How do you handle getting yelled at, cursed at, or given dirty looks for parking in a handicapped spot?

The single finger salute and keep walking.

if you got the placard or plates just walk away, their ignorance doesn't deserve your explanation, and I have seen many civilians abuse this, and as such I just walk away, as I've also seen people with the plate park in general, wheel themselves into the store and not say a word, myself was on crutches twice for knee surgery, could've gotten one but chose to let those that need one have it, I guess it all comes down to morality

When I first got my placard my symptoms weren't that bad (primarily unable to walk without assistance or a walking aid). Frequently, I'd be able to walk into a store unassisted but, the first thing I'd do is grab a shopping cart to use as a walker because, by the time I left the store, I would absolutely need it.

Once, while walking from the Handicapped Space to the door, a random lady came up to me and started berating me loudly for using the HS when I obviously didn't need it. No matter how much I tried to reason with her and inform/educate her about the effects Agent Orange had on my ability walk, she would hear none of it. She was on a righteous rampage, and rational was not on her script.

At nearly sixty years old, I'm ashamed to say that she actually drove me to tears. As a result of that encounter, I resolved that, if it ever happened again, I'd point to the Placard, tell her that there were three people involved in my use of it: my neurologist, the State that issued it, and me. Since she wasn't on that short list she could go gargle gravel for all I cared. If she was certain a violation was occurring she should contact a Police or Public Safety Officer.

It's not an issue any more. Now, I get from the van to the door of the store with a snazzy power chair, courtesy of our friendly, neighborhood VA Facility.

I put up the Placard...get out and pull out the walker and Hobble into the store...

if your handicapped tell them to kick rocks, who cares

Unfortunately three years ago I lost my corporate job, the only thing I could find was working for domino's. Although they do not allow me to use my cane during work hours, which is their prerogative, I do park in handicapped while delivering pizza. I have learned to ignore people that say things such as "it must be nice to deliver pizza"
I don't know where these peoples thought processes come from...however I do know that most of the time the ones talking to me have cars that I can't even get out of. Most of the time I simply tell them that due to HIPPA practices, my medical history is none of their business.

If You are indeed handicapped and have a placard or plate that says so then there is no reason for anyone to do that. Point out the fact You have that permit provided the permit is issued to You or if the handicapped person is actually in the vehicle with You. Just the placard or plate give You a right to park there ONLY if You are actually the handicapped person, that right doesn't extend to others that may use that vehicle or even if You actually own the car. If You are not the handicapped person then You should never park in a handicapped space. It bothers Me when a handicapped person has to pass up a parking space as a person that has no right to park there did. In Massachusetts it was a $100.00 fine to do so and I did not hesitate as a Police Officer (now retired) to issue that citation. I have told people that pulled into spots that were nor handicapped they would either move the car or I would write a $100.00 ticket and also tow their vehicle. The old, I'll only be here a minute didn't cut it. I do this for the handicapped person and in My entire life I have never pulled in one of those parking spots, I'm not handicapped and never would drive a person of that spot that needs it. That being said however not all handicaps are apparent to the observer, there are many things that may leave a person disabled, You can't always tell just by looking at a person. No one should put there foot in their mouth and yell at someone that is handicapped just because You didn't know. You better be very sure first before You yell at someone !

In Honolulu when I lived there they didn't ticket people who parked in handicapped spots. People didn't yell at them either. A note was simply left alerting the driver to the fact they had parked in a space reserved for the handicapped and suggested that they not do that again. No big thing, right? Well, the "big thing" is that the note was big, really big, big enough to cover the driver's half of the windshield, and it was attached with permanent adhesive. It took quite a while to peel it off, chip by chip.

I’ve driven some Veteran’s autos and they had the permit. I let them at the door and go park., Sure, s’body going to whine.. If they should ask I explain that I left them at the door and went and parked their vehicle.. when I get out, I also have stick..
“Well that’s not a regulationn cane !” I ask can they define what a regulation cane is.. they say nothing.. “I thought so”.. and go in and find them.. and help them if needed.. sometimes get a zealot that thinks I’m not the owner of the auto, so I got to go park in a regular. Space ...
in Ann Arbor the parking p.c. Zealots are out In Force s’times.. I took another disabled Vet to Briarwood, a pretty big mall. I asked if he needed any extra assistance, he didn’t do I parked over by pkg pickup and told him that would be where I would be waiting.. and I make sure hegot his phone so he could text me.
I’m waiting and here comes the park’g zealots .. i’m Not in a handicapped space.. sitting with his engine off and waiting and doing a cat nap.. tap-tap-tsp.. No camping ! GO Away ! They give me a flyer with mall park’g rules.. itseems one cannot wait for s’one and take a nap, they have to stay awake.. I look at the paper... no Headliner for the mall just said mall park’g rules... well.. not legal ! Deposit in the litter basket.. back to my catnap.. My rider comes and so does the zealot with a mall security officer .. my rider and the amigo the mall provides get to the vehicle first. We get his bag and start to go , the zealot stands in front (mall officer got a call and went to take care of it). We backed up and got out the entrance to pkg p.u. .. talk about a frustrated zealot .. I got 4 letters from A2 citizen park’g patrol.. I fired off my own:
To whom it may concern; your patrol members are not legally deputized to be harassing citizens for ANY infraction so cease and desist ! Or appropriate legal action will be pursued.. Signed Irate handicapped citizen The Other Vet Gave me the letters and I handled it.. it seemed to have worked.. no more harassing letters.. I understand they are trying to keep handicap spaces available.. my friend had one.. so that card is off the table.. so now it’s taking catnaps.. while waiting for a handicapped paying guest. Geez, can’t ever win !

Don't park in a handicap spot unless you are handicap. If you park there illegally than you deserve to be yelled at and given a dirty look. Or on the other had if you do something wrong and get yelled at you can always just sit in your car and cry and wait till someone hugs you and makes you feel better about yourself.