A woman who suffers from a hidden disability was left upset after having to 'show proof' when parking in a disabled space.
The mum, who has Multiple Sclerosis, said people don't realise how hurtful they are being when they question why she is using a disabled parking bay despite looking 'normal'. The woman took to online forum Mumsnet to slam the shoppers behaviour.
She wrote: "Today in Tesco car park whilst loading my shopping into the car with my teen daughter, a lady in the row of cars behind me exclaimed loudly while helping her elderly mother out of the car, "I can't believe everyone using the disabled spaces are actually disabled, look they are leaving now should we move", she continued talking but I couldn't hear but she didn't stop staring at me.
"For clarity I have MS. I usually walk with a stick but in Tesco I use a trolley for balance. I drive my own car and have the audacity to go out in public and do my own shopping. I have had comments before, even one man asking me to show him my blue badge. Today just hit deep. I don't know why maybe because I was with my daughter and didn't want to make a scene."
The woman went on to say she has struggled with her MS diagnosis and finds situations like this very triggering.
She added: "It's taken me years to come to terms having MS and I held out for a long time not getting a blue badge. I have been medically retired from a job I adored and didn't pass probationary period on another due to sick leave.
"I am currently unemployed and looks like I will be for the foreseeable as I'm so up and down healthwise. Single mum to teens/young adults and never seen myself ever being a benefits claimer.
"I worked from when I was 15. It gets me down daily my life isn't what I worked so hard for. People don't realise and or maybe don't care how hurtful a passing comment can be when you are struggling."
Users were quick offer the woman support.
One person said: "Some people think that a blue badge is only for wheelchair users. A lot of disabilities are invisible.
"Just ignore them they are ignorant and rude. I have a similar problem. We hold a badge for my ASD son who is 16 , I have had comments too. Unfortunately there are a minority that misuse disabled parking spots."
Another added: "My two ASD kids have blue badges and we always get tutts and comments. I just ignore."
Another woman added: "I have a family member with a blue badge. Some days he can’t walk at all, some days he can walk for an hour or so. He’s had many “situations” shall we say and has learned to enjoy the anticipation of shutting people up with his blue badge after he’s seemingly walked out of car like a regular person and telling them not all disabilities are visible.
"People are judgey and uneducated."
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