Instead of giving people jobs cleaning the streets for a few weeks each year give them a full time job wondering the streets and giving out these types of tickets. You would need to have them take a photo or something to prevent abuse but should be easy and the money government would make from tickets would easily cover their salary.
what a classic cig/civil service cock-up….what does that slogan even mean?
then half the response is excusing offenders as they might have invisible conditions????
someone pass me the headache pills!
I don’t know what the ‘nah’ is supposed to mean either. Anyone?
Yes, it’s a part of local colloquial linguistics.
Whether by your willful ignorance or the marginalization of local culture, it seems to be acceptable to minimize the sayings which were here before many of us.
I say that we should welcome a local touch to a universal problem.
You had me OK until you drifted to the “local colloquialisms”…
Local cultural linguistics from “the Hood” is not a good basic platform for accepted educated communication. “Job application and interview… Unacceptable!”
Sorry Caymanian educated.
“From the Hood” is your judgement.
racist much?
Truth hurts.
Apparently, your opinion is not accepted. I’m not surprised.
Because no awareness campaign anywhere has used a local dialect or slang to great effect before…
Maybe you should worry less about the education levels of others and educate yourself.
Oh ‘colloquial linguistics’. The question was a little more simple: what does it actually mean?
In this case it can basically be translated as “please”
“Nah” (or “nuh”) when it comes at the end of a sentence, is generally used to emphasize imploring someone to take the action indicated in the sentence.
I ask this also. Possibly a slang term that only a 3’rd grade education understands. Not that Cayman education is world-class…
I also… What is the CIG promoting with 3’rd grade pronunciation. This is unexcusible.
Same as “unna” which is an irritating but frequent post. I am all for local dialect, but “unna” is not a favourite.
I agree! You want to be respected, speak like an intelligent person.
Sadly, Caymanian’s in general are not well educated.
By design.
Explain how one should speak to come across as intelligent ?
with your mouth
with proper grammar
lol
Another classic example of a foreigner not amalgamating or caring to understand the way of life of locals in the foreign land their in. ‘nah’ is used by some caymanians as an emphasis. just like Canadians end their sentences with ‘eh’. Got it? Good.
It amazes me to see the hatred towards locals. Jamaicans use a similar word, “unno”, which is obviously where it came from as Cayman was under Jamaica up until their independence. You would swear some of these ex-pats with world class education would figure that one out. The ignorance…..
oh I thought it meant NO. No wonder this made absolutely no sense to me
Yes, it is a homophone so it can also mean “no.” The difference is usually made clear by the context, or in spoken speech, by the tone.
“Nah/nuh” for emphasis/imploring usually comes at the end of a sentence.
“Nah/nuh” meaning “no” or “not” is usually either a standalone interjection, or is found within a sentence.
After 36 years here, I’m …”amalgamated,” and care deeply for the way of life of locals who were here before me. Over the years, (36+), I have NEVER heard contractors speak like this. Sorry – you are pandering to the lowest of the electorate. This is why Cayman will have no ethical progress in it’s Ministers.
They were speaking to you, so they cleaned up the accent to make you comfortable. You’ve obviously not been amalgamated enough to be invited to a Caymanian family Christmas lunch. You would surely hear the true accent come out.
Agreed, but it’s not really used the same way as “eh”
The point is that it doesn’t mater if someone “looks” disabled, as long as they have a permit. Not that persons can get away with using the blue spot without a permit if they claim to have an “invisible condition”
Pointless initiative unfortunately.
The offenders know what they are doing, but don’t care due to lack of any police enforcement.
When the police refuse to enforce the basic laws of society, chaos reigns, just look at the lack of police enforcement of the basic traffic laws and the declining driving standards.
When the police refuse or are just too lazy to do their jobs, it unfortunately falls to the public to punish the offenders for their actions.
The website created to shame bad parkers is a prime example of how the public start to take over the Polices’ role.
Unfortunately this shocking inaction by the police to do nothing, will just lead to more road rage and vigilante incidents.
The upside is the police are highly likely to not be bothered to investigate these incidents either.
We can take simple measures as the public to try and assist.
the easist is that if you see a police officer outside of their HQ, which I know is exceedingly rare, but go and say hello and then remind them of the consequences of them not doing the job they are paid for.
The lack of confidence in the Cayman Police is almost as breathtaking as the fact that the police don’t care.
And then they complain about the public not helping them.
My favorites are the idiots who park on the road outside the pharmacy at Grand Harbour.
There’s no parking signs, there’s cones , but still selfish parking stops exit and entry to Hurley’s car park…
Ask Ezzard why they continue to do that, endangering others lives.
what the hell has this got to to with him?
Ask him.
My favourites are the ignorant cab drivers that park outside Balboa Beach on every cruise ship day at 9.am. There was another one today. This is in spite of several tickets issued by PC Fabian.
These cabs prevent wheelchair access as does the fishmarket table at the far end of the sidewalk. Can the CIG please fix this.
No Sir. What Have the they ever done for me?
Chris I completely agree with you. This morning I saw a taxi right outside Balboa Beach blocking access. Surely the NRA and the RCIP should be taking action.
Most of the time hardly any of these spaces are utilised and then there’s the drivers with a handicapped family member who use the permit for their own benefit.
Could’ve found a better campaign slogan. Was that selected by the ad masters at Radio Cayman?
“Save my spot, nah” is out of context for the intention of the campaign. “Save my spot, nah” equates to asking someone to hold a seat or a space at an event, not to discourage people from blocking disabled parking spots.
Morons is charge!!
Agreed. And I like Radio Cayman actually.
Problem is the Negative Inference at the end.
It’d been good without that.
I’m a local. I don’t say Nah.
That’s a George Town ghetto ting.
Mind your own business, hah.
Hey..Let’s launch a Slogan Competition.
I proffer:
Haul Ur Azz
Or
Black and Blue Zone
‘Don’t be a twat’
Why the hatred? OK….maybe not a brilliant slogan in everyone’s eyes, but it’s a metaphor. Is the advertising team at a certain energy drink company a bunch of “morons” for saying that their drink “give you wings”? Are creative team at a certain brewer “morons” for implying that their beer is a “King”. I challenge you 9.43….or any of the people that agree that they could have found a better slogan….to reply here with your proposed improvement. I look forward to the creative ingenuity!
In all seriousness though, whether it be a good slogan or not, the important thing is that there is an ongoing conversation, and heightened awareness that the Cayman community generally takes a dim view of those that selfishly disadvantage those that are already disadvantaged.
19 @ 8:21 am – My issue with the metaphor is that it doesn’t fit the context. Therefore unfit for purpose!! But perhaps you wouldn’t know that.
Here’s the response to your challenge: “Respect the Disabled” is infinitely better than “save my spot, nah”. It sends the correct message and maintains context.
oh dear
Yea the slogan is not great, but not because of the use of the dialect. Even in standard English it wouldn’t really fit
Anyone using these spaces should have their permit displayed. This shows us all that they qualify, regardless of the type of disability. Without a displayed permit they should receive a ticket.
Agree 💯%! If you don’t have a permit you should not be there! Just because you have a hidden disability, the permit is the same. If I can’t see your permit doesn’t mean you have one.
No permit then get fined. PLEASE can the police start ticketing. They would get 100’s a day at Hurleys & the pharmacy.
Not one disabled person has to prove anything to you. The law lays out what is required and if someone of authority needs confirmation of the permit then it is furnished. Some people feel they’re entitled to everything.
This is all well and good, but the truth is anyone having a driver’s license knows this or should know this.
A more effective way to effect compliance here is for Police Traffic Enforcement to happen consistently! Ticket and tow away the vehicles of drivers not complying.
Another thing needed is wider spaces also. And more spaces – there are many parking lots in Grand Cayman that would do well with a second level!
In addition to this great initiative, are we now as a country acknowledging and supporting the widespread use of our own unique dialect. Without ridicule and prejudice.
Do we really want folks with vision disabilities driving motorized vehicles? Why isn’t there a vision test requirement at DVDL?
I don’t agree with all of what is proposed. Yes, make spaces for those with medical issues relating to getting in and out of vehicles, ie those who need walking frames, wheelchairs etc.
But it’s hard to accept the invisible ailments justifying a disabled parking space. If someone suffers from epilepsy for example, or heart conditions, or CFS, you have to question why they are permitted to drive at all. If such persons are ok to drive, then they can certainly squeeze into and out of a normal parking space. Next thing you know is that someone will claim they have stress, which allows them to park in a disabled bay. Not all people with an ailment need parking benefits.
And of track a little, why can’t we have more parking options in GT ? Wouldn’t be an issue now if we had a flipping mass transit solution.
You are missing the point. A person with one of these health conditions may be driven by a carer or family member and the disabled parking permit travels with them, although it isn’t for the benefit of the driver.
Are you imagining that someone who has those challenges are medically fit to drive? Maybe they have drivers that support them. Not all people need parking benefits but are you the doctor making that call or what exactly is the alternative here, and one that does not discriminate?
Blue spots are not limited to persons with physical challenges only but instead offers access to anyone with physical, mental or emotional challenges. So, to use your argument, yes someone with a heart condition or moderate Asthma may be quite able to squeeze in/out of a regular parking space. However, these individuals may find it a bit more challenging to walk across the parking lot and may experience shortness of breath or exertion much sooner than the average person. Using a blue spot allows them closer access to the business of choice; on entering they could have then find a chair to rest (many pharmacies have these) or a ride-on scooter (supermarkets offer these). Blue spots offer opportunities for access and independence. It’s the person’s physician who determines the need for accessible parking.
It is none of your business, smarty pants, why they drive! I have POTS!! Car is a life saver for me. I can walk short distances, steps in fact, to my car. From my car to the electrical scooter at a grocery store, or to a doctor…I don’t go anywhere else due to my disability. And I do look GOOD! I am YOUNG. I am ATTRACTIVE! You would never ever suspect that something is wrong with me. If I feel that today is not a good day for me to leave my home, I stay inside. I cancel appointments and order delivery when I have nothing to eat.
P.S. Karma is a B. by the way. SO BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY. Everyday, due to the poisoned environment we live in, more people get weird health problems, neurological conditions have skyrocketed, cancer cases among as well.
This is from an instagram of a young courageous woman, mom of 4 yo who we buried last month:
“You never know what kind of battle someone is fighting, Be kind and watch your words”
“You’ll never truly understand
Mariages
Divorces
Child birth
Death of loved one
Parenting
Until it actually happens to you
Theories and Assumptions of
situations on life are not realities
You think you’re smarter than most
Until life humbles you when it’s your
Turn” (instagram mounya_07’s )
Rest In Peace Dear Moynua
… encourage compassion and advocacy..? Not in Cayman. Vicious, know it all people, would rather spend their energy on “disqualifying” disabled from their disability.
For some reason it has never been a problem in US and Europe, no one encourages compassion, everyone simply complies with The Law.
I have see many people, including persons from the two regions you have mentioned, purposely or not, parking in such a spot. So please, don’t make it out that this is the only place where such an issue is a situational problem.
Last statement simply isn’t true. Blue spots are abused everyday everywhere. It’s not just a Cayman thing, just also a Cayman thing. Universally deplorable and selfish.
Cayman is Not a very hospitable jurisdiction for disabled folks. It is very discriminitory. Just saying… Cayman is not up to world – accepted standards.
*safe
It is the obese driving utes that seem to feel entitled to park where they want, especially when buying snacks.
And that is partly why they are obese. They don’t want to walk more than a few paces to the door of the shop selling the unhealthy food they crave. Sad.
I’ve seen obese getting a handicap sign just for being obese. it’s not right.