To be really fed up at thoughtless disabilism? Long rant, sorry

[Sixweekstowait]

Generally I just get on with having a disability- sometimes I feel sad at the things I can't do but generally I focus on what I can and I do amazingly interesting work where my disability isn't an issue and my intellect is what defines me . But this last week I've got really fed up with careless, thoughtless disabilism. Firstly, the selfish s*s at the station who think that the disabled spaces are there to make life easier for commuters being dropped off or picked up or for people calling in to renew their season tickets. Well on Monday morning at the height of the morning rush hour I'd had enough and one hapless commuter get the full force of my wrath. Other commuters stood around open mouthed of course and looking faintly embarrassed. Then an organisation I've just started work for wanted proof of my disability so I could claim for a taxi. First time I've ever been asked - wtf did they think I was doing? Putting on a silly walk so I didn't have to take the tube? And then the final straw today - Air bloody New Zealand ( of whom I expected better) wouldn't let me select a seat today when I booked online - because I requested special assistance - ie a wheelchair to the aircraft - I don't need it on board. They'll graciously allocate seats when we check in? This is Business Premier we're talking about ffs - I'm not going to be left with the last row by the lavatories. So yet something else to deal with - you can imagine the tone of the email I've just sent. FWIW - when I choose seats with BA online, they just shade out the ones by the emergency exits ( which I understand) and then treat me like a grown- up and let me choose my own seat. Feeling sad now - it's hard work being cross and fighting battles and sometimes I just want a big hug and for organisations / people to just think a bit and for me not to have to be a stroppy sod

I should have taken a photo of the thundercunt who parked his Porsche over TWO disabled spaces - presumably to avoid his darling car being bumped if he parked in any other space.

Rant away, OP. It is beyond shit that companies and people haven't caught up with the 21st century and stopped treating disabled people crappily.

im actually at this mo watching a TOP GEAR where theyre in mobility scooters trying to get around things. at least someones trying!

Haha tardis, ive pit that on now too

If there are people at service stations parked in the disabled bays who are not disabled I'd block them in by parking right behind them in a heartbeat. Then go for a massive fry-up, a little go on the amusements, a slow browse around the shop, a huge shit, and, fuck it, I might even have a shower since they're provided

I do find though, that apart from thoughtless thundercunts (love that) in blue badge spaces, generally most people are nice. In fact I am careful not to look at something too long when shopping in my chair as someone will inevitably ask me if I want them to get it for me!

For balance I suppose. But companies as a whole are not disabled friendly I don't think. However the next person to stop dead with no warning in front of my chair... I think I will just take them out at the knees

YANBU at all - fuckers!

And of course TracyBarlow, we can't help how looooonngggg we take to do all this can we

Cant wait til my car comes and i can block people in. Mwa ha ha!

yesidid applied twice and didn't meet criteria. Originally it was temporary and was in a wheelchair for a while (started from pregnancy) and now I can walk too far but use a crutch out of the house. Luckily I am improving ( thanks to spending a fortune on Physio as the nhs exercise sheet didn't help) but I'm not going to be back to how I was and it's frustrating.

When my brothers motability vehicle broke down...

1. he was offered funding for a taxi. The weekly allowance was sufficient to get him to work, and almost all the way home, once. Never mind the other two days work and a social life.

2. was sent a taxi yo collect him that get could not fit in to. He had to bend double to avoid hitting the roof. Unfortunately as he's paralysed he can't breathe easily, so this was a dead end. Luckily we still had his old vehicle (about to sell) so drove 70 miles to collect him then 100 to take him home from his day out.

3. Refused to take the AAs word for the cause if the breakdown, sent their own engineers, but 4 hours later, after the approved garage had shut. Diesel was leaking all the while.

Its not just able bodied companies who screw with you!

Yes- my Nanna used to kick people who stopped dead or cut in front if her wheelchair.

And bloody airlines! Turned up early as requested for a flight, only to be told to wait then forgotten about. Ended up being "loaded" last, giving impression he had held up the plane. He was very angry.

Apparently his destination country could not be faulted on his treatment and service.

Flight back pulled up to a gate with a set of stairs down to the tarmac! You couldn't make it up!

Oh Ood, I am sorry, that sounds shit. I hope it gets better quickly for you.

I hesitate to mention this but whilst talking about incompetent fuckwittery, I applied for PIP in April, was told I would get an assessment within 12 weeks and decision within 21 to 26 weeks, have heard NOTHING. Chased a couple of times and last week was told it will probably be 34 weeks in total now before a decision. I had to stop working in June. I can't face another fight with DWP for any other benefits at the same time as this so DH is looking for a second job. It just drags you down so much.

Ood - that's a really hard situation to be in. I was there once but my condition is progressive so I eventually qualified. I don't need to use a chair yet but can't walk far. Sometimes the disabled entrance to a building is a long way round - so I have to choose between a longer walk and hauling myself up the stairs - tricky! Does anyone know what sort of glue I could use that would make stickers on cars really really hard to get off?

I know a little girl, all blonde curls and cuteness, she's 3.5 and loves to build up speed and ram innocent bystanders with her chair.
She finds it really funny that they turn round all cross and then apologise profusely even though she was the one who rammed them.

She's a cracker

YANBU

I'm constantly amazed at how many places describe themselves as being accessible but in reality can't actually accommodate a wheelchair. I recently stayed in a large hotel which described itself as being accessible but the only way in for a wheelchair user was either via a lift, which needed a staff member's key, or up some steps. In the end I had to phone the reception from my mobile as nobody could hear me calling for help!

My mum was applying for a renewal of a blue badge for my 90 year old father who suffers from severe Parkinson's disease. She filled out the Council's on-line form, clicking through the yes/no answers.

Got to a question "Are you out of breath or in severe pain through walking 200 metres?"

She clicked "No", as dad can't walk fast enough to get out of breath and pain isn't one of his symptoms.

Clicked through to the next page "Sorry, you don't meet the criteria for a Blue Badge"!

Never mind that dad can barely walk 100 meters and that due to his muscle rigidity he is at risk of falling even when walking with a frame. Computer says no.

Fortunately, mum is a force to be reckoned with, and was able to find someone with more than one brain cell at the Council to speak to who agreed that dad needs a Blue Badge in order to do such frivolous things as go to the doctor, dentist and his hospital check ups.

That's the sort of problem I hit. Plus access to work/disabled student allowance asks about other benefits/blue badge.

ketchup pizza express in falmouth uses next doors lift and a member of staff has to go with you. I had to phone for someone to tell me how to get in.

My colleagues are all off on a jolly this week; they're going into London to visit some museums to get ideas for something we're working on. I'm not invited of course because I can't access the train and tube in my wheelchair.

This is true, of course. When I go into London I drive and use taxis which I am fine with, I don't have to pay the congestion charge and I get DLA and free car tax to make up for it.
Doesn't make it acceptable to not be invited on their trip though.

OP - not sure if my anecdote will be of any use, but a couple of months ago I took my grandmother on a domestic Air NZ flight. She's in a wheelchair so couldn't do the seat select.

On the day, the staff were seriously amazing. We had assistance the entire time, and had been allocated seats in the second row from the door. We were allowed to board ahead of everyone else, so no stress of holding people up.

I think their reason for not allowing seat select is because they need to just check you from a health and safety perspective.

Good luck with challenging them :)

wheredo that's awful Are they this awful all the time?

Ood, i got my DSA before my blue badge came through or my pip, i just had a letter from my gp. Just told them it was in the process (which it was, but you could easily say the same?)

It's happening quite frequently at the moment. There's a couple of snotty women who seem to have decided that it's not fair if they have to fit in with me. For example the last couple of nights out we've had they went on and on about how just going to one place for a meal is 'boring' and they want to go on a pub crawl.
Christmas they want to go to a crowded pub for a buffet and dancing and think it's tough for me if it isn't accessible.

Sitting in a restaurant having a sit-down meal is hardly unusual is it? It really shouldn't be classed as them having to cramp their style due to the wheelchair user.