To ask you to keep an open mind

[BishopBrennansArse]

Today I have yet again been given multiple evil looks for using a blue badge parking bay.

This is despite me being in my motability car, equipped with a hoist and it had my power chair in the boot.

I didn't use the chair today for two reasons - the first is that the place I was going was a very short distance from the parking bay and I'm able to sit down the entire time I'm here (hairdresser) and the second is that actually the hairdresser I visit has a step to get in anyway.

Usually I'm thick skinned and let it blow over me. Today for some reason I can't do that.

My rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia are invisible yet under the skin my ankle has been eaten by my own immune system. I walk with a visible limp (and not that far, either). You can't really see my deafness unless I tie my hair back. My autism is also invisible. Yet the fact you can't see it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

It seems every time I park in this particular car park all I get is evil looks.

I might be under 40 and have bright blue hair but so what?

I'm just so fed up, frustrated and miserable.

[PurityOfChaos]

Love the hair

[Redsippycup]

Lush hair! I wish i could do exciting colours but i am very curly and it would just look like a clown wig

I don't know what is wrong with people, why do they think it's acceptable to behave like that?!

I am entitled to a RADAR key for my Ulcerative Colitis, but i am too nervous to use disabled toilets because I'm scared of someone having a go at me.

[PurityOfChaos]

Redsippycup You are entitled to use the disabled toilets, use them. Don't make your life more difficult because of the opinions of strangers.

[YorksMa]

Your hair is awesome :)

[SumThucker]

Your hair looks great, wish mine was light enough to experiment with.

[Redsippycup]

The trouble is Purity that when I'm ill enough to need them I'm not well enough to stand up for myself.

And it's not really the kind of condition you want to share details about! (not that i would, but that need to justify your actions is quite strong sometimes)

[IncyWincyGrownUp]

I have a radar key due to my son's continence issues.

I had somebody coming out of an access loo look us up and down before slamming the door well shut. I just jingled our keys and said it was lucky he had his own. Door slammer looked very sour as they stalked away.

In short, some folks are utter arseholes.

[PurityOfChaos]

Redsippycup I can understand that, I am better at standing up for others than myself. Maybe you need to look at it another way, if they aren't justifying themselves to you why should you be justifying yourself to them.

[NewUser24]

I feel your pain op. I am not disabled myself but am a carer but profession and it really annoys me that people are like this.

People need to understand about all disabilities that entitle people to hold a blue badge including silent ones. They also need to fully understand the rules of the blue badge system and that someone completely able bodied like myself can use a blue badge to collect the person it belongs to so can then park in a disabled bay.

Don't get me wrong I am against them being abused. People need to learn the difference.

Op stay strong you know you are in the right so hold your head high.

[WeyHay]

Wow, your hair is A-MAY-zing!

[Wolfiefan]

I love your hair. I know that wasn't the point of the thread. Sorry.
If people have a blue badge they have been judged to need a disabled space. It's nobody else's bloody business why. People who don't need to use them should just be glad they are fit and well enough to park a bit further away and walk.