I was reading a popular internet discussion forum a little while ago, and was interested to see the subject of disability come up. The topic in question was on what “counts” as disability. Many disabled people commented about their disabilities – and many (presumably) currently non-disabled people also chimed in to tell the world their views of what counted as a disability.
Two things seem to always come up during conversations like this: disability benefits, and Blue Badges. For any non-UK readers I might have, disability benefits means any money the government gives a person because they are disabled. This could include Incapacity Benefit or Employment & Support Allowance, and Disability Living Allowance, among others. A Blue Badge is a laminated card, about 4″x6″, which entitles you to park your car (or the person driving you to park their car) in designated disabled parking spaces and on double yellow lines (“no parking” zone markings) for up to three hours.
I’m not going to go into the controversies and arguments surrounding disability benefits. Suffice it to say I am in receipt of them, and having gone through the massively long and distressing process required to be awarded them, I am 100% certain that a) they are far too difficult to receive, rather than far too easy as the media would have you believe and b) the number of people who’d bother to scam the system for that small amount of money is so small as to be negligible. I’ve argued both points many times, and frankly I think there are far better posts and articles around the internet that explain disability benefits much more eloquently than I could.
No, what’s bothering me today is the attitudes surrounding Blue Badges. Several times on the thread I mentioned earlier, commenters made it very clear that they thought many Blue Badge holders weren’t “really” disabled. The evidence they held up to support their opinions usually centred around the fact that once, the commenter had seen some young person park in a disabled bay and then “sprint” away from their car – the idea being that if one appears to be able to walk, especially well, then one should not be entitled to a Blue Badge.
Well I have a Blue Badge. It wasn’t an easy road getting it, and in the end it was the kindness of my GP writing a letter to the council which got it awarded to me. And I can walk most of the time. Some days I can walk my son to school with no aids whatsoever – and sometimes I need to use an electric wheelchair. Most of the time I’m somewhere in between. Some days I will swing between the two hour-by-hour – my disability is not kind enough to be predictable.
So you, unsuspecting currently non-disabled person, might see me – mid-twenties, pierced and tattooed and not looking like you “expect” a disabled person to look – park my car in one of the disabled bays at, say, the supermarket. You might see me get out of my car easily, and wonder what entitles me to that space. What were you expecting – that I fall out of the driver’s seat and drag myself by my arms across the asphalt? Not all disabled people are completely incapable of walking. That’s the first point I wanted to make.
So you’ve watched me exit my car, and so far, to your obviously expert eye, I don’t “look” disabled. Now from here I might pull a walking stick out of the passenger side and hobble into the shop. Would I look disabled enough then? I can see you, non-disabled person, and the way your disapproving look disappears once you see my beautiful purple wooden cane with the silver handle, a gift from my husband for our wedding. But let’s say I don’t have my walking stick. Let’s say I walk, with apparent ease, from the disabled bay to the supermarket doors.
What then, currently non-disabled person? Do you assume that because I walked so easily that I am not really disabled, that I’m not really entitled to that Blue Badge, that I don’t really need that space? Do you base your assumption about my health, my life, on the minute or two for which you’ve seen me? You really shouldn’t. I’ve been there. I’ve seen the looks I get. I’ve never had the courage to challenge the onlookers, because I know that given the current climate of hatred towards the disabled (and the assumption that most disabled people are faking it) you, currently non-disabled person, are unlikely to believe a word I say.
But on that day, when I pull up in the disabled bay, place my Blue Badge in its spot on the dashboard of my people carrier, step out easily and walk with ease to the supermarket – I don’t know how the rest of my day is going to go. For all I know – and based on experience, it is likely – the trip around the supermarket will deplete me rapidly of spoons, or energy, and I will be fatigued and in pain by the time I am finished. By that point, dear reader, can you see why I need the disabled bay? I didn’t need it on my way in, but I certainly needed it on my way out.
The opposite can also be true. You might see me walk to my car with a spring in my step, and think “That Anji from that blog was full of shit, this person’s on their way back to their car and doesn’t seem to be in pain or fatigued at all!” Well I’m hoping, after everything I’ve said, that you can see what’s coming next. Many disabilities are variable, and it could have been that upon my arrival I was feeling awful, but that during my visit I’ve started to feel better. Perhaps I’ve walked off some of the stiffness in my legs. Perhaps I took my medication and it took effect before I finished shopping. Perhaps it’s just that between my arrival and my departure, I started to feel a little better. It happens – I feel better, I feel worse. As I said, like many others, my disability is not kind enough to be predictable.
I hope that now you have come to the end of my post, the currently non-disabled among you have realised that you can’t tell anything about a person and their disability just by the way they behave for the few minutes in which you see them. I hope you’ve resolved to never again judge a disabled person by their apparent ability to walk (or run, or whatever else it is they’re doing that you deem ‘impossible’ for a disabled person). Most of all, I hope you are determined to challenge others when they bring out the tired old arguments about disabled people ‘sprinting’ from their cars in disabled parking bays. It’s the least you can do, if you want to be an ally to disabled people.
Yes..too often we judge on outward appearance! If we do have a problem with someone, say parking in a disability spot, we DEFINITELY should ask, because, sadly, there are people who use them for their mere convenience -who are not disabled.
I disagree to an extent. If that person has a badge, I absolutely condemn asking them, because it’s none of our business. If the council have given them the badge, then they’ve already jumped through the hoops. They don’t owe complete strangers any explanation whatsoever.
I think you misread their comment here, Anji. This person means that it is right to challenge people using disabled spaces if THEY DON’T DISPLAY OR HAVE A BADGE. They didn’t suggest challenging those who use a disabled badge. Just so you know.
I think, however, that there are already people paid to do this by the government, who check whether the car owner is using the space fraudulently or just forgot their badge. So random members of the public taking it upon themselves to be blue badge checkers is unnecessary, and could lead to arguments and conflicts.
I agree 100%, Anji. I am the mother of a 20 year old autistic boy. I have had a placard for parking here in Ohio – USA on and off since he was four years old. He may LOOK ok but when he decided he was going to stop walking or lay down…he did it. There was no if’s, and’s, or but’s…if he was finished…FINISHED. It’s extremely hard to pick up a five, six, or seven year old and carry him/her. People who don’t live it don’t see ALL there is to our every day lives. You are so right…I HAVE been asked by a rude person why I thought I had the right to be parking in a handicap space. I shot back with “My child is autistic. Autism is a disability…stupidity isn’t. That is why he has a placard and you don’t.” They are not given out like candy as most would think. You have to be approved to get one. I too am disabled. I have been since age 17. I have several different neurological disorders that mainly stem from a botched surgery at 17. I am now 42. I LOOK perfectly fine. Three of my neurological disorders are ones that rarely hit at a young age…but I was a “lucky one” (note sarcasm). They get more severe and more frequent with age. Almost 26 years into this…I rarely have days that I even get out of bed or leave my home. When I DO have those rare half way decent days where I can try and live life like a normal person…the last thing I need is some ill informed person picking apart my every move. UNTIL YOU LIVE IT – KINDLY KEEP YOUR OPINIONS TO YOURSELF, BECAUSE CHANCES ARE IT’S AN IGNORANT ONE.
No, you absolutely should not ask, even if they don’t have a badge displayed. It is not your job to police who has access to disability services, and you are not helping disabled people by doing so.
I’m trying to think of an analogy which works. Let’s imagine that you are walking past a school, and children are entering the school. Suddenly you stop and start confronting the children. What you want to know is whether they actually live in the appropriate catchment area for that school, because it’s possible that they are playing the system, and in that case the places should be going to more deserving children who live closer. No one will mind if you stop the children, bark angrily at them, distress them, even grab their arms and try to march them away.
Yes, of course that’s unacceptable. That’s what people with disabilities have to live with.
I was going to say something similar to the first poster. Sometimes those looks you might be getting may be from the good intentioned before they notice your badge. While you don’t owe strangers any explanation, that might at least explain some of the reaction you see. I can’t speak to the benefits debate, but regarding parking, I personally haven’t heard anyone begrudge someone for having a parking pass, but I HAVE seen confrontations between the well intentioned telling someone off that they presumed was using the spot without needing it. Yes, it’s wrong to assume that someone does not need the pass, but maybe their intentions were in the right place?
Where I am, it’s pretty easy to get a parking badge. All I need is a doctor’s note saying I need one, and no questions asked, I get one. I think the permanent license plate badges are a little harder to come by, but it’s easy to abuse them here. Someone I know has one in her car for when her elderly and disabled mother is with her, but will use it whenever it’s convenient for her to do so. She’s not the only one I know who does this either. Unless you have a really vigilant parking attendant, you’re not likely to get any trouble from anyone for even using expired temporary passes.
The thing is, even if you do know someone ‘cheating the system’ like that, a) we can’t tar everyone with the same brush and b) it’s still not our business. What will challenging someone do? If they’re using the space without a valid badge, they’re unlikely to move simply because they’re challenged. And if they’re using the space with a valid badge, the challenge is just another shitty needle among the hundreds a disabled person must face every day from ableist society. No, I think the best way forward is to keep schtum.
As I mentioned in another post, I don’t say anything to anyone I don’t know. I’m just suggesting that maybe the ire you feel directed at you while in the spot is not necessarily coming from a jealously or dislike of the disabled. I’ve never heard anyone (and this is just my own experience) complain about people who use the spots, or have the badges. Even from people who complain about “socialism”.
I’ve never heard anyone (and this is just my own experience) complain about people who use the spots, or have the badges.
Honestly, Jackie, I’m not doubting your experience but OH MY GOODNESS, you are extremely lucky. Though to be honest, I’m not sure I’d heard/noticed anyone say these things aloud (or not many people) until I got my own Blue Badge. Since then, I’ve had so many bad experiences that I almost disbelieve MYSELF and what I’ve heard/seen. It’s sad, but there really IS an assumption out there that most (or a large minority) people who have disability benefits, whether in money or blue badges, are scamming.
But how would you feel, Jackie if it were you with an invisible disability? It’s hard enough for many of these people to leave their homes and attempt to live a half way normal life as it is. Can you imagine if someone suffers from depression and anxiety on top of that? Many people with disabilities do suffer from depression and anxiety from living with a chronic illness. So imagine this…There you are, sick as heck and on top of it you suffer from depression and anxiety. Now you are at the grocery store…trying to emotionally talk yourself into getting through the store without feeling like you are going to pass out, fall down, get dizzy, have some sort of an attack, etc. but THEN you have to even FEAR going to the store at ALL because you have to worry about someone confronting you as if you are a thief or criminal for simply wanting to attempt to have a life like everyone else. Nobody should be subjected to constant ridicule simply because they don’t look, feel, see, hear, etc. like everyone else. If doctors are giving out the cards so easily…that is something that should be taken up with the individual doctor and how practices. It’s true you must get approved by a physician first…but don’t you think that doctor knows whether you would truly need one or not? Why does John Doe or Jane Doe at the grocery store believe that THEY should be making that call and overriding a doctors decision? I don’t see these strangers coming to my home to help me, I don’t see them making any attempt to learn about invisible disabilities, nor do I see them taking me to my many many doctors appointments and listening to what my doctors have to say. Bottom line is…it is never a “good intention”. The only reason someone would harass someone for where they choose to park is a nosy, drama seeking, unhappy person. This is a decision that is between patient and doctor…and a meter maid. I don’t stand in public restrooms and scream at people as they enter the handicap stall. Can you imagine if someone yelled at you and said YOU DON’T LOOK LIKE YOU DESERVE TO PEE PR POOP IN THAT PARTICULAR STALL. Many people are just simply too full of themselves thinking that anyone cares what they think to begin with.
Absolutely. I think the whole, “I’ve heard of other people who say they are disabled cheating the system, so that gives me the right to be rude to everyone disabled and/or to question their integrity,” thing is similar to, “I met someone black once who was really rude to me, so I’m going to assume that all black people are like that and be rude to all of them.”
Pretty sure I said that I never said anything to anyone I didn’t know, regardless of what I thought unless I knew them PERSONALLY. And I if I know them, and know they’re using the spots improperly, I’m going to say something to them. But I’d never say it to a stranger. All I was trying to point out was the possibility that any ill look you might have received may have been coming from an abled person who gives a crap about keeping the spaces available for those that really need them and not someone who is just jealous that the disabled get all the choice parking. Are you getting looks from some jealous people? Sure, I don’t doubt your experiences, but don’t “paint us all with the same brush” and assume that the person giving you the look hates/disparages the disabled. They could be looking out for you.
Honestly, I don’t know why I’m bothering trying to explain myself here. I generally stay out of Us vs. Them conversations when it’s clear that I’m considered a “them”. Sorry for my concern.
Sorry, I wasn’t implying that you were doing this yourself! But you did seem to think that it was acceptable, or at least understandable, in some circumstances. I don’t think that it is.
I find that the people who give me filthy looks for being Out While Disabled are not the ones who are truly all that concerned about the welfare of disabled/elderly people. You can generally spot the difference, because the latter are friendly rather than hostile. For instance, back when I was well enough to use buses, a man once leaped up, grabbed my walking stick, and gave it to the little old lady who had been sitting next to me and had just got off the bus. OK, that’s barging in, but it’s an understandable mistake, and you don’t have much time to think when a bus is pausing at a bus stop. When I said, “Hey, that’s my walking stick!” – not rudely, but in slight alarm as I was worried the bus was about to leave – he could have turned round and apologised. Instead, he turned round and yelled at me. People who are expressing concern in a kindly way, on the other hand, begin with a smile and an apology, and often include an offer of help. They are at least aware that it is invasive to question a stranger like this.
I agree that the whole “us vs. them” thing is ludicrous. I’ve seen people use the term “TAB” for “temporarily able-bodied”, and even worse, “tabbies”. I’m really not in favour of developing derogatory terminology for people outside your group, no matter how oppressed you are. It’s horribly reminiscent of the derogatory terms for non-Jews I heard from my family while growing up. I’m aware that people who are not disabled usually don’t realise just how much hatred and discrimination we face, and that our society hammers home the idea that it’s acceptable to treat disabled people with disrespect and a total lack of regard for privacy. Even my support workers, who have been working with people with disabilities for years, occasionally show signs that they don’t realise how bad it is, for instance when they repeat the media lies that most people on benefits are fraudulent. They do mean well, they’ve just been taught badly and haven’t had a chance to learn that what they’ve been taught is untrue.
To add to the subject of disability in general (as opposed to blue badges specifically) I have bipolar, sleep apnoea, IBS and probably haemochromatosis (still testing, definitely stupidly high iron levels for some reason) none of which appear ‘on the outside’.
I don’t drive so I don’t get blue-badge stares but I get the stares going in and out of a disabled loo (I did not steal my RADAR key, I am allowed it even if I’m not in a wheelchair). What’s worse is, I feel furtive and guilty because I know I do not look disabled to others and I hate that even if I cant control it.
As to what makes you disabled, I’d say any condition acquired or genetic that significantly reduces your ability to function in society for all or a portion of the time. Legally disabled however is another argument and probably best defined by the disabilities act.
My tuppence (ooh that locates me).
I have a RADAR key too – I don’t think people realise that you can simply buy them, no proof of disability is needed! I had a guy not two months ago scream “HANDICAPPED!” in my face as I exited the disabled loo in a Wetherspoon’s pub. I’d left my stick at the table, as it wasn’t a long walk to the loo. Ridiculously, aside from being older he had no visible indicators of disability either, yet he went right on in behind me…
I also have a RADAR key. I am most certainly entitled to one (epilepsy, ASD, balance and coordination issues to name a few) but I had to order it online. I’ve heard of people buying them so that they can use the disabled facilities to change their child’s nappy or feed them which angers me – because I could be outside that disabled toilet with my stick, in pain from standing and leaking into a Tena pad because of my weak bladder.
I don’t drive, and I’m not “disabled enough” (whatever thatmeans) for my husband to recieve a blue badge – but we certainly don’t begrudge those that have them because tey’re difficult to get and the badge holder has obviously jumped (or limped) through all the relevant hoops and prooved themselves to be in need.
Why are abled people so very concerned about people using designated parking when they’re not entitled to it anyway? If it’s about concern for the disabled people who won’t be able to access that parking space, surely there are several million more pressing concerns? It seems like more “lucky duckies get the best parking spots, they have to be completely crippled to make up for it otherwise it’s not fair”, ie abled people once again considering that disabled people are getting special perks that merit jealousy.
Yeah, I mean, I’d LOVE not to need that space. I’d happily park twenty metres further from the shop if it meant ridding myself of my fibromyalgia and associated illnesses. I want to shake these people and tell them they’re fucking welcome to the “special perk” of my parking space, just as long as they take the constant, crippling pain and fatigue that necessitate it!
AMEN, ANJI!! I am diagnosed with Asthma, Sleep Apnea, Depression, Anxiety, Vitamin D Deficiency, Essential Tremors (ET) since birth, bilateral Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia (ATN), bilateral Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) aka “The Suicide Disease”, & Occipital Neuralgia (ON). I have also had a lower lumbar discectomy, fusion. and laminectomy on my L4-L5 and L5-S1. It took me a year to learn to walk normal again…but it is still very tiring and painful to walk even through the grocery store without stopping a few times. I look perfectly normal. I am far from it. I am being monitored for other possible diagnosis such as Fibromyalgia & Multiple Sclerosis (MS). ALL of these things not giving me a particular “look”. It makes me so angry that people believe they have the credentials to judge me. Peoples ignorance and intolerance never cease to amaze me.
As an abled person, I can say that for myself personally it has nothing to do with jealousy (I park usually as far from other cars as possible, which usually means a decent hike across the lot unless I’m somewhere at night). I didn’t even park in the “pregnant lady” parking spots at the supermarket or baby store when I was pregnant. I’m kind of a stickler for parking lot “rules” — it’s a personality quirk. I get annoyed when people double park, or park sideways so no one can park next to them, or drive around speed bumps. I would never question a stranger about using the spot, but I have commented to those I know personally who are abusing the passes they have, or parking in spaces “just for a second” when they don’t need to.
I don’t have a blue badge as I don’t have a car (apparently despite struggling to walk more than a few feet without pain I’m not entitled to higher rate mobility) but I don’t judge people who use disabled parking bays unless they don’t have a badge. I look perfectly healthy and I know how much it upsets me when people assumes this means I am lying about my disability.
I also recognise the amount of hate aimed at disabled people, our government has declared we are all liars and this means that people who had “suspicions” now feel validated and entitled to loudly tell us we’re all scroungers.
I have thought about reapplying to try to get higher rate but I’m terrified that this will put me in their sight, that I will be subjected to humiliating tests to prove I am disabled. The thought scares me that some day soon despite keeping my head down I will have to stand (with a wobble) before someone who is determined to prove I am healthy and defend who I am.
So this is why I don’t judge people on first sight, because I know how awful it is.
I don’t know if you already knew this but I didn’t when I applied – you don’t need to own a car or even have a driving licence to get a Blue Badge. They’re valid in any car in which you are a passenger, as long as you don’t stay in the car when you reach your destination of course (if the person who needs the badge isn’t exiting the car, they don’t need the space, is the logic there).
I have to admit I got my DLA approved before the medical assessments were brought in for it – it was all done on the information provided by me in my application form and by my doctors and specialists in supporting letters. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be mentally and emotionally, not to mention physically, to go through the ‘tests’ they are putting disabled people through nowadays. :/
Very true. Each time I got a placard for my autistic son when he was little…I purchased THREE of them at a time. One for my car, one for my ex husbands car, and one for my mothers. That way we didn’t have to chase each other down just to take my child somewhere. We were all well aware that it was NEVER to be used for ourselves or anyone other than my son. Some people really ARE honest. It’s sad that nobody trusts anyone anymore.
Well said Anji – I agree entirely with your blog. My one concern is that the many non disabled people will not read this because it does not concern them and therefore they will remain ignorant of the fact that not all disabilities are visable.
take care and soft gentle hugs to you and yours x
Thank you Joan. I think you’re right, the currently non-disabled aren’t going to be interested in reading my little post. I’m hoping that it gets shared by other disabled people with their currently non-disabled friends, who might perhaps spread the word that not all disabilities are visible. We can hope, eh?
Well said Anji!, I’m only 21 and use crutches and a wheelchair so you’d think my rsd is fairly visible but no! I’m pretty used to the dirty looks from elderly people who seem to think that old age is the only entitlement to a blue badge but no matter how hard I try I can’t get used to the comments. My boyfriend once drove me to the hospital, parked in a badge space, before he’d even put the handbrake on there was this woman screaming and banging on the window about how we couldn’t park there. He calmly waved the badge at her, with my photo on! She then said I’d conned the council or stolen my grandparents and put my own photo on it. We ignored her and got the wheelchair out of the car, I hopped to it (one leg is fine) and got in, she then made loud comments about the lengths faker’s will go to. The worst thing was, I then saw her turn around to deal with a mentally disabled boy so she’s obviously used to dealing with disability!
I’m so sorry you had to experience that Maddy, it sounds like a horrible situation for you. Somehow it feels worse coming from other disabled people or their carers, doesn’t it? :/
yeah you would think they know what its like! unfortunately that isn’t a one off, I think the way the uk is going abuse is just the price to pay for being disabled, which is stupid because I didn’t choose to be like this or on benefits or the hundred of other things like opiates that random people hate me for!
My mum’s response when people in one situation or another (including parking in disabled bays) give her the ‘You don’t look very disabled’ line is ‘Well, you’re welcome to swap bodies with me for a week and see what you think after that’
Work today … very stupid parking related discussion, which I normally avoid like the plague, only some prat decided to contribute his observation of some chap parking a “£100k Merc” on double yellows, ‘piling out’ of it with his teenage sons, and then ‘running back’ when he realised he’d forgotten to put his blue badge out? So I asked And? Are you assuming that you can only get a blue badge for the driver? That all disabilities amount to using a wheelchair or walking with great difficulty and a stick? That having enough money to buy an expensive car means you’re immune to having a child with a disability? Grr. Someone then kindly explained that they knew you could get a badge to drive someone else, but he was obviously cheating as he didn’t have his elderly parent with him … argh, ONE OF THE BOYS COULD HAVE A DISABILITY.
Friend later also said I should have said that having a disability yourself doesn’t have to mean you can’t afford an expensive car; I must admit I’d omitted saying that as I KNEW it would result in someone ‘explaining’ that he couldn’t possibly have a disability, as he’d run back to the car.
Oh – currently disabled btw, and very much interested in this post …
Argh, currently NON-disabled, that should be.
I suspect you know you’re preaching to the choir here
But yes. I use my disabled badge at the supermarket. Could I walk the further distance? Yes. (Some days. On others, the answer is not only ‘no’ but ‘I couldn’t even GO to the supermarket if I had door-to-door service’.) Could I then go to work? No. I have to choose what to use my energy on, and it really is an either/or decision.
I have experienced many of these between myself and my child. Another one that I have dealt with was parking in a handicap space at his school. I got out of the car and started walking towards the school. Some lady made a rather loud comment about how it was a shame people were so lazy that they would lie just to get a closer parking space. Well I have never been known to let people trash talk others…so I turned right around and said “You’re right. I think lazy people like that should be fined money. Now if you will excuse me, I need to go in and pick up my disabled child.” She just stood and looked at me like “Ohhh I shouldn’t have said that!”.
I titally Agree with you. I read your Blog. Thank You.
VERY NICELY stated! Thank you!
I’m an American in my 50s and have the same kinds of days you do, well enough to walk into some places some days (though it’s been years since that included supermarkets and I am older) and if it’s a bad day or a longer distance, I use my power wheelchair. When I was walking better, I had my lifelong disability license plates and an older man, walking with a cane just as I was, but hefting things into his car I couldn’t, told me that was a handicapped parking space. I pointed out my plates, he said I must have gotten them on a mental disability!! Oh, the responses I could have given! But I thought, what’s the use, he’d just use whatever I said to his point of view. It;s handicapped parking not elderly parking. He and many others need to learn this lesson.
This explains my situation exactly, I have mild cerebral palsy, I never applied for one because I thought I was too good. But reality is that I felt that way because I don’t go out often enough to realize just how tired i get. I am 21 now and can drive and will be venturing out on more days out that always made me extremely tired. The occasionally day out like thorpe park or shopping with people who walk to fast for me can make me fall over and get tired. So my situation is that if i’m tired I am able to sit down, most of the time I have the opportunity to rest between tasks at home because I am not very busy, once i get a job I think this will change which is why i just had an assessment done because I now feel it would benefit me The reality is that I may need some sort of aid when I’m older but right now i cope of holding on to the occasional wall to rest. My balance is too good for crutches but they may be beneficial for very long trips to london to avoid burning sensations in my feet.
I have a Disabled Veteran’s License Plate on my car, but since I look too young to park in one of them, I get nasty looks, and I do challenge people when they do that. They say I don’t have a placard (i do for other cars) and I tell them look at the license plate and then tell them I got it from fighting for them in our Country’s wars. Bunch of morons. Of course, if you look at me you can’t tell I have severe sciatica in both legs, cauda equine syndrome, spinal stenosis, two herniated discs and a fractured vertebra, not to mention bad knees and other diseases and problems I won’t mention here, but I get tired of having to park far away while some person who is just FAT or old use one. My former mother-in-law hurt her arm (which is debatable for many reasons) and had a handicapped placard and her husband would drive both of them to the mall, park in a handicapped spot, so they could go walking around the mall for exercise. I have trouble walking quite often and if my pain meds wear off, I am in a lot of pain and those meds make me loopy and I often use a cane to walk so I don’t fall down and have no way to get up or I have to crawl to something to pull myself up. Yeah, I don’t look disabled, but I am and I am tired of the doctor’s that give them out like candy here in the US. The person with the disability is not even in the car and people use their placard to park in a handicapped spot and I have to park so far away. Hard for me to get that far away and go in and out without any problems walking, but if I didn’t take my cane, I would get a lot of grief and aggravation even though I might be crawling back out to my car or not even be able to do that. Here in America, in the State of Georgia you have to be a 100% Disabled Veteran to get a Disabled Veteran Tag and it is hard to get that, but the other ones, all you have to do is ask the doctor and be old or fat and you get one. It is worse in tourist spots cause everyone has them just because they are old and think they should park there when they can and should walk. Shouldn’t people too fat (I am there too) have to park farther away to maybe lose a little weight by walking farther? Mine weight is not massive, but I am overweight, but it wouldn’t matter if I were thin as a pencil because it wouldn’t do a thing for my knees or my back when they hurt and make movement all but impossible. Just my two cents, since I can’t find a threepence, and I do have some cause I lived in England for 3 years when my Dad was in the military. We can’t change the world, but we can and should be able to influence those in our small part of it that are either rude or insensitive to those with invisible disabilities. Hopefully, stem cells will make all our disabilities a moot point and we can act like everyone else that doesn’t have any. Keep the faith and pray for those worse off than even we are.,