What makes you angry?

[Saffy]

Ok, so you're disabled ... Whether it's a noticable condition or one where people say, "Well you look fine".

 

Pet hates?

 

Mine ... People parking on dropped kerbs. If anyone has any photos they are willing to send me of this happening, then please pm me for an e mail address as I write for a Disabled Company and we are bringing this to people's attention.

 

Shopping? What stores do you find dissimulation to get around? Mine is marks and Spencer ... Narrow aisles and clothing stocked so close together I can't get close at times.

 

Any topic is welcome and I will do my best to write a good article about it.

[anouska]

I also find Marks and Spencers very difficult. Bon Marche in Crystal Peaks is also very difficult as it has low glass display units made of glass with very sharp edges in between the racks of clothes. It is also very difficult to find somewhere to sit in Cafes and Restaurants when in a wheelchair .My biggest thing that makes me angry is the people who step over my wheelchair to get past or who run across me.

[IRONMONGER]

People who steal, borrow or fraudulently use blue badges and drivers who park in disabled bays without a blue badge. Disabled parking bays are generally wider because many blue badge holders have to open their doors very wide to allow access and egress. If I have no option but to park in a normal width bay it often results in damage to the adjacent car

- a totally innocent driver. I do carry a piece of foam in my car to wedge between the car but sometimes it slips or has even blown away.

Sheffield Council appear totally apathetic to Blue Badge abuse, I have witnessed the most arrogant abuse but I have never had my Blue Badge examined in this city. Other cities are much more professional in dealing with this problem. For example Portsmouth have impounded many cars, confiscated many Blue Badges, fined a multitude of drivers with one prolific abuser even receiving a custodial sentence. When requested I am delighted to let a parking attendant to check my badge and actually congratulate them.

Parking by a dropped kerb is illegal for all drivers including disabled. I recently incurred a long diversion in James Street, Harrogate because of a car parked by a dropped kerb. I spotted a traffic warden ticketing a car parked in a loading bay but ignoring the dropped kerb offender.

When visiting the city centre I usually borrow a mobility scooter from Shopmobility Sheffield, which incidentally is on the edge of the city centre for some reason best known to the council, and involves a long freezing trip to the shopping area. When using the scooter I often encounter people, often on iPhones, walking straight into me.

OK now that I have got all that off my chest you will be thinking that I am miserable but far from it. I live for every day, l have three voluntary jobs including a trustee for two charities,

one a national charity campaigning for the rights of disabled people. I specialise in encouraging disabled people to lead a full and active life.

Edited January 2, 2016 by IRONMONGER

[anouska]

People who use disabled parking bays are often 4x4 large cars because of the space. I was thinking of going to the shopmobilty in City Centre but changed my mind when I realised how far away it was from the shops. I lived in Enfield North London and the traffic wardens patrolled the Car parks and gave tickets to non disabled drivers who were parked in disabled bays I must say that I have meet with plenty of people who are kind and considerate as well when out.

Meadowhall used to have the wheelchairs next to Argos which was very handy for the disabled parking but have since moved it to Pink level next to Marks and Speners which is not so convenient. But we must soldier on regardless I suppose.

[sedith]

People who fraudulently use blue badges in disabled parking spaces when they are fit and healthy! You know who you are!!!!!

[Saffy]

Many thanks ... Some of these comments are really useful. I too work voluntarily writing for a blog for a Disability Group.

 

They said to write about anything and everything, but I think I've told everyone enough about how much good sea water does for me so thanks for giving me some more ideas. Xx

[anouska]

I am going to a wedding and needed disabled facilities at the Hotel. After spending all morning looking the best I could get was a ramp at the door of the Hotel and a Lift.Why is it not the law that every Hotel should have at least one room with bathroom and other facilities needed by disabled people. This makes me so angry!

[IRONMONGER]

Anouska, hotels in general offer an atrocious service to disabled people. The hotel industry, in fact all sectors of the service and retail industry, should discover the spending power of our disabled citizens. I never book on line so that I can discuss my requirements, and then I telephone again prior to arrival, even then I had one hotel that had booked me into a room on the second floor with no lift. I have had showers with a 12inch step or the only access through a back door via the kitchen.

However there are some gems out there. If I knew your area of travel I may know of a local hotel. My favourite hotel is the Rudding Park, near Harrogate who have a range of rooms catering for people with varying disabilities. They obviously realise that one size does not fit all. When I book I just request my favourite room and on arrival everything I need is in the room and my favourite newspaper on the mat in the morning. The Hand Picked Hotels are also pretty good.I just wish more hotels adopted this policy.

[anouska]

Thank you ironmonger I will look at these hotels that you have recommended.Th area I will be visiting is Newmarket Suffolk. I have been before and the hotel that I stopped in was very bad I put a review on Trip Advisor about how bad their disabled facilities were. They sent me a reply to say when they referbish the hotel they will consider making one room disabled accsess! We live in hopes.

[IRONMONGER]

Anouska, last year we stayed at Milsom's Kesgrave Hall in Ipswich. Our room was on the ground floor, next to the restaurant. I cannot seem to remember too much about the room which probably means that it must have been OK.

However I do remember the restaurant's wooden floor, because as I negotiated the tables to get out after our meal one lady diner thoughtlessly pushed her chair back right in front of me. Unfortunately my crutches tangled with her chair legs and I fell heavily banging my head on a metal pillar.

Of course this was not the fault of the hotel and it would not prevent my return.