To have been upset by this encounter today

Fair comment.
Just that some need a,whole lot of help to be able to join in with the rest of society and live their lives.
It doesnt take anything away from someone to acknowledge that the level of help varies.

MissAdventure

It isnt a competition, but you said people should think how hard it can be for parents.
Why should they, since it isnt a completion and all are equal?

That's not the same thing at all is it? It's not a competition of struggle, just acknowledging those who do need extra help

Unless you would stand by and watch someone with a buggy and a toddler struggle with a door... Which I doubt... Then you can understand that people who aren't just managing themselves might need help

That applies to people carrying heavy things or people struggling with animals on leads... Its just that, those aren't in need of dedicated spaces at supermarkets

I think competition is the wrong word here. There just are some needs that trump others in an ethical society.

It isnt a competition, but you said people should think how hard it can be for parents.
Why should they, since it isnt a completion and all are equal?

People can and do go through awfu lthings and difficulties but life is not a competition on who has it worse, life is about empathy and understanding for each other.

Most of us would hold the door for the next person, or go out of our way to open a door for a disabled person or a mum struggling with a baby and a toddler. We wouldn't even think. Why would how we park be any different?

Parking spaces can and have been provided for disabled people and parents. This is thoughtful and conscientious of those who provide them. The car parks alsoo belong to those organisations on private property. So if they have chosen to provide specific parking, that should be respected

MissAdventure

Well....
I do get fed up with people bleating about how hard it is.
If my daughter couldn't park close and get out of her car then she couldn't do stuff.
That includes picking up her child from school, shopping, all kinds of things.

So sorry about your daughter.

The point you make is the main one in this argument. Blue badge holders literally cannot manage without designated spaces. It is not a matter of inconvenience to them, it is the difference between being able to get out and about and sitting at home.

A parent can manage without a designated space. It may be inconvenient, but there need is nowhere near that of a person with a disability. Therefore in almost any situation where the last space near the door is needed by a parent and a blue badge holder, the blue badge holder's need is the greater one.

Hithere

Miss A
So sad to hear about your dd's health, she is for sure very brave

Generally speaking - comparing who has it worse is a losing battle, somebody will have it worse than you do

Does it mean only the worst of the worse have the so called right to parking spots, etc and everybody else should defer to them?

We all have our own personal hell we deal with - starting the "no, some other person has it worse, that's a no excuse to scream at them" doesn't cut it

Well we all have different opinions, but shouting and becoming aggressive with people because they are using a facility which you would also like access to is not going to help anyone

My daughter got it all ways.
Sometimes people would have a go at her for being in a disabled bay, too.
Or they would say to me "I saw your girl in her big car with her music playing...." in an accusatory way.
As if it wasnt allowed, somehow.

I agree MissA.
Perhaps angry people who are able bodied should try getting around in a wheel chair for a day, struggling in and out of a car, in pain, especially when no disabled bays available.

And yes, it does cut it for me.
Obviously, I would have thought.

I don’t think it’s reasonable to get angry- but I don’t agree it’s reasonable to use a p&c space if you don’t have a child either. The spaces are labeled for a reason to serve different needs.

That was entirely my point, hithere.
Difficult for parents, yes, equally as difficult for others.

Worse of the worst.... lol

Miss A
So sad to hear about your dd's health, she is for sure very brave

Generally speaking - comparing who has it worse is a losing battle, somebody will have it worse than you do

Does it mean only the worst of the worse have the so called right to parking spots, etc and everybody else should defer to them?

We all have our own personal hell we deal with - starting the "no, some other person has it worse, that's a no excuse to scream at them" doesn't cut it

I live really close to a senior school and it's chaos around here.
You take your life I your hands if you go out amongst the traffic.
I wouldn't mind, but I live on an island you could walk around, if needs be.

The parking close to the school gets on my nerves too. There just isn't any need for it. I used to have drive (and still do) one of mine to school but we park on a car park and walk in (he walks on his own now but when he was younger I'd walk to) I know some people have to park close to the school, as you say - but most of them don't have to.

The same at the school.
All the parents parked so close and up on verges and so on.
My girl and a dad who had his leg amputated to try and halt his cancer weren't able to pick their children up at all.

Well....
I do get fed up with people bleating about how hard it is.
If my daughter couldn't park close and get out of her car then she couldn't do stuff.
That includes picking up her child from school, shopping, all kinds of things.

Oh MissA

VioletSky

Empathy and compassion should go both ways...

Too many forget how dangerous it can be to navigate a busy car park with children.

Too many have no idea what it's like to have cancer in your breast, spine, pelvis, thighs, skull, lungs.
Arent they lucky?

My girl had that and more, but she never felt the need to scream and shout at others.

I get so annoyed at these people who think just because they have a baby/young child they should get special parking places, "in the old days" , we did not have these car seats that can go in/out of cars easily,we had to take baby out of car seat/carry cot on the back seat then put in a "big pram" if the car was lucky enough to be big enough to take the frame /wheels , if not then baby had to be carried around the shop while we tried to do our shopping, these days so many think its their right to park right next to a shop just because they have children with them

Yes, but you only have control over your own actions, however two way it should be.

Empathy and compassion should go both ways...

Too many forget how dangerous it can be to navigate a busy car park with children.

Anne, there are organisations who can help you fill in the form.

Does this help too?

www.ageuk.org.uk/bp-assets/globalassets/torbay/original-blocks/our-services/ia/guide-on-how-to-complete-attendace-allowance-forms.pdf

JaneJudge

Blue badges really aren't that easy to get. You have to qualify for higher rate DLA/PIP or AA and you also have to have supporting evidence in our local authority, even in the case of terminal illness.

In my local authority, you don’t have to be on any specific benefit and supporting evidence is not asked for but they do seem to do a lot of assessments. I genuinely cannot walk very far, I am in severe pain every step I take but am not on DLA or PIP although I think I could claim AA now as I do have to have help with cleaning and gardening.

After completing the AA form on behalf of my mum, I cannot face going through that experience again, the forms were twenty odd pages long with lots of repetitive questions, I almost gave up! In fact I did give up once when she was still living alone as the lower amount of £56 ( approx) just did not seem worth it but once she went into a care home as a self funder, she was entitled to the higher amount so I did give it another go.