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.

That was the point I was making. if OP was displaying her badge, then the woman was rude and can jog on.
If OP wasn't displaying a badge then how was the woman to know she wasn't one of those idiots who think they can park anywhere.
OP has since confirmed she was displaying her badge, so of course the woman was rude! She should of checked if she was so concerned someone was taking up a disabled space when they were not disabled.

I am not sticking up for this woman at all - yes she was rude - but at the same time, perhaps she was fed up of twats taking up disabled spaces when they don't need them and just lost it this time.
In this instance she was wrong.

It's surprising how often people do seem to think that they ARE the blue badge police though.

I know someone who is a below the knee amputee and wears a prosthetic leg. You can't see it when he is out and about and wearing trousers and he does walk quite well even if it can become painful for him. He has been challenged before when people can't see his disability and "don't think he looks disabled enough", whatever that means. He has no qualms about hitching up his trouser leg and displaying his prosthesis to these twats (not that he should have to, if course) and they invariably go bright red and scuttle off muttering something. It's themselves they have embarrassed.

I'm applying for a Blue Badge for my mum, who relies on me to give her lifts everywhere. If they see me bounce out of the car first to go round and open the door for mum, people could draw the wrong conclusions.

Just wanted to note also, as well as not all disabilities being visible, that the driver may not be the one with the mobility problem.

This!

I'm always on alert for anyone having a go at my husband for parking in a blue badge space, as he's a super fit runner and much faster out of the car than me 😅 he's the only driver in the family because I'm epileptic. The amount of people who think only the disabled person can drive the car is insane.

Yes, that's what I would do.

I don't mind people having a look to see if you are displaying a badge, but for goodness' sake don't shout before you know.

Thanks everyone. I almost wish I'd said more - but calmly.

Probably not going to be popular … but I think those spaces should be specifically for people with mobility issues, and those who need to get wheelchairs / scooters etc out of the car.

Some disabilities aren’t visible which is correct, and some people have disabilities that good days and bad days, just because you “can” doesn’t mean you “should”

It doesn't matter where the badge was at that time though , the woman was a few cars away .she was just shouting the odds because she was feeling important and harassing the op, and it is harassment.

I'd have said a hell of a lot worse to the nosey c than what you did

In your best Hyancith Bouquet voice.
Excuse me madam but do fuck off..

No. Not popular.
Let's just say that the permits aren't given out for any old reason.

Never mind 'popular'. How about you do something about your bigoted, ableist attitude?

Thank you

Or @ExtraOnions you could consider that you've no idea how hidden disabilities may affect someone and since you don't know what you're talking about, trust that the OP has one because she needs it and should use it whenever she sees fit.

Some people just love to virtue signal. How can she possibly know your situation?
She was rude and ridiculous. In your position I would have definitely shouted back because I would have been very cross.

My mum isn't in a wheelchair (yet) but is dying from cancer basically, can't walk very far, has balance issues and pain. I can drop her off and go and park somewhere else but it is much better if we can walk together having parked close by. And hospital drop off areas are not always safe to drop people off as they can be very busy with cars all over the place.

Assuming you’re in Australia? ‘That’s a wheelie spot’ works even better in an Aussie accent!

You were right to respond to her, well done.

Not everyone that has a blue badge uses a wheelchair. You can have mobility issues and walk, yeh possibly not far but doesn’t mean a wheelchair or scooter is required. That person would still be entitled to the space.
edited to add a disability is still a disability visible or not

Most disabled spaces in my local area involve no roads to be crossed, or a crossing where pedestrians have right of way. We park in them because if I have a seizure mid-shop or whatever we're doing (not unusual, supermarkets have triggered them several times), I can be taken safely back to the car while disoriented, my husband isn't having to worry about getting me and our daughter safely across multiple roads.

Safety is a hugely overlooked reason to use a blue badge space.

Disabled parking permits aren't given out on a whim. There are strict criteria that OP has met so no-one should be questioning her right to use that space.

Thank you. Absolutely correct

@ExtraOnions it’s not easy to get a blue badge. The bar is very high.

When my gran was housebound and in agony unable to walk without a frame, my mum wasn’t allowed one to ferry her to hospital/gp. No idea why.

And when my uncle was dying of cancer, my mum couldn’t have one again (he wasn’t sick enough - couldn’t get a letter confirming he’d definitely be dead within 6 months. Although he was dead within 6 months).

Anyone who manages to get a blue badge most certainly needs it so please change your attitude.

A woman about four cars away shouted at me and said 'that's a wheelie spot'.

A wheelie spot?? Well doesn't she sound like an absolute champion of those with disabilities.

I would not have shouted across a carpark, especially to someone spouting such an ignorant comment. Honestly!

"Good days and bad days" - yes because disability comes and goes like the wind......one day you can just start skipping and running around. Absolutely no idea.