Woman shouted at me for parking in a disabled spot

[AusMumhere]

I parked in a disabled spot at the supermarket today. A woman about four cars away shouted at me and said 'that's a wheelie spot'. I shouted back 'I have a permit'. She then yelled 'where's ya walker?'. I said 'not all disabilities are visible'. I hate confrontation of any kind.
Should I have walked away or should I have responded? I'm still in shock that I shouted.

What is this “disabled permit” that is the same as a blue badge but is not a blue badge? Sounds to me like you’ve just printed something off the internet.

In short, you don’t have a blue badge and were parking in a blue badge space. You can’t park there, the spaces are for blue badge holders only not people who consider themselves blue badge holders but haven’t got one. If you get one, and if you actually qualify, (and I suspect you don’t otherwise you’d have one already), then you can park there. Otherwise park further away and leave them for the people who actually need them.

Read the full thread before accusing the OP, she says the permit is the Australian equivalent of a blue badge.

Not only is it against your code of conduct, it’s against the law. The issue of your permit is between you, your doctors and the issuing authority- no-one elses business. If she persists draw her attention to the Equality Act 2010 and tell her that her behaviour is bullying, ableist and discriminatory. Tell her if it continues you will be seeking legal advice.

A wheelie spot?

How f*ing crass

I think regardless of if you have a blue badge, if you're able to walk without any pain or without an aid, you shouldn't be in the disabled spot.

If you've got the energy and bandwidth to shout back, do it, and do it loudly every time and make them feel as small as they deserve to feel.

Equally, if you don't have it in you to do that on any given day just ignore and let it roll off your back with just a smile and nod.

I got called scum once. I look healthy but having Ehlers-Danlos has me in constant pain and I need a blue badge. Some people simply do not understand hidden disabilities.

Here’s a good idea - read the OP properly and you’ll understand that she’s in Australia and is talking about their equivalent of the blue badge scheme. It’s very clear from her post that she was parking legally when she was challenged. Your snotty and superior attitude reflects badly on your reading comprehension.

Then think again. You clearly don’t understand disability.

Enlighten me?

Again, it is just as well that the people who set the criteria for BB think differently. There are so many reasons why someone may need to use a BB space, who neither use an aid, or are in pain, when walking.

There are very many disabilities which impact on walking ability. And just because you don’t have pain or need an aid to help you walk doesn’t mean you don’t have difficulty in doing so. Many people can only walk short distances because they have a heart condition. My DH has unstable angina - more than a few paces has him gasping for breath. COPD has the same effect. Many people with various forms of cancer are impacted in how far they can walk. There are those who have bone conditions for whom walking would make their condition worse. Those who are unsteady on their feet and a fall risk - especially if they have osteoporosis or a similar condition. Various lung conditions make walkingany distance a problem.

Those with mental health conditions who are unable to appreciate the dangers of traffic would be entitled to a blue badge. Same with autism, ADHD and many other conditions which incorporate learning disabilities. Epilepsy - danger to life from seizures where there is traffic flow. Those who have IBD, Crohn’s disease or other conditions which impact continence or create bowel or bladder urgency may find their ability to walk any distance impacted, or may be issued a badge so they can easily access a toilet - as would anyone with a stoma. Do you want me to go on ? I was a disability outreach worker for many years. Pretty much seen everything and l’m in a wheelchair myself. I can do this all night.

The criteria for a blue badge isn't just about putting one foot in front of the other though. I can walk but not safely. My cousin had one as a baby. Obviously as a baby he couldn't walk but needed to be near a vehicle in case of emergency

I was 100% with you until you suggested mentally ill people can't cross the road. If they can't be aware of traffic they shouldn't be driving in the first place.

There is absolutely nothing stopping people who are mentally ill from driving. Anxiety and expression is mental illness, as are bipolar, schizophrenia and many others - none of these conditions mean you can’t drive. And if the person who is mentally ill is so severely impacted by their condition that they are deemed unable to drive, then they would be the passenger in the car who would be the badge holder. Or is that concept totally beyond your very narrow perception of disability ?

'Those with mental health conditions who are unable to appreciate the dangers of traffic would be entitled to a blue badge'

Anyone unable to detect danger in traffic due to mental illness should not be driving.

Who said they are driving? You don't need to be able to drive to have a BB. Kids have them.

Why not ?

You seem to be unable to grasp the fact that you don’t have to be able to drive to be entitled to a blue badge.

Because why would you?

Exactly, thank you. Once again banging my head against the brick wall of ignorance !!

People have Bb and don't drive are you being deliberately obtuse?

An idea, OP: My dad has disabilities and will either drive himself or my brother will. When some busy body starts marching up to them he gets out his phone and starts recording them. He's not actually recording them, well not always, but they soon backtrack and scarper away when he announces the knobhead is being filmed.

Anyone who disagrees with you is a troll