verbal abuse while parking in BB zone

LadyMorticia

I tend to get incriminating looks when DH and I pull up in our Golf Gti in a disabled space. Some people think that because DH and I are young and we have a throaty car that it means that I couldn't possibly be disabled and that I must be parking in a disabled space illegally. Of course, I do have a BB and I display it. I get out of the car whilst people are still giving me dirty looks. They soon look away when DH gets the wheelchair out of the boot.

I have what could be defined as an invisible illness. I have M.E but the effects it has on me means that I need to use mobility aids but I hate the perception that just because someone is young it means they can't possibly be disabled.

LadyMorticia

Anubis wrote: »

You are aware there are BB holders who do NOT Drive? I hold a blue badge mostly due to pain, partly due to a heart condition that sees me short of breath. Are you suggesting That people like me should not be awarded a BB because I am not able or should not be able to drive?

I don't drive either. It's a common misconception that in order to have a BB that you must drive. I'd be a danger on the roads due to my illness.

Anubis_2

Yep, I am not allowed to drive - simple as really! My carer/husband is my designated driver, and it's a common misconception too that you have to drive to get a motability car. I am just glad hubby can drive otherwise I would be lost! During the last six months I have had numerous hospital appointments and I am so thankful that I am able to have a motability car and a husband who can drive

LadyMorticia

Anubis wrote: »

Yep, I am not allowed to drive - simple as really! My carer/husband is my designated driver, and it's a common misconception too that you have to drive to get a motability car. I am just glad hubby can drive otherwise I would be lost! During the last six months I have had numerous hospital appointments and I am so thankful that I am able to have a motability car and a husband who can drive

My husband is my full-time carer and I'm so thankful that he can drive because we don't have great bus links here (and I have major anxiety issues) so him driving makes things easier.

pineapple

saidan wrote: »

Rightous indignation :rotfl: (the spelling is righteous btw)

i have already said i did not mind being asked if i had a BB

it was the torrent of verbal abuse i took umbridge with - do you abuse people when you are asking if they have a BB?

It's 'umbrage' btw (glass houses and all that )
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/take+umbrage
No I don't condone that sort of verbal abuse. But some people are super sensitive - they may have disabled family. Like when numpties used to park across disabled ramps when I was out with my father in his wheelchair. Catch me on the wrong day and I'm afraid I might have lost it as well.

Invalidation

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I have a friend with Spina Bifida who uses a wheelchair and has an adapted car. He also rides a motorcycle with a sidecar.

People should not assume what they do not know.

You should see the looks I get when I park my Cobra in a Disabled space and plonk my Blue Badge down in it.
Priceless.

C_Mababejive

Anubis wrote: »

You are aware there are BB holders who do NOT Drive? I hold a blue badge mostly due to pain, partly due to a heart condition that sees me short of breath. Are you suggesting That people like me should not be awarded a BB because I am not able or should not be able to drive?

Yes I'm well aware that the BB may be used in a car driven by another person,provided that the car is being used for the transportation of the BB holder. This of course is one of the most frauded part of the scheme in that people get motability cars and /or BBs for their dear old gran and then swan round in it themselves.

Anubis_2

C_Mababejive wrote: »

Yes I'm well aware that the BB may be used in a car driven by another person,provided that the car is being used for the transportation of the BB holder. This of course is one of the most frauded part of the scheme in that people get motability cars and /or BBs for their dear old gran and then swan round in it themselves.

You need to read up on the motability rules, a person can swan around on their own in their Gran's motability car, and it is NOT fraud - it is a common misconception that the disabled person has to be in the motability car, they do not.....

However, while the disabled person is not the car, the car has to be used for the needs of the disabled person. For example, shopping for the disabled person, picking up the disabled persons prescription, etc, or in the case where motability is awarded to a child, the parent or driver can use it to take them to school, then go into town and make a dental appointment for the child, then go back and pick the child up.

There would be problems restricting the car to the rule of the disabled person always being present in it, for one thing, a parent would not be able to take their disabled child to school, unless they parked the car at the school all day, then walked back to it picking the child up.

The designated driver not living at the same house would have to leave the car parked at the disabled persons home and either walk or get other transport to the car when the disabled person needed to use it.

uponahill

Anubis wrote: »

You need to read up on the motability rules, a person can swan around on their own in their Gran's motability car, and it is NOT fraud - it is a common misconception that the disabled person has to be in the motability car, they do not.....

However, while the disabled person is not the car, the car has to be used for the needs of the disabled person. For example, shopping for the disabled person, picking up the disabled persons prescription, etc, or in the case where motability is awarded to a child, the parent or driver can use it to take them to school, then go into town and make a dental appointment for the child, then go back and pick the child up.

There would be problems restricting the car to the rule of the disabled person always being present in it, for one thing, a parent would not be able to take their disabled child to school, unless they parked the car at the school all day, then walked back to it picking the child up.

The designated driver not living at the same house would have to leave the car parked at the disabled persons home and either walk or get other transport to the car when the disabled person needed to use it.

You can even have the disabled persons partner use it to go to and from work as his income 'benefits the disabled person'.

The_mangler

My husband has many physical illnesses including Fibromyalgia and Asthma but he also has Bipolar Disorder. he does hold a driving licence and a blue badge but has not driven for a while because he knows the sedative effects his meds have on him. However, when he is heading towards a psychotic episode or suffering with paranoia he needs the car to be readily available to him so he can go there and calm down, or have some space. His blue badge is predominantly for his physical ailments but trying to offer up an idea of maybe why someone with mental illness (and not just 'a touch of depression') would need a blue badge to enable them to park close to the entrance (making it easier for me to keep an eye on him)