Woman shouted at me for parking in a disabled spot

I see the disabled parking space police are still alive and well. I would have been tempted to tell her to mind her own fucking business. What the hell has it got to do with her,or anyone else? And how many times do people need to be reminded THAT NOT ALL DISABILITIES ARE VISIBLE. And I wouldn't mind betting that these people who are always so bloody quick to jump on people who they think are not entitled to park in a disabled space,do so themselves.

Yeah, if I'd not had my hands full trying to check bloods/do insulin... there is also the fear that getting your phone out to film/call will wind them up further and I do not want my phone snatched out of my hands and chucked!

If such a thing happens again, I'll risk it though, he really was awful, seemed to think that disabled spaces are actually only for elderly wheelchair users and not the sort of person you want to enrage further!

This is where you get out your phone and start recording. Then call the non emergency police number 101 and tell them you are disabled and you are being harrassed by an aggressive man.

Best reply said calmly is " Yes I am aware of that!" And turn away and walk off and get on with your day 💐

On the basis that he satisfied the authorities' requirements and the badge was issued, it's no business of anyone else's whether he has mobility difficulties.

Well said.

This should be pinned to the top of everyone's mind when they think it's necessary to challenge a BB user.

I know a kid who qualified for a blue badge at pre-school age, because his cognitive disabilities are so profound that even getting him in and out of cars is a challenge: requiring space and co-operation or persuasion, but also because he might run off and it's safer if he's near the building and where cars are more spaced out rather than in the middle of a busy car park where there is worse visibility.

On the basis that he satisfied the authorities' requirements and the badge was issued, it's no business of anyone else's whether he has mobility difficulties.

Tbf, her attitude was of more concern to myself, than her spelling! She could have dyslexia for all that I know.

She’s also contradicting herself and blaming others when they pull her up. Spelling and punctuation all over the place and a nasty attitude to boot. Doesn’t sound much like a nurse to me. I’ve reported a couple of her personal attacks and l’m not engaging any more as it was derailing the thread.

And as a nurse, she can't spell Crohn's?

Beware of narcs, they thrive on drama and chaos. Stay away from their toxic energy. 😊It's important to recognize them for who they are and protect yourself from their manipulative ways. Stay strong! 💪

You were using the space and the badge for your own benefit. Absolutely nothing wrong with that.

DP reminded me of when I was accosted at our car on the 'the disabled person must get out of the car' clause..

The person had arrived after us, seen me sitting in the car, no driver, assumed I was just lazing around whilst the driver did the shopping.

What they didn't see was me do the shopping whilst DP went to another shop, then return to our car to put the shopping in the back, and then sit in the front (chair by my open door as I can't put it in the car myself now) to do my insulin and wait for him, then we were off to another store on the same retail park, together.

DP arrived a few minutes later to the irate man still haranguing me, and he shut up a bit then once I was less of an easy target. Finally it seemed to dawn on him that if my chair was out of the car, I most likely HAD been out of the car, in my chair at some point, but the fucker still followed us as we went to the pet shop, to check we were really still shopping!

Yep. P&C spaces are concessions and not legally enforceable. Having said that, on the couple of occasions I’ve used one as a last resort I’ve always been challenged, so I don’t think many people are aware that it’s perfectly legal for others to park in them if there’s nowhere else.

Blue badge holders can use parent and child spaces if disabled spaces are full

You accused my post as very concerning simply because I said not all hidden disabilities require a blue badge. They bloody don’t!

I haven’t been rude to you.

I’m not ‘gaslighting’ you.

You have misinterpreted or misread what I’ve said - at no point have I even discussed whether all those who have an invisible disability - or visible ones for that matter - are entitled to a badge.

I can read.

There is nothing wrong with my reading or interpretation - I’m not the only one who has called out your posts.

I have no ‘learning needs’ thank you but I’ll be sure to let you know if I develop any.

In the meantime I think your posts are personally attacking me, so I’m reporting that as such to MN. Have a great day.

It seemed to be a game to them - they were walking up to cars and peering at the badges. It clearly hadn’t dawned on them that the BB holder could either be driver or passenger. When I pointed out the misuse of the P&C bays they shifted back to their own car pretty quickly and disappeared into Tesco with the child who had previously been sitting in the back of the car parked in a P&C bay !!

If they’re not enforcing the parking rules on the hospital grounds I don’t think there’s an awful lot you can do. I never encourage challenging where there is no badge, because basically if someone doesn’t respect a disabled parking bay, they’re unlikely to have much respect for a member of the public trying to uphold the rules and you’re likely to get a face full of abuse for your efforts. It’s risky. Usually there are other avenues to report and get something done, but I agree this situation is different.

As mentioned upthread not all disabled bays are legally enforceable, so you might want to have a look at the signage on the disabled bays. If it doesn’t include the blue and white wheelchair plate or a specific instruction to display a valid blue badge, then it’s a concession only and has no legal standing - basically anyone can park there. The advice will be to leave the spaces for those who need them, but most people ignore it in my experience.

Could you write to the NHS trust to draw their attention to the overall situation and ask them to look into it ?

You are not ‘automatically’ issued a blue badge on claiming DLA or any other disability benefit - DWP administer disability benefits and are nothing to do with blue badge issue. DLA was replaced by PIP in 2013 and only those over a certain age at that time were allowed to remain on it. I don’t doubt that your parent has one, but they would have had to apply to the local authority for it and have provided proof of the higher rate mobility component of DLA. They would still have to do this every three years, as that’s the maximum issue period of a blue badge.

And yes, you are, very rude. So far you’ve accused me of gaslighting you, causing trouble and suggested that I’d be better on Twitter !! And your latest post suggests I should seek help. What’s that if not rude and insulting ? I’m not echoing anything you’ve said, because I don’t agree with anything you’ve said. Once more with feeling, no-one should be challenging anyone displaying a valid blue badge - whether the disability is visible or not. Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there. No-one here is saying that all invisible disabilities, or indeed all disabilities should qualify for a badge - and they don’t. Every application is decided on its’ merits on an individual basis.

I really can’t be bothered engaging with this any more - I think it’s you who’s out for an argument. Try Twitter - that way you won’t be constantly derailing the OP’s thread.

But in my example of the Scottish hospital, no one was enforcing any parking rules and that included the disabled places. Scottish hospitals don't charge for parking so there is no incentive to pay for parking attendants and no one in the hospital is interested. So the disabled bays are just used by any old visitor/ staff and there seems to be nothing anyone can do about it.

No-one should be challenging where a valid blue badge is on display. A random passer by doesn’t have the right to question why the badge has been issued - the fact that it’s there should be enough. Disabled people have a right to privacy and dignity and being challenged by entitled people demanding to see and handle the badge, and asking questions about their condition is unacceptable. I’m not a fan of challenging where there is no badge displayed either. There are plenty of avenues for reporting - the LA or car park operator will be only too happy to fine them if they are made aware of it.

My mum was in an end of life facility in a nhs centre in Scotland - she stayed for 14 months in the end (it was during covid) so we visited frequently.

And the parking was insane. Plenty of disabled bays but full of cars with no badges. You would see staff getting into cars in the spaces (there is a staff car park but round the back)! My dad had a blue badge but never once got into one of these spaces (next to the building).

People also parked on double yellow lines, in the emergency bay...

I took it up with my dad's local councillor who reported back that there was no parking enforcement at the hospital. The local authority didn't do it because it's private property but also the nhs had enforcement at its other two properties but not this one.

And so everyone parked wherever they liked.

I was so shocked that, given no enforcement, people would do this. Seriously, it's as if the disabled bays didn't matter.

People are awful.

No you clearly didn’t! Not sure why you are concerned with me. Most people would be getting on with life rather than a post on a social media page. Maybe you should be seeking help.

I don’t think i was rude at all! You clearly were with your gaslighting post!!
As someone with a parent with a long term neurological condition, they were automatically were given a blue badge which they required as they were on the highest level of DLA.

I simply said not everyone does require or should qualify which you also advised the same.
You are simply trying to gaslight and cause further problems which really given this is social media chat u shouldn’t be ‘deeply concerned’ given your post has actually echoed what my post said!

Well hopefully that will deal with the problem. BB spaces are not a free for all to park in, unless they display a BB. That should be enough.