sticker/label on pushchair - stating child is disabled?

[hazeyjane]

On the frequent bus threads on Mumsnet, I have raised the point that often a disabled child/toddler, maybe in an 'normal' buggy, which would make it more difficult for the parent to fold up, than under normal circumstances. I know that I have had to fold up our stroller, when a pram/buggy gets on with a younger baby, as they are seen to have priority, even when ds was asleep

I just wondered if anyone was aware of a label or sticker that could be used that states, simply, that the user of the buggy is disabled, that might help in these sort of situations. Or is it just a really stupid idea, for reasons that I haven't thought about!

hi hazey

at one time i would have reared up against your suggestion and shouted you right down, but living in the same sort of world as you now (ie as the parent of a child with additional needs) i'm toying with labels/cards for us to use.

the lack of awareness 'out there' is astounding at times, and i'd far rather label my own child 'correctly' than let some ignorant judgey pants label me lazy/incompetent/or a terrible parent or my child as anything other than she really is.

and we don't even have to use a buggy.

I think it would be a good idea, but would have to be some sort of official thing (like a blue badge) to stop people making their own.

DS was in a normal pushchair and then a specialist one until after he started school so it would have been very useful for us.

I could do with one to stick on Dd3 sometimes, when she is in a funny mood.

I am sick to death of the way people look at her and then me and assume she is a spoiled brat. And sadly that includes members of my family

I can totally see why you would want one for your buggy

I might be saying something everyone already knows, but the National Autistic Society sells little packets of hand-out cards saying 'This child has autism' (Or Aspergers, or 'this person has...') and underneath it outlines some information. I wonder whether any other organisations relevant to other conditions or disabilities might produce an equivalent? They could be laminated and attached, perhaps, or just handed out when or if appropriate.

Ineed - yup, exactly those reasons

starfish you can buy cards for autism awareness already - makes me sad to think about them, but it seems i'm not alone

x-post with Murky

It's a shame that the bus companies couldn't just allow those that need it to just bring in their DLA award letter and get some type of card that you could just show to the driver allowing you to keep the buggy opened with the child in it. I realise it would create havoc with the "I have a baby and I'm entitled" set, but it's probably the easiest option to implement.

I carry a kaye walker on the back of my DS buggy. He has CP, can't walk independently but loves using his walker in shops. It's gold and at the moment it has red christmas lights wrapped round it.

Mostly people ignore it. However if I have the kaye walker with the buggy I do get asked questions a fair bit. Many people ask if it's part of the buggy. Some people ask about the lights, some people ask what's wrong with DS. I have to be in the right mood to cope with those questions, but overall it is easier.

I have however recently been told that I had to get out of a lift we were already in or wait for a lift or take DS out of the buggy by a very entitled woman wanting to have 3 generations of her family in the lift with her rather than let the able bodied children and adults use an escalator, as DS could stand just as easily as they could and she had a "baby". So something which shows DS is clearly disabled doesn't actually help deal with idiots. (For what its worth my DH made her move up and to get everyone in the lift as we had already given way to a number of others in wheelchairs first - serves me right for trying to go sale shopping).

Thankyou.

It is interesting, because it is something that I would be kind of reluctant to do, but there have been occasions where it would be useful to have had something official looking attached to the pushchair.

The situations I have been in on buses have not been with wheelchair users, but the driver (asking me to get ds out, and fold even though the space was empty) and a couple of times with other pushchairs, with little babies in. I would always fold and move for a wheelchair user. I am quite happy to carry ds on my lap, and do so every day, when we get the bus to school (it is on a coach, so the pushchair has to go into the luggage hold under the bus), but there have been times when it is very difficult to fold the buggy, whilst holding him or he has been asleep.

I suppose the thing is the sort of people who have asked me to fold or move are the sort of people who I don't want to have a discussion about the nature of ds's issues, I thought having a nice official looking sticker might mean i could just point and smile!

Ds has a disabled bus pass so at least the driver always knew he was in the buggy for a reason, even if passengers didn't. Still depends if you get a decent driver or old misery guts though I suppose.

I just found out DS was entitled to a free bus pass, which is fab as he loves buses.

I refer to the buggy as a wheelchair. For eg in restaurants I will ask for a table with room for DS wheelchair (even though it looks like a buggy) or say 'is it ok for me to bring in my son's wheelchair' and point to it. People sometimes look confused but never query it.

So I guess on a bus if asked to fold it I would just say I know it looks like a buggy but its actually a wheelchair and he needs to stay in it. Or in the wheelchair space I would say 'i know it doesn't look like it but he is entitled to use it'.

People usually feel too awkward about the idea of a disabled child to ask any more. If they did I would just say I don't feel comfortable discussing it in front of him.

This from here?

That is perfect, Mariammama. I think I will get something from that website and make somethng which can be attatched to the buggy if we are going on public transport, or somewhere where it would help if people could be made aware that ds has additional needs.

Thankyou