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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what disability a person could have

378 replies

Margomyhero · 13/03/2018 17:22

to park outside the gym and run 30 minutes on the treadmill?

I am genuinely curious about this one.

I got out of my car and parked in a car park near the leisure centre. It's a LOT cheaper than the car park in the leisure centre grounds. As I locked up and headed towards the leisure centre I saw a young man park in the disabled space and get out and go the same way as me.

He went on the treadmill and ran for 30 minutes. I know that as I was doing the same.

So - before I judge him unfairly what disability which warrants a blue badge could this man have which would allow him to run for 30 minutes - after sprinting up the 2 flights of stairs to get there?

Was he a genuine recipient of disabled space parking or was he just avoiding paying the charge (which by the way is 5p for the first hour ).

OP posts:
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stopfuckingshoutingatme · 13/03/2018 19:40

As PP said you don’t get a blue badge easily these days . Or a parking space outside ( my dad’s was painted over within days of his death )

So assume genuine and don’t sweat it

BrunoJenkinsProblem · 13/03/2018 19:41

Someone I know has a blue badge due to life-limiting stage 4 liver cancer, but is not currently suffering from any ill effects and has been told to keep up his normal activity and fitness levels in order to do best with chemo to lengthen his life.

steff13 · 13/03/2018 19:44

So assume genuine and don’t sweat it

This is my personal philosophy.

darkriver198868 · 13/03/2018 20:03

I currently dont have a bluebadge. I also dont drink but I do have a long standing invisible illness that makes it difficult for me to walk on a flat surface for long. I also know from experience that a good day can turn into a bad one quickly.

darkriver198868 · 13/03/2018 20:03

That was meant to say dont drive.

JigglyTuff · 13/03/2018 20:35

My sister has a blue badge. She's got cystic fibrosis. Her life expectancy is 37 and she goes to the gym for lung therapy but doesn't always have enough lung capacity to be able to walk there and do the vital exercise she needs.

People like you really, really piss me off. How fucking dare you - with fuck all medical knowledge - make any kind of judgement about other people's medical conditions.

You're an idiot.

PushMyButton · 13/03/2018 20:51

I have a blue badge. It makes an immense difference to my life. I have a genetic condition which causes dislocations and also a heart condition as well as bowel complications.

I might arrive at a place looking fine. I might behave perfectly normally while I'm there. But I have no idea when a sudden bowel attack will happen. When I'll suddenly need urgent access to my meds. When my heart condition will kick in and I'm literally unable to be upright. When I'll suddenly be in agony as my shoulder has popped out. Which step I'll suffer a hip dislocation and be completely unable to move...

So you might even see me return to my car looking completely normal and judge me for using the space on a good day- but as I'm not psychic, how did I know it would stay a good day?

I apologise for looking normal sometimes... But believe me, the stares, tuts and shaken heads? They don't help me feel better- they just make both the person serving them out, and me grumpy- and frequently upset my kids in the bargain. So instead, just be pleased that you don't need it yourself.

Rachyhayes · 13/03/2018 21:07

I will back op up a little here as I had a friend who used her mums badge when she wasn't with her.

Personally I think that's wrong but it does happen.

llangennith · 13/03/2018 21:16

I know someone whose elderly mother has a blue badge but no car so it’s kept in the daughter’s car. And she takes advantage of it even when her DM isn’t in the car. Makes me very cross.

chocolateiamydrug · 13/03/2018 21:20

I am with you op. I really wonder how some people manage to get a BB.

I have a severely autistic child with severe learning diffs. she is 11. no road sense, no understanding of the road danger. bolts and runs. We have never managed to a a BB even on appeal. the system is a joke!

user1485778793 · 13/03/2018 21:23

Oh gosh. So judgemental.

There are so many conditions that are eligible for a blue badge. Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it's not valid for a blue badge.

Why do you care?

ClaryFray · 13/03/2018 21:26

My friend has a heart condition, has a blue badge and does half hour on the treadmill a day as recommended by his doctor.

carryondoctor · 13/03/2018 21:32

I also know a few people who abuse other's badges. That's why I care, user - it makes me angry that some people are so selfish that they take spaces away from people in need.

Not saying this guy was doing that, as I wasn't there, but if we never challenge anyone, people will carry on abusing it. But at the same time, you can't challenge anyone precisely because they might have a hidden disability. So what's the best way to deal with it - to try and raise awareness of hidden conditions and why it's fucking selfish to take a disabled space when you don't need it?

BothersomeCrow · 13/03/2018 21:35

My mum had a badge. She had MS and could park and start walking briskly round the supermarket or wherever, but about half the time would collapse after about 45 min and the supermarket staff would help her back to the car. After sitting a while she could drive home. She got lots of abuse from people shouting at her for parking in the disabled space and trotting off (it's where I learnt most of my swear words).

I have EDS (hypermobile buggered joints), and can't stand for more than a minute as it pains my pelvis, though I can walk just fine (in between injuries). I probably get people assume I'm faking in airports. On the minus side theme parks don't consider inability to stand, only walking, so I can't take the kids until they are old enough to go on rides alone.

Shedmicehugh1 · 13/03/2018 21:37

Maybe he was picking the blue badge owner up.

gingerh4ir · 13/03/2018 21:44

I thought you only got a blue badge (which I think are very hard to get) if your disability meant that your mobility was compromised. So, for example, a learning disability wouldn't qualify you for a blue badge. But someone correct me if I'm wrong?

correct. DD has severe learning difficulties and is a danger to herself and others outside as she has zero understanding of the dangers of the road - no BB as it is 'only' a learning disabilities and not a physical disability even though we need it so much more than many others with physical issues. We lost and appeal for a BB twice.

whampiece · 13/03/2018 21:52

"thought you only got a blue badge (which I think are very hard to get) if your disability meant that your mobility was compromised. So, for example, a learning disability wouldn't qualify you for a blue badge. But someone correct me if I'm wrong?"

correct.

DD has severe learning difficulties and is a danger to herself and others outside as she has zero understanding of the dangers of the road - no BB as it is 'only' a learning disabilities and not a physical disability even though we need it so much more than many others with physical issues.

We lost and appeal for a BB twice.

No. It's not correct.

Just because your DD's application and subsequent appeal wasn't successful doesn't mean nobody can get a B.B. unless they have mobility issues.

fleshmarketclose · 13/03/2018 21:56

ginger ds has autism and has a blue badge so it's more your experience than what happens as a rule that you are posting.

Shedmicehugh1 · 13/03/2018 21:56

I thought you only got a blue badge (which I think are very hard to get) if your disability meant that your mobility was compromised. So, for example, a learning disability wouldn't qualify you for a blue badge. But someone correct me if I'm wrong?

Some examples

You can qualify if the effort needed to walk causes deterioration in your health

Or have a disability in both arms

Or where behaviour stops them from walking far.

Or you need to be near to medical equipment kept in the car.

mineofuselessinformation · 13/03/2018 22:03

Dc2 has a severe visual impairment (in fact registered blind at age 4 weeks). They have severe difficulty in finding their way around, so parking close to where they are going is very helpful as otherwise walking can take a long time.
We have had many people question (quite nastily in some cases) as to why we are using a BB space.
So to answer your question, they could be abusing the system, or, they could have a disability that seriously affects their life.

windchimesabotage · 13/03/2018 22:05

MS
My aunt has MS and has weeks where she can barely walk and others where she can walk pretty well!

Doesitgoto11 · 13/03/2018 22:10

Posts like this give me the rage. Nothing like judging is there?

I'll be honest I've not RTFT - don't think I need to. There are any number of hidden disabilities that would still mean that the individual could run - I'm heavily involved in the marathon/ultra scene and there are a multitude of individuals who regularly complete (and compete!) in those who are considered disabled due to conditions such as MS etc.

A large number of whom have also completed ieo 100 marathons, or 52 marathons in 52 weeks or some such equally monumental achievement.

30 mins on a dreadmill and you're asking how they can be disabled - yes that's BU

JigglyTuff · 13/03/2018 22:17

"even though we need it so much more than many others with physical issues"

NO! You don't know that at all. Don't play disability top trumps - it does none of us any favours.

TammyWhyNot · 13/03/2018 22:17

“So, for example, a learning disability wouldn't qualify you for a blue badge. But someone correct me if I'm wrong?”

It depends. Some learning disabilities do impact on mobility (balance, judgement of speed/ safety of traffic, for example) some don’t. Depends on the specific individual and specific impairmentx

Spikeyball · 13/03/2018 22:24

My son has a blue badge because of having asd and a learning disability. He is physically able to walk but often won't walk or behaves in dangerous ways when he is walking.