To want p&c spaces to be renamed "easy access" spaces?

[UndramaticPause]

This has been triggered by other threads but also by life events as a person with disabilities and reduced mobility who doesn't fit blue badge criteria.

We all know and love the p&c warriors and I have had the misfortune to be accosted by them in carparks and have had photos of my car plastered on Facebook parking pages as I will use these spaces if they are close to the shops to alleviate fatigue and pain.

Aibu to think there must be a large amount of people like me or with temporary issues like a broken leg or recovering from surgery who could benefit from the rebrand?

So I should drop an autistic child off at the door then? Could be fun!

Like people have said if a space is free and you think it's the best space for you use it. Otherwise find the next best space for you. Don't worry about where others are parking as its fuck all to do with you (bb spaces are the obvious exception!)

Of course it is harder with an autistic older child than babies. If my autistic dc is having a meltdown I let her go in the buggy, hold the 1 year old in 1 arm and let the other one hold the buggy. Then I push 1 handed. Autism is obviously harder to deal with as it irritates the public.

Autism is obviously harder to deal with as it irritates the public

Especially the P&C Warriors. I used to think shopping with a baby in a car seat was difficult, harder still when the second one came along but as that first baby grew up into an autistic child - then I knew what difficult was!

Yes zinni I think people should use them for all of those reasons. The fact that would be questioned or challenged is quite depressing really

I understand cases like Sirzy needing a space as her chilf has mobility issues, but even with an autistic chilf myself and ther children I don't get needing space round your car for other families.

But you don't know what that other family is living so those who are advocating judging people and 'politely' talking to them don't actually have the faintest idea what they are judging. Ds doesn't look any different to any other child his age.

For some people in may be the proximity to the shop which makes life easier rather than the space, doesn't mean they shouldn't park there though.

Zinni on every bb criteria form it states that a bb is not awarded for autism, severe learning difficulties or behavioural difficulties. Imagine what it is like caring for someone who has several of these. Imagine the difficulties of getting them in and out the car if they are having a meltdown and trying to headbutt you or punch you. Can you see now the need for a wider space.
If I am not confident of finding a wide space for my son, I don't take him out on my own because it is too risky.

Maybe that's the difference I wouldn't get in the car if mine were having a meltdown. I never used to have a car so am just used to waiting outside until she calms down.

While she continues to head butt, punch you, bite you. kick you etc?

Your child's still young isn't she/he?

Yeah I don't mind her attacking me but I am not letting her attack my car!

So what do you do then? You come out the supermarket mid meltdown from sensory overload and then what? Stand in the car park?

8 she is 1 foot smaller than me. She s 4 stone and I am under 8. I am used to it as I have only had a car 2 years. I will sit there all day if otherwise she will just attack the others/my car/make them cry. We just get her somewhere quiet outside and let her do whatever.

Stand in alleys/field/random waste space/other random area. This will be middle dcs main childhood memory!

All of these posts are from people who always had a car. If you didn't have one then you just get over it. I do not get the heavy reliance on cars except for physical mobility.

Putting my son in a field wouldn't calm him down, it would make him worse. He needs somewhere familiar and enclosed to calm down. Getting him into the car is the safest thing for him and for anyone else around as if I ignore him he will attack them.

How will you manage if your daughter is 20 and still doing regularly doing this?

Yeah I suppose with mine the outside is familiar as they weren't used to being closed in to car. I don't let her stand near anyone else. I give middle dc for my phone as shes only little so she will watch dora. Baby in buggy with raincover on both facing away.

DC1 does whatever she can attack me and I don't attack my face. I don't find this is a struggle nowadays but it was harder doing it then walking 3/4 miles home after! In pre school we used to walk 5 miles a day and she would have a meltdown of an hour everyday for a year and a half! I just think people with cars get used to it. Same as ones without special needs children who then drive to the corner shop or whatever.

My dad is 59 and still does this Err just close the windows and stay inside or come back when he is over it.

They will adapt honking. My dad likes smacking his head of the floor so that is up to him and it doesn't really affect anyone else. He has gone so crazy threw the furniture but he has calmed down on that now. We have just shut the patio doors and left him out there doing it. I think that is more if you present him with something out of the blue and then there is overload. I find it easier just to avoid them ever occuring in my dad now.

Mine isn't used to being enclosed in a car either. He needs a small space when distressed. The small space just happens to be the car. He doesn't like wide open spaces due to sensory issues.
Mine wouldn't there either. He would run at people. Run in the road etc. He has no understanding of danger. They are all different.

I think it is slightly different when there is severe learning difficulties involved as well.

Usually plenty of free spaces at the back of the car park so i use those instead of p&c because otherwise i have to walk past the blasted postman pat ride, triggering a meltdown. However, some twunt usually comes and parks an inch from you when there is a row of free spaces...

The thing with autism is everyone is different so what works for one won't work for another so to judge based on what you would do is pointless.

If I can catch Ds early enough in a meltdown situation getting him to the car is by far the best thing for us as directions is his thing so if he can direct is home that will eventually help him calm.

Mine loves small spaces but I put the others first. It's not fair on the other kids if I always prioritise the autistic one. She will attack them and it's not fair. My dad has diagnosis and in meltdown has given me a black eye before by flailing around. I grew up with this and my dad has had to make adjustments over the years. He holds it in and will go 10 x as bad when he gets in, but it is an improvement.