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Woman with hidden disabilities left in tears after being abused over parking in disabled space
One in five people in the UK suffer with some form of disability
A young woman has spoken out about the abuse she received from a stranger for parking in a disabled spot - because she 'didn't look disabled'.
Sophie Ann Thomas was left in tears after she was called 'disgusting' and accused of 'scamming the council' by a stranger who didn't believe she was disabled.
The 24-year old, who suffers from fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and tendinitis in her hips, is one of the 70 per cent of disabled people whose condition is not visible.
She was walking back to her car at a car park in Horncastle, when a woman approached her and started taking pictures.
"I was with my mum and she nipped to the toilets while I got in the car," said Sophie.
"I could see the woman from afar shaking her head at me, but after my mum had gone to the toilet, she came over and started taking pictures
When my mum got back, I told her and my mum went over to the woman. I got out the car and went with her to talk to the woman.
"I tried to explain to her about my disabilities and that's when she called me disgusting.
I showed her my blue badge, but she wouldn't believe me. She just told me that I must have scammed the council."
Sophie's various conditions mean that she is often in pain and her tendinitis means her hips regularly 'lock' leaving her unable to walk or move.
She says often faces discrimination when she's out and about on her 'good days' as people assume she doesn't have a disability based on her outward appearance.
"I do get a lot of stares whenever I go out, said Sophie.
"Whether it's when I'm parking in a disabled spot or using the disabled toilets, because I don't 'look' disabled people immediately jump to conclusions."
It's estimated one in five people in the UK have a disability and seven out of ten of them have impairments which are not visible to the naked eye.
In August last year, the government's blue badge scheme was extended to support those with 'hidden disabilities'.
Under the new guidance, parking permits were extended to those with hidden disabilities, including people who cannot travel without risk of serious harm to their health and safety or someone else's, people who cannot travel without 'very considerable psychological distress', people who have very considerable difficulty when walking, meaning 'both the physical act and experience of walking'.
Sophie says it's the lack of public awareness surrounding hidden disabilities that leads to the abuse she has faced.
The woman who called me disgusted was shocked that I could walk, said Sophie.
"People have this misconception that disabled people should be in a wheelchair, locked away at home.
"I have good days. I go to work. I even sometimes look nice and wear make-up. But when I do these things, people look at me and judge me. It's like people believe disabled people shouldn't have a life."
Sophie says she wishes people could see her on her bad days, when she is unable to get out of bed or even lift her arms to wash her hair, so people could understand.
There are days when my mum has to wash my hair, because it hurts to lift my arms, said Sophie.
"There are days when my mum has to bring me food and drink to my room because I can barely sit up in bed.
"You have to jump through so many hoops to get a blue badge, it isn't just handed over.
"I think it's getting better. The younger generations are becoming more aware of disabilities. It's about raising the awareness."