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.

None of her business - do not respond, simply walk away. You have every right to park in a disabled bay.

What really pisses me off is this........I volunteer for a local charity, the carpark has three disabled bays........by the time I arrive ALL 3 are occupied by vehicles NOT displaying a blue badge!

Well obviously that person's actions are totally unacceptable, to block you from exiting your car. I am talking about instances like the OP's, where someone is shouting things out, or saying a person does not look disabled etc. I am just very aware of my own vulnerability, so I guess, I speak from that place. I am not in a position to defend myself, if someone was to get physical, for instance. I am not taking any chances by getting into a vocal exchange with people. Some people are just looking for anybody to vent their spleen on.

With lifts, I sometimes use them when carrying shopping bags as I get a bit of vertigo and dizziness on certain types of stairs and escalators- going down not up. Actually it happened the other day on an escalator that was very high and open on either side when I wasn't carrying anything other than a handbag. That said, I would make way for people who appeared to need it more if it were busy.

So tough luck if you have copd and can’t walk across a car park. Disabled children who may suddenly bolt and be run over tough luck. Parents should restrain their child better, doesn’t matter if said child is taller/stronger than their parent. Plus many more reasons.

She was a pig.

Horrible encounter to have.

Why would you feel that you had to explain yourself tough? Would you have stood there, and told a complete stranger your medical issues. You know why you used the lift, that is it.

What's a disabled permit,I've not heard of that before?

Some people like to think of themselves as parking police, best to ignore them.

If some people paid 1% of the attention they pay to bullying policing random people on the street to the state of the country, we'd live in paradise.

It's the Australian equivalent of a blue badge

The op is in Australia we all assumed it was a blue badge but it's Australian equivalent.

She would have needed a disabled spot after speaking to me like that!

Sorry you had to deal with that OP. Anybody entitled to one of those badges should know that they’re not easy to get, you really have to prove you’re disabled before you can have one. You were very restrained in not telling her to fuck off!

My BIL used to park in the disabled spot as there was a badge on the car - for his mother.

However if there is a badge on a car you have to assume the person getting in and out of the car is legit.

I do admit to a moment of sarcasm with someone I saw using a parent-and child spot accompanied by what looked like her late teen daughter. Not abusive though.

I parked in a mother and baby parking space at a supermarket, in my Landrover Defender ( old model, I’m not megabucks 😀) and had a woman and man pull their car in front of me swearing and gesticulating.

I realised what they were complaining about, so walked over with my new baby, in my arms, right to where they parked, to get a ticket from the machine next to them, and show off said …..baby

That woman apologised to me everytime I passed them in the supermarket .

Nasty woman. 😂😂😂😇

Your response was perfect. You have a permit and not all disabilities are visible. There was no need to say more, and certainly no need to have a horrible row in a public place with an angry stranger who doesn't understand the basics about accessibility. It wouldn't help her understand, and would be very unpleasant for you.

It baffles me how comfortable people are confronting random strangers regarding this issue despite the campaigns regarding not all disabilities being visible.

If people are that arsed, a subtle check of whether the person has a permit would surely suffice?

This is very true. We had one for DM before she died. She could walk, but not very far and we had a fold up wheel chair that fitted in the boot for any distances. Even if the chair wasn't going to be needed it was still important to be able to park close to the entrance of where we were going. Also plenty of space was needed to help her get in and put of the car.

But I remember my sister saying what a mountain of paperwork it was to apply and needed supporting letters from GP etc.

Definitely not easy to get hold of.

I wish we could get one for 94 year old FIL for when we take him places as he finds it difficult to walk far now. However he doesn't have any specific disability, he is just very old!

Would you? Then you would be despicable.

It’s my experience too. Most people are OK - thankfully the really nasty blue badge warriors are few and far between, and in my experience people will be only too eager to help if they see you in difficulty. But I agree, for the most part, unless they’re disabled or have experience of someone disabled, most people have little idea of the challenges.

I also kind of like that people feel as though they can challenge if they think they see something amiss, but it’s the way you challenge. I would probably question someone breezing into a disabled space if they attempted to leave the car without displaying a badge, but as far as I’m concerned if they have a valid badge on display then whether the disability is visible or not, there is no reason to challenge.

What a horrible woman. Your response was fine. x

the sheer ignorance of the man made my blood boil - felt that if I had said something he may rethink himself next time

People are pig ignorant with disabilities. They think you need some sort of mobility aid or walk with an awkward/uncomfortable gait.

My friend's autistic DS has a blue badge because he cannot sense danger and is registered blind. She often get abuse. He rarely goes out as hates crowds

Ugh, these parking space warriors drive me mad. What sort of a moron thinks only someone who has a mobility aid could possibly be disabled? I get that this behaviour probably stems from good intentions, but the lack of comprehension of shows such a one-track understanding of disability. You didn't owe this person any kind of explanation OP.

Ah right 👍

A few years ago, I badly sprained my ankle and found stairs difficult. I used the lift in the building which said "disabled and pushchairs/prams only". I got yelled by a young mum. I said its none of her business.

Some buildings I need to use the lift as due to a vision condition, I find some stairs difficult to see the edges of stairs.