\hidden disabilities

[Bananas5]

Good article in the Guardian ....been said many many times before

theguardian.com/commentisfr...

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[johnsmith]

I think there is a hiccup in your link.

[Bananas5 in reply to johnsmith]

Oopsy...where did that come from?!!

Will sort. Thanks

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[Bananas5 in reply to johnsmith]

Sorted now!!

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[johnsmith in reply to Bananas5]

Read new link. Have experience of what article is talking about.

[Dhurting in reply to johnsmith]

Yes, it didn't work for me either

[Madlegs1]

Thanks--- so typical.

[Ritchie1268]

Good article.

Just because the person next to you appears, on first impression to be ok, just shows we should all never judge anyone. My nephew lost his battle to Systic Fibrosis aged 14, horrible disease.

[hypercat54]

Very true. I heard a lovely story on a different site about a chap with very severe lung disease. He had a blue badge and parked in a disability bay, but as he got out several people had a go at him for parking there as he looked fine.

He just said excuse me and reached for his oxygen tank and put it on. Exit scurrying passers looking very red faced and embarrassed! x

[Amk31]

This is very good. People are very judgemental. Then the other side is that people do take advantage as well.😭

[Hidden]

I've been on the receiving end of this too, but I have also seen perfectly fit and well people taking advantage of disabled facilities, because they can! Just "nipping into Asda for two minutes" whilst using a disabled parking place, therefore forcing a disabled person like me, in pain, struggling to walk, to walk that little bit further. They know there are no penalties, because it's a privately run car park, nothing to do with the supermarket. On public transport, everyone tuts and huffs and puffs as they walk past you, some even stand at the side of you, before asking you to move because they "need the seat", my reply was always, "So do I..." and turned my head away. That usually resulted in them tutting and moving away, whilst complaining loudly to the rest of the bus, who of course agreed what an ignorant woman I was. At my stop, they then had to suffer the embarrassment of contrition when they saw me struggle to get up and leave the vehicle! I wasn't smug, but I did feel just a little satisfaction when on a bad day!

[Tbrz]

Great article and so true about hidden illness. I have vasculitis, which has left me with multiple issues as well as the daily battle with fatigue from having a long term chronic illness. I have problems with walking any distance, standing for long periods, so this has affected me in going anywhere as I get so tired. I have not got blue badger as the forms look so complicated and I just haven’t got the energy, but it has greatly reduced me going out anywhere as I feel vulnerable and self conscious. Even my own family members say oh don’t you look well, I now give up saying I’m in pain constantly, I barely sleep, etc, you get fed up justifying yourself. I’m not sure what the answer is, but it is hugely frustrating and sometimes upsetting, because you feel you are being dismissed, but it is just another daily battle you have to deal with when you have s chronic illness.

[karools16]

I read this forum daily with great interest. When folk say 'oh but you DO look well', I reply; It's not my FACE that's ill!' I have GCA/PMR and a visible curvature of the spine and other conditions. I no longer feel guilty when I take a front seat in a bus. I am 72.

[morphalot]

I agree with all of this. Once I waited outside a disabled toilet for about 20 minutes in a restaurant . Eventually about 8 young people came wandering out having been in there doing their makeup. Whilst I agree that there are hidden disabilities and people with them have the right to use a disabled toilet, I also think it will be abused. Maybe people need to ask themselves 'do I really need the additional facilities that the disabled toilet offers?' Somebody who is maybe deaf or has ME might say 'no, I can manage in an ordinary toilet cubicle' while somebody with severe spine pain might say 'yes, I need the bars to haul myself up off the toilet'. I know there are other reasons why somebody might need to use the disabled facilities rather than the ordinary toilets - perhaps they have been abused in an ordinary cubicle and cannot bear to return. Fair enough, I'd be happy for them to use a disabled toilet. But I think that by actually asking the question as I have suggested might well prevent misuse of the disabled toilet.

[katieoxo60 in reply to morphalot]

on the subject of disabled toilets misuse, in our city the disabled toilet in the main bus station has a number Key lock which is available to bus drivers but has not been given to disabled radar key holders so it seems even the government can condone mis use, this does not sound clear. You cannot use your radar key you need the special number to enter but it is not available to registered disabled in general just the select few. Its the same for the disabled meetings in the council houses for disabled reps only the select few are invited. Not all disabled groups are represented. I have a problem with entering the numbers in the key pad due to hand disability and have not been issued with the number by my local council to spite being registered disabled. So misuse of the toilets has more than one side to the story especially the small amount of them available. Thank you for raising this issue these toilets do get abused as radar keys are so readily available these days without a need to prove entitlement.

[katieoxo60]

As you say its the same old story, people victimised because they don't use a wheelchair to signify they are disabled. Just like elderly having to use a walking stick or dark glasses and leave their hair grey. When will this society move forward and accept people as they are including their claim to disability, have they not heard of the equality, human rights or compassion. Oh and heres another one we do not become suddenly well again when we reach retirement. I got through on your link no problem. Perhaps some people including professionals ought to look at the regulations in respect of disability access to services, which covers many aspects most important their right to be treated & access services in the same way as able bodied the onus is on the service provider to make their services accessable to all on an equal basis and make the necessary adjustments to meet disabled requirements.

[morphalot]

@Bananas5 and @Katieoxo60 - I think there are so many issues regarding disabled toilets that it needs taken up on a higher level. Or we need to do some sort of research and report. Remember also that if we end up leaving the EU with no deal this legislation could be blown out of the window. All very worrying. Take care x