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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask you what you TRUTHFULLY think when you see a 'young' and 'healthy looking' person on a mobility scooter?

252 replies

fassbender · 27/04/2015 10:16

I have multiple sclerosis and am 36 years old. Over the past year my walking has got worse (I use crutches) and I am now thinking that I need a mobility scooter. It sounds silly, but I am so nervous! I know that I should have a 'screw what everyone else thinks' attitude, but I think that I am going to feel self conscious. I live in a small town and have been well until recently so I know that I might get lots of questions/pitying looks. I also wonder what people will think if they see me at the park, for example, and then I get out of the scooter to play with the kids, then get back in to go home.

OP posts:
HolgerDanske · 27/04/2015 10:19

I don't think anything of it. Honestly.

Googlers123 · 27/04/2015 10:19

Would assume there was a reason they needed it. That's all I think

londonrach · 27/04/2015 10:19

Just hope they dont go to fast in case you knocked my gran over. However i work within the medical profession so used to 'young and healthy' people coming into my clinic on such scooters.

KneeQuestion · 27/04/2015 10:20

Honestly, I would think you have an 'invisible' disability.

But my Mum had early onset Arthritis so I know a bit about that kind of thing.

Do what you need to do and don't worry about what strangers think, if a scooter helps you be able to play with your children, then thats great.

BeautifulRedBoots · 27/04/2015 10:20

I would think how fortunate I am not to need one myself

Thecowandcat · 27/04/2015 10:20

Having read up on the issue I understand that they must have a disability, even if it isn't an obvious one.

I hope you get the confidence to use a mobility scooter, it sounds like it will really improve your quality of lie. Stuff what everyone else thinks.

CMOTGilbertBlythe · 27/04/2015 10:20

I think they must have a disability. I would hope that most people are aware of variable and/or invisible disabilities. You'll probably get the questions but I hope not too many. I certainly wouldn't assume anything negative about a person using a mobility scooter.

YouPooPooBumBum · 27/04/2015 10:21

I don't know if I would notice. But if I did I would just assume the person had a reason to use the scooter that wasn't visable.

ThisTimeTed · 27/04/2015 10:22

I don't think anything as it really doesn't bother me in any way.

where I worked a customers young daughter used to use her mobility scooter to go shopping and none of the staff ever made a comment. it wasn't our business.

sunbathe · 27/04/2015 10:22

I've never seen anyone young and healthy looking on a scooter.

As long as they're driving at the right speed, I wouldn't think anything about it.

Leviticus · 27/04/2015 10:22

That there will be a reason they are using a scooter.

BabyTuckoo · 27/04/2015 10:23

I wouldn't give it a second thought. Surely most people - other than the utterly dimwitted and those who see themselves as beleaguered by scamsters, benefits cheats and thieving immigrants - recognise that there are invisible disabilities, and don't expect you to hang a sign on your scooter to 'explain' what your body can and can't do?

Triooooooooooo · 27/04/2015 10:23

Nothing.

Unless you ran me over.

Feckeggblue · 27/04/2015 10:23

Wouldn't notice

nether · 27/04/2015 10:24

I would assume an invisible disability. My mind would probably leap to EDS rather than MS though. Something where walking was limited/excessively tiring, rather than impossible.

loveareadingthanks · 27/04/2015 10:27

I assume there's some reason they can't walk very far. that's all.

birobenny · 27/04/2015 10:27

I would assume that you were disabled in some way. That is all. Are you worried that people might think you were just being lazy? Some might but only if they are very very very stupid Smile

Sophsy · 27/04/2015 10:27

I was terrified the first time i used the scooter and the wheelchair, but then saw the difference it made when going out. I do hate the looks that you sometimes get but when children asked "why is that lady in a wheelchair?" I explained that I get wobbly and sometimes fall over because my back and legs don't work as well as they should. On one occasion I had a child see me later on and inform me that there was another lady with wobbly legs and he'd said hello!

First time I used the scooter we didn't realise the steering was locked so I drove into the wall at Lyme park and had to do 1000 point turns and ran over dh's foot. Don't follow my example. Also the brake and acceleration seemed the wrong way round for me...hence driving into the wall whilst trying to break.

TheMagnificientFour · 27/04/2015 10:28

I am not sure I would notice tbh.
But if I did, my reaction would be that the person obviouly needed it.
I can't think of any reasons why someone who doesn't need a mobility scooter would use one Confused.

CorBlimeyTrousers · 27/04/2015 10:28

Like others I would just assume you needed it to get around. It's not as though someone who doesn't need a mobility scooter would have one for a laugh or because they're lazy. Please don't worry. It could make a big difference to your life and allow you to do things that are difficult now. I work with a man who resisted using a stick for ages (I think he thought it would make him look old - he is in his 60s) and now he has the zeal of the converted and wonders what he thought the problem was.

JennyOnTheBlocks · 27/04/2015 10:28

i would assume invisible condition, or that perhaps you'd had some surgery that made mobility difficult (which is the same mind-set as invisible condition really)

irretating · 27/04/2015 10:29

I'd think that there was a person with limited mobility even if I saw you get out of your scooter and later get back in to it.

Betsyblue · 27/04/2015 10:30

If I even noticed (very, very unlikely), then I would assume they needed it.

HappyIdiot · 27/04/2015 10:30

I would assume that no-one uses a mobility scooter on a regular basis unless they need to and it helps them get around. I would also assume that if someone was in a scooter, rather than a wheelchair, that they were able to walk to some degree and so wouldn't be at all surprised if I saw them getting out of it to play with kids, reach something from a shelf in a shop etc.

kiwimumof2boys · 27/04/2015 10:31

My best friend is 36 too and has Cerebal Palsy, she uses a mobility scooter. She used sticks for ages.