AIBU to put up a no parking sign on my garden wall

[Worrysaboutalot]

As in picture. DH used to park in position 1 and I used to park my big car in position 2.

However now I have a mobility car and a wheelchair, I can’t load and unload my wheelchair on the drive, in position 2 as the drive is too steep and in bad repair.

So, I am currently parking in position 3 on the road half over our drive and half over the kerb. To offload my wheelchair onto the dropped kerb. So I can get to my ramp and the front door. DH now parks in position 2.

The issue is, if I return to my house and someone is parked in position 3, I am stuck, as I can’t half cover someone else’s drive to off load my chair onto their dropped kerb IYSWIM.

I have checked my council’s website and they don’t paint disability bays on the roads in a residential area. So that is a no go.

I understand I have no legal right to stop or ask anyone to not park in this space, but would I be unreasonable to put up a polite notice asking people to park elsewhere, so I can unload my wheelchair?

@CharlotteRose90

Also it’s not the councils responsibility to fund any aids like you say. They don’t owe you 8k for what you paid out. They don’t have the budget or funds to pay for everyone’s requirements sadly. They do offer basics but the rest you pay for yourself.

The council paided £30k for a ramp around the corner, the builder told us but zero for us.

Some people in our area get manual chairs, fewer get powerchairs. I was refused either. Not even one penny towards my chair.

I was told if/when I got worse. I could reapply for help but that there was 18 month wait. Not sure which bit of refused help the wait referred to.

They also criticised the ramp we fitted saying it was too steep. It probably is but it is all we can afford and as they won't help with fitting a safer one, they should keep their thoughts to themselves.

We were told there were no grants for us and I couldn't find any in my own searches. However there is a link further down the thread to a fund which we will try when the stair lift breaks (it was a scrapper when we got it second hand but again all we could afford, especially as I was hopeing to get better at that stage!)

So in our case they didn't even provide the basics. They were happy to leave me house bound in my mid 40's despite having two primary aged children who need taking to school.

It is heartbreaking how little the council actually do. A sofa for sleeping and a cold water tap for washing is all you need. They will provide a commode chair but not someone to empty it.

As sad as I am for the lack of help we received, I am angry for the general callous approach to 'caring' the council have.

How many people are sitting alone on the sofa that they sleep on. Washing in cold water. Using a commode next to their sofa.

I have nightmares about this, I need to book a slot with my MP to discuss this with him. We were lucky enough to have had savings at the time I got ill but many people don't.

I came on to say YABU but having read your OP, definitely YANBU. It's appalling that your council has offered so little help because you can pull to a stand.

Get hold of your local councillors, your MP etc. In the meantime, put that notice up - if parking isn't too terrible near you, and people know you, it should be respected.

@leopardspotsdotdotdot
You having a laugh? Wheelchair and ramps? Yes this should be funded.

Why should being a wheelchair user (assessed as by choice) and able to fund these automatically? For those in absolute financial need, I don't disagree, but this isn't the case here is it?
Fwiw, I'm also counted as disabled!

[quote BusyLizzie61]@leopardspotsdotdotdot
You having a laugh? Wheelchair and ramps? Yes this should be funded.

Why should being a wheelchair user (assessed as by choice) and able to fund these automatically? For those in absolute financial need, I don't disagree, but this isn't the case here is it?
Fwiw, I'm also counted as disabled![/quote]
My consultant says my chair is a necessary.

Help with a chair was refused with no looking into our finances. In fact our savings were far lower than their maximum allowance, so had they decided to fund a chair we were officially in financial need.

Plus in five years time, we will still be in financial need, this time with zero savings and they still will not provide a chair for me. Which my consultant says I need but the 'pulling to standing' strategy means according to the council means I don't need.

So if I haven't saved thousands of pounds from the job I have yet to get (still looking for) in the next five years, I will be house bound at 50 yo for the remainder of my life.

Ps. If I lived in the next council area, I would of got both a manual and an powerchair because of my condition. I also found the minutes to the council meeting where our council had calculated how much money could be saved if they tightened their criteria. So our area provides less to less people. It is not that we are richer or have have less need for these aids.

How do you get to your house from your car when parked on the road if you're not able to manage walking from the car door to the boot when its parked on the driveway?

You can put your notice up, but the Council may ask you to remove it if someone complains. Also, it doesn’t actually mean anything - some people would ignore it especially if parking is bad in your road. Just park across your dropped kerb.

Some councils are so cash strapped that they provide the absolute minimum. My FIL who has dementia and Parkinson’s has been assessed from the disability team that they need a shower in their property, which the council will fund. He’s been waiting 18 months - hes not had a bath in all that time.

Sorry OP it is well and truly shit being a young disabled person. Everything in my council is elderly only, disabled people don't exist before retirement apparently?

Put up the sign. It might help and if it doesn't it's pennies wasted.

Your diagram and explanation is a bit confusing and the able bodied people frankly will not remotely understand the problem. As an ambulance wheelchair user I think I get it and id keep on at the council for a space outside the house and keep looking for any grants.

@Soontobe60

How do you get to your house from your car when parked on the road if you're not able to manage walking from the car door to the boot when its parked on the driveway?

You can put your notice up, but the Council may ask you to remove it if someone complains. Also, it doesn’t actually mean anything - some people would ignore it especially if parking is bad in your road. Just park across your dropped kerb.

1. The council has suggested I put a sign up and agreed the one I found it appropriate.

1. I can walk with double crutches from the drivers seat to the boot on flat ground. My drive is on a steep hill

1. I need to offload my wheelchair onto the dropped curb. Hence parking half over the dropped curb and half in an on street parking space.

1. Yes, I know this sign will not prevent other cars parking there. But hopefully it will reduce the number of times I am waiting for help from the street to my house.

@Soontobe60

How do you get to your house from your car when parked on the road if you're not able to manage walking from the car door to the boot when its parked on the driveway?

You can put your notice up, but the Council may ask you to remove it if someone complains. Also, it doesn’t actually mean anything - some people would ignore it especially if parking is bad in your road. Just park across your dropped kerb.

OP can't manage the walk from car door to boot when parked on the drive as it's too steep. She can do this walk on the road as it's flat, then use the wheelchair to get up to the house.

OP it sounds awful and I am so sorry for your situation.

I think you need to hold your elected representatives to account. Contact your local councillor(s) and explain your situation in simple terms. Give them time to reply. Email your MP and send them something similar. If you don't get anywhere, your local newspaper would love a story like this, especially if it's anything like mine. The local press often attracts the attention of people who can signpost you towards specific help.

Finally, and this is a bit left-field, have you contacted DIY SOS? Your story is the sort of thing that they would be able to do.

@TheCouncilDontHelp

Sorry OP it is well and truly shit being a young disabled person. Everything in my council is elderly only, disabled people don't exist before retirement apparently?

Put up the sign. It might help and if it doesn't it's pennies wasted.

Your diagram and explanation is a bit confusing and the able bodied people frankly will not remotely understand the problem. As an ambulance wheelchair user I think I get it and id keep on at the council for a space outside the house and keep looking for any grants.

I knew my diagram was rubbish but it isn't helped by people continuously misreading or misunderstanding my posts. Though I allow, that maybe all my explanation posts are rubbish too, lol

Guess it takes someone in a similar situation to truly understand my problem. Thank you

Thank you RevolutionRadio for understanding

People often assume that if you are disabled you will get help to make and pay for adaptations to your home etc. in reality, if you do pass the very strict criteria, you have to wait, often many years, for this. My father who became paraplegic through an accident, was a builder and designed and supervised relatives, to build his own concrete ramps, so that he could get in and out of his house, had the bathroom enlarged and adapted, and bought his own stairlift. He was able to do this, and was well insured through his job, but other people are not in such a good position, and have to struggle and make do, like OP.

Find your local carers group and get them to advocate for you. They might be able to rattle more doors.

Malbecfan I plan to talk to the MP in terms of people left on sofas, with cold water taps and commodes, as I have had nightmares on their behalf.

Really not up to being on the news or the TV! Concentrating on looking for work atm.

Why would anyone park in front of a sign if they saw it? I live in a packed London street with v limited parking, and nobody would take the disabled space (official or unofficial)

The only exception would be if it was marked as such but always empty and clearly not in use.

Why on earth would someone's first response be 'they are being greedy marking that space, that's not allowed'? How odd.

ps OP I say having four children should alone be enough to justify reserving the parking space, let alone your disability......hats off to you lady!

queenMab99 Glad your father had the skills and resources to sort out things for himself, after his accident.

I think we have in the main managed a lot to dare.

notapizzaeater I will look into that option. Thank you.

ramarama Aww, thank you. I was lucky to be able to run after my children whilst they were tiny. Now in keystage 2 and high school, parenting is more emotional than physical.

These days they are more likely to make me lunch, as I can't make theirs! I am truly blessed with my family.

@Worrysaboutalot

Yeah some of the PP are clearly ableist and being obtuse on purpose.

In my case with my parents help I purchased a bungalow and my dad (retired but ex tradesman) refurbed it to a standard I can live in it, despite low income council weren't interested in me being stuck in a house with a bathroom upstairs that I couldn't get to!) spinal injury here due to an autoimmune disease that's weakened my joints and stuff spine went pop one day and that was that.

I hope you get some help :)

Have you tried some of the charitable societies? (Eg rotary club etc). The do seem to concentrate on children but I’m sure they would recognise you are in need of help and might transfer some funds?
I presume you own the house so can’t move so easily but it does sound like your current home is really not well set up for your disabilities and will cost you a lot of money in modifications

I totally understand where you are coming from, as you know I've lost 90% of the use of my legs to neurological issues & am having to live with my mum, I haven't even plucked up courage to ask for a wheelchair referral yet or to be rehoused. I'm terrified of being rejected, my mental health has taken enough of a bashing through being ill for nearly 2 years without that.

Have you been referred to occupational therapy services? They are usually the ones that check accessibility.

@Crispynoodle

Have you been referred to occupational therapy services? They are usually the ones that check accessibility.

The hospital consultant won't refer me to OT, as dead leg and arm nerves will not benefit from OT.

My local Adult SS team contact lovely lady though she is, can't refer me as I can stand up with crutches.

My GP will not refer me as my leg and arm damage is permanent therefore of no benefit.

This isn't the point of the thread but have you claimed PIP? I know it doesn't help the parking issue but the money you would receive would help fund items such as power chairs, stair lifts etc