Woman shouted at me for parking in a disabled spot

I’ve actually used this reply. Mine was ‘and you don’t look like a twat but there we are’ !! Some people are just bullies and think disabled people will just cave - especially if they’re in a wheelchair. They find out pretty quickly that that’s not the case with me !!

What a terrible point of view and to shout at you was dreadful. As you say all disabilities are not visible and you handled it very well. My friend has been judged to on this exact scenario as well. Wishing you well

Same here. Always seems to be elderly people. I think one of the factors may be that some older people seem to think they’re entitled to a blue badge just because they’re old, and when they apply and are turned down because there’s no disability there, they resent it.

When she said ‘where’s your walker’ I’d have said - ‘with your manners’.

Another clap back you can use - if someone says ‘you don’t look disabled’ you can reply - ‘and you don’t look like an arsehole but here we find ourselves’.

I’m disabled. Fairly obvious disability as I use a wheelchair. But from the drivers’ seat I don’t look disabled. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve driven into a disabled spot and before I’ve even got the car door open, some busybody has rushed over to point out it’s a disabled space.

The most batshit occasion was when a very angry woman demanded to see my badge, saying she wanted to check that the photo (on the reverse so would have to have taken it out of the holder) was actually me. I pointed out that unless she was a police officer or parking official she had no right to see the badge, and refused.

She was still ranting and raving at me as the wheelchair hoist set the chair down next to me on the drivers’ side - she actually stepped back to make room for it. She suddenly realised what was happening as I got out of the car into the chair and followed me into the supermarket apologising profusely for her ‘mistake’.

So OP, I’ll tell you what I told her. It’s no one elses’ business if you are parking in a disabled spot and displaying a valid blue badge. No one other than a police officer or parking official has the right to handle the badge and access personal details from it. And no one has the right to demand details of what disability you have to qualify you (yes, at one point she did ask and got angrier when I refused to say). I always say that those details are between myself, my doctors and the badge issuing authority. I do try to be polite if I’m challenged - even when they’re still challenging after you place the badge (and some really do persist) but on a couple of occasions I’ve lost patience and as I wheel away, point them to the registration number, telling them to report me to whoever they like !!

I’ve found that since the pandemic this has actually got worse. Most people who challenge will say sorry when you produce the badge, but there seem to be a lot more people around who have anger issues and actively look for an argument. I really can’t be arsed with this attitude so if none of the above works, a simple ‘fuck off and mind your own business’ is usually very effective.

I have told people to fuck off. Initially I'd explain, even show them my port. Now I just tell them to report me.
I don't want to be ageist but every single case of someone abusing me has been a pensioner. They don't ask politely they shout and are nasty.

Tell them to sod off we have one for my DS who's autistic we've got it as he's a flight risk but still I don't need to tell others why we have it people these days drive me insane humanity is truly screwed.

Well actually they do. My daughter has ME and does have some good days and some really bad days. On good days we don't use the disabled parking because there will be someone more needing of it. On bad days, we use it, because she is entitled to use it and on those days really needs it.
Anyone looking at her would have no idea, so I am very very familiar with hidden disability.
I would however challenge someone who was parked in a disabled bay, not showing a permit, because sadly there are ignorant people in the world who don't give a shit about anyone else but themselves and simply can't be arsed to walk. I wouldn't do it rudely though, and i'd check for a permit first. No i'm not the 'badge police' but I do think people using disabled bays who shouldn't be should be called out on it every now and then.
My nephew also uses a wheelchair so has to use them 100% of the time as theres no getting him out of the car otherwise. Hence why I wouldn't use them with my daughter if there was actually no need to on her 'better' days.

In France lots of blue badge spots have a sign saying "if you take my spot, take my disability". Think we need that too.

Posts like this make me glad I have a hearing loss...I hate to be shouted at but 4 cars away I wouldn't hear it 😂 if you're entitled to a space you're entitled to a space, wheelies or not 🙂

"Good days and bad days" - yes because disability comes and goes like the wind......one day you can just start skipping and running around. Absolutely no idea.

I would not have shouted across a carpark, especially to someone spouting such an ignorant comment. Honestly!

A woman about four cars away shouted at me and said 'that's a wheelie spot'.

A wheelie spot?? Well doesn't she sound like an absolute champion of those with disabilities.

@ExtraOnions it’s not easy to get a blue badge. The bar is very high.

When my gran was housebound and in agony unable to walk without a frame, my mum wasn’t allowed one to ferry her to hospital/gp. No idea why.

And when my uncle was dying of cancer, my mum couldn’t have one again (he wasn’t sick enough - couldn’t get a letter confirming he’d definitely be dead within 6 months. Although he was dead within 6 months).

Anyone who manages to get a blue badge most certainly needs it so please change your attitude.

Disabled parking permits aren't given out on a whim. There are strict criteria that OP has met so no-one should be questioning her right to use that space.

Most disabled spaces in my local area involve no roads to be crossed, or a crossing where pedestrians have right of way. We park in them because if I have a seizure mid-shop or whatever we're doing (not unusual, supermarkets have triggered them several times), I can be taken safely back to the car while disoriented, my husband isn't having to worry about getting me and our daughter safely across multiple roads.

Safety is a hugely overlooked reason to use a blue badge space.

Not everyone that has a blue badge uses a wheelchair. You can have mobility issues and walk, yeh possibly not far but doesn’t mean a wheelchair or scooter is required. That person would still be entitled to the space.
edited to add a disability is still a disability visible or not

Assuming you’re in Australia? ‘That’s a wheelie spot’ works even better in an Aussie accent!

You were right to respond to her, well done.

My mum isn't in a wheelchair (yet) but is dying from cancer basically, can't walk very far, has balance issues and pain. I can drop her off and go and park somewhere else but it is much better if we can walk together having parked close by. And hospital drop off areas are not always safe to drop people off as they can be very busy with cars all over the place.

Some people just love to virtue signal. How can she possibly know your situation?
She was rude and ridiculous. In your position I would have definitely shouted back because I would have been very cross.

Or @ExtraOnions you could consider that you've no idea how hidden disabilities may affect someone and since you don't know what you're talking about, trust that the OP has one because she needs it and should use it whenever she sees fit.