Finally Snapped Today - Disabled Bay Parking!

janninew

I thought I would share my story on here, I think writing it down may make me feel less wound up and bloody annoyed!

I have lots of stares and obvious whispering when I park in disabled bays and today I have been approached and questioned by an ignorant member of the public.

I am a perfectly healthy women in my late twenties and I drive a new BMW (really don't think this helps matters!) and I also have a baby who is classed as severely disabled She is entitled to HRC and a blue badge which really do help with the extra costs her disability brings, she has been entitled to both since she was discharged from hospital a year ago.

I went shopping to a retail park today, just me and my daughter and I parked in a disabled bay. An elderly lady walking past with her husband saw me get out and said very loudly 'I wonder where her wheelchair is, some people have a nerve using disabled bays' Normally I wouldn't react or let it bother me, but this time I couldn't let it pass and called her over and asked her if she was talking about me! She came straight over and I told her she was very ignorant if she though only people in wheelchairs had blue badges. I showed her the badge with the picture of my baby on the back (picture was off my baby as a very small 3lb odd with feeding tube and oxygen tube.) Now the lady started back tracking and said she didn't know babies or young people could get badges! I even showed her my boot with the medical equipment/oxygen that I carry about. I asked if she was satisfied and happy that she had upset me and ruined my day, she just skulked off and said nothing else! I did keep seeing her as I walked around the retail park, she avoided eye contact at all cost.

I just hope by telling my story that some people may read it who don't know that babies, children, middle age people etc can all be entitled to a blue badge (not just the elderly in wheel chairs) and making an ignorant comment like she did upset my day. Normally I shrug it off, but after stress at work last week and many appointments with my daughter in the last few weeks that haven't gone great I really have had enough.

Rant over!!

chris_n_tj

janninew

Aww thanks! Just walked to my local Tesco and treated myself to some daffodils, they always cheer me up!

janninew

ab.da54 wrote: »

Is it because of the oxygen that you need to park in a disabled bay at the retail park?

I don't question your right to park there, your child has a blue badge so you are entitled to do so, I just wondered if there was a particular reason?

Needing to have bulky medical equipment with us is the reason we are entitled to the badge. Being able to park near to the entrance of where we are visiting has literally been a life saver for us. We had a day trip to Blackpool Zoo last year when she was very young and totally oxygen dependent, half way round her cylinder started to leak and I could see the dial moving to empty at a rapid rate, my husband had to run to the car (which luckily was parked right by the entrance to get the spare tank.) It was literally an every minute counted situation as without oxygen her sats drop very quickly followed by her heart rate.

Plus getting a baby and an oxygen tank which have to be connected at all times with a short tube out of the car in a normal size space is impossible. I have to pull the pram right next to the car, take the cylinder out the car and out it under my pram whilst still attached to my baby and then put her in the pram. I couldn't do this in a regular space with cars either side, there wouldn't be the room.

nbc

Karma sees all

janninew

ab.da54 wrote: »

Makes sense, as you need the space.

The way I see it is, people who question, are doing disabled people a favour, because the next person they challenge may not have a blue badge.

Of course, it can be annoying when you have a genuine need but may deter those who shouldn't be parking there and actually preventing you from parking in the spot you need.

Not sure about doing me a favour! She did make me feel upset even though I have a right to park there, having a disabled child isn't easy without having to explain yourself to perfect strangers. If people must take it upon themselves to become self appointed traffic wardens/police officers they could at least understand that blue badges are not just for people in wheelchairs!

If people ask me instead of staring I would would explain, its the staring, whispering and snide comments that upset me.

abudabi

Maybe nothing to do with the new bmw? i personally think it is a fine line ppl should be challenged dicreetly if there are no obvious signs as to why ppl need the badge i know in your case it would be upsetting on a regular basis to have to 'prove' the award but look on it as educating ppl

dori2o

I have no problem with an official asking me for sight of my badge.

I do have a problem with the local busy body (who usually doubles as the village idiot) making snide and unjustified comments about my rights to a blue badge when the see me get out of the car.

Last time it happened was just last week when some old woman mentioned to her husband that it was wrong for someone with just a walking stick to have a badge. Not in a soft voice so he could just hear her from 3 inches away, but loud enough for more than 1 person to turn around and look.

I just carried on walking and ignored it, but it does get annoying.

I'm 32. 10 years ago when I was still able to play football most nights I would never have imagined how little I would be able to do just 10 years later, and I would much prefer not to be in pain every second of very day and need the assistance of a BB but thats the cards I have been dealt unfortunately.

The last idiot that directly approached me ended up doing a great impression of Albert Arkwright from 'Open all hours'..

When he told me I didn't look disabled, I simply replied, 'Thats funny, you don't look stupid....' and walked off. To which his reply was 'bu..bu,bu,bu,bu,bu,bu....'

Bennifred

dori2o wrote: »

....................

When he told me I didn't look disabled, I simply replied, 'Thats funny, you don't look stupid....' and walked off. To which his reply was 'bu..bu,bu,bu,bu,bu,bu....'

That's the one I use, too

janninew

Might have to try that one! My husband said its a good job he wasn't there as he isn't nearly as accommodating as I am and would have told her where to go! I did think of a few good lines after she had gone I'm just not quick witted enough!

sunnyone

abudabi wrote: »

Maybe nothing to do with the new bmw? i personally think it is a fine line ppl should be challenged dicreetly if there are no obvious signs as to why ppl need the badge i know in your case it would be upsetting on a regular basis to have to 'prove' the award but look on it as educating ppl

It has a hell of a lot to do with vehicles, especially ones with private plates we have found as everyone assumes that you think you are above the rules and are parking illegally when you have "footballer" type vehicles despite displaying a valid BB.

We have had so many incidents over the years of being accused of not being entitled to park in disabled bays just because my husband worked over 70 hours per week and his one pleasure was his expensive vehicles and it was always especially bad with his Range Rovers etc.

The strange bit is that all the people who questioned our parking rights could always walk unaided yet they choose to question someone in a wheelchair's disability when surely it should be the other way round?