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

William - thank you. I suspect they have probably allocated us something but we want the choice ( within H&S guidelines of course) I want to know NOW that we will be near each other and in the better seats as we've booked early - I don't want patronising and having to accept that I will be ' taken care of'. They can have a grown up conversation with me about what I need and not decide for me. But what you say is what I expect would happen and it makes me so bloody mad because it infantilises me !!!!!!!!!! .

Have drunk quite a lot tonight as celebrating £2500 in bank ( see another thread!)

I need a drink

SmiteYou I was walking through a car-park and saw a car across 2 BlueBadge Bays.
The driver came up, I said what ridiculous parking (I didn't swear or curse) and was treated to a tirade about how her car would get scratched.

Oh, so it's okay to prevent someone parking as long as your car remains unscathed is it?

Well that was a valid mis-use (not)

Wheredo - this is so awful I don't know where to start. Up thread someone mentioned about how lovely most people are and certainly most of my colleagues ( in various organisations I work within) are incredibly thoughtful without making a show of it.

I completely understand OP.

I have an invisible but bloody painful disability and started college 3 weeks ago.

It's killing me, I was assured at the interview that I'd get a lift pass and also a laptop (thumbs dislocate and are painful, I also have arthritis in them).

They couldn't get the lift pass sorted as they had run out and loads of members of staff have refused me access, telling me to go find the student lift (walk to the other side of the college) where there is then huge lines so I am late for class and end up being treated as lazy for not being there earlier, a janitor ended up getting me a pass.

No laptop either, turns out I have to go to several appointments to get it and they can never fit me in without about a weeks notice, can't give me anything in the interim.

I said in class I couldn't write anymore and was told that it's a paperless college so I would just have to. I had to sit in class and force myself to write out pages and pages of stuff when she could just have given me a photocopy. FWIW, other lecturers give out paper and she knows my problems. Was then told that I need to get the laptop situation sorted out or I will fall behind and that's not acceptable.

Was also laughed at and told to wait when I wanted to go to the toilet a couple of times, I'm a self catheter user and when I feel the need to go, I have to go use it as I know I have too full a bladder.

No answer yet to making irremovable sticky labels for disabled space violators?

God Schro - what sort of college is it? I mean literally - who can you complain to?

Sorry! I use spray mount - the non movable kind. Cos it is cheap, you can get it in small cans and I use it anyway.

A quick spray, a nice smooth and there it is... stuck on!

Sorry it's so crap for you op.

I'm just starting to get a hint at what those with mobility issues face every day as my mum is very wheelchair bound ( having previous to her 6 week hosp admission, used 1 stick).

Gravel- just argh!

Do disabled toilet doors have to open out? Even pushing a chair into an ideal spacious loo is is hard if you have to try to hold the door open too. Recently I came across possibly the worst disabled loo at mums local hospital- down a corridor about the length of 2 wheelchairs and the width of one. Almost impossible to open the door and get down the corridor (someone leaned at an impossible angle to help!) .then the room was used to store wet floor notices and sani bins. No chance if you needed to side transfer.

And wheel chair users who lift their own chairs out of cars etc. They must be superheroes!

I'm in the process of complaining... I do get it, they see a person who looks completely healthy and just don't think about it. It's not good enough though.

I mean, there are things I can do, I can mainly walk down stairs, I can cycle and I can write about a page (messily) on a good day okay so I can see where they might think I am just taking the piss, but it's just the nature of my (legitimate!) disability.

Christ, even Atos have agreed I am disabled several times, but the college don't seem to!

Good grief, Schro. I thought my place was a bit iffy for students with disabilities, but we wouldn't be like that!

Have you found the right person to scream at yet? There must be a Safeguarding Officer - it's the law - and they should spring to action on your behalf. The college faces all sorts of penalties, not just financial, if they screw you round like that. Find the nominated person and just sit in their office until an apology, a laptop and a lift pass are in your hands. Oh, and refer that stupid bitch lecturer to the safeguarder by name... over and over again if necessary.

Oh! Just read 'janitor', maybe a clue, you are not in the UK are you? But surely there is a nominated person in your college.

OP, stick the stickers on with Weetabix paste - strongest glue known to man.

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.
Am I missing something? Why is this funny?

God schro thats awful. :( The OU have been absolute stars with working around my health, I guess they're used to poorly people studying with them though.

Nomama In Glasgow, we use "Janitor" here quite a lot!

I honestly have no idea who to contact, I have complained and the receptionist told me that she would make sure it went to the right person.

I don't really want to directly complain about the lecturer as in other ways, she's quite nice, just a bit loud and err outspoken.

Problem is, I had to cancel an appointment due to an issue at home, was told that the support person would get the message and phone me back to re-arrange, she didn't call back but I am getting the blame! She's not reachable by phone btw so I had to wait until I was in the college.

Funnily enough, I attended this college at age 17 and the same thing happened then and it had to be escalated to the Principle!

I thought that too, maidofstars

Fucking hell alter ego I got the rage just reading about the woman in the bus. I think I'd have thrown her trolley out of the way.

Scotland? Then there should be a named safeguarding officer, wellbeing officer, and you should have been given their contact on day 1, according to HMIE policy.

Shout. Go back to the receptionist and ask for name and contact details of the Safeguarding officer. Or the Principle, as you have already been down that route.

What you are experiencing is simply not good enough and contravenes a few laws - Scotland is/was in advance of England on this, so push hard and get the support you are entitled to.

As you may have guessed, I am professionally offended by the treatment you are receiving

I hear you its just shit sometimes I get bus drivers tutting at me because I dare to wait till the bus stop and then get off I listen to sigh s from passengers I get looks from mums with buggies if im waiting on a lift before themI have been told I dont look disabled when I have asked scotrail for passanger asistance getting of the train the guy said I didnt realise you were the passenger, oh and some of the condescending rubbish I read on here makes me so angry.anyway I hope nz airline sorts it out for you, a good rant is good for the soul.

Somebody mentioned upthread about everyone spending time in a wheelchair users position and actually, I went on a course with a new job where they made us do JUST THAT.
It got stopped for fear of being patronizing or insulting but it was a fucking eye-opener and really made you anticipate peoples needs better. I know it's not pc but you got to see most problems someone would encounter at each stage that you may never had considered. A day in someones shoes is worth a bloody lifetime of training.

There wasn't technically a day one as they didn't actually send me out my enrollment or start date, had to phone the college to find out and open enrol and was then sent to the wrong class, where I sat for half the day...

I'm in tomorrow for the support appointment (finally!) and will see how it goes but will also get the details for those people.

It's a college that has just merged with 2 other colleges in Glasgow and made the papers for being such a shambles, don't want to name it as that will be googleable.

Thank you for the advice btw. :)

Oh and I use a wheelchair for long distance s was at a zoo in the summer dd struggled to push me so I got out to push the chair up the hill well some snooty cow whispered to her friend well she cant possibly need that I wanted to tell her to fuck off

Mrs You should have!

It was my 16yr old I felt for she was mortified grown ups could say that

WRT sticking notes on cars with strong glue.

What if the owner of the car genuinely parked there needing a space but not realising a Badge was mandatory?

I'm thinking of maybe : my Dad (77) still drives. My Mum (also 77) not very mobile but no Badge.

So maybe he's taking someone, lets say an elderly friend from Church , out.
And he thinks (innocently/naively/stupidly) I'll park in the BB, anyone who sees this person get out of the car can see they are very infirm
They might not have a badge with them (even if they are in possession)
He might have the commonsense to leave a note in the windscreen. Which would be ignored no doubt.

Unless you see the person park, can you be sure?