‘But you don’t look disabled’

A Facebook page set up to name and shame those who illegally use mobility parks recently invited people to comment about their issues with ‘‘invisible disabilities’’. Here are some excerpts:

this happens to me I smile politely and say ‘I am so sorry about your eyesight, It must be awful not to be able to see things right in front of your nose’ and point to my card. If they say that I don’t look disabled, I say, also politely, ‘ Oh I am so terribly sorry I will ask my tumour to grow to a large size on the top of my head next time so that people with impaired vision such as yourself can see it.’ Generally they start apologising a lot by [then].

someone with a chronic lung condition I often get mistaken for someone misusing a disabled parking space. One instance went something like this: Woman: That’s a wheelchair space and you’re not in a wheelchair. Me: No it’s a space for disabled people. Woman: You’re not disabled. Me: Actually I have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, my lungs work at 30 per cent and I have a disabled permit to park here. Woman: Mumbles apologies and hurries away.

abuse from strangers when you have a disabled child is awful. These car parks are not just for old people ... they seem to think they are.

if I see someone without a card displayed I always say first (very politely), ‘‘I think you’ve forgotten to display your disabled parking permit’’ – half the time people are thankful for me reminding them (we’ve all forgotten at least once!), the other half just abuse me back saying to mind my own business!