What makes you angry?

[stormvixen]

Anouska, (and everyone else needing disabled accomodation) Might I recommend YHA - I stayed in their St Pancras' accomodation a couple of months ago and was SO impressed! Their websites are really informative as to which locations have what access and adaptations, and just to be sure I emailed them to advise I would need a bottom 'bunk'.

 

The room I was given was not only fully accessible - with wetroom , grab bars etc, but the 'bunk' was a double bed.

I joined on the spot for a years membership, and am now planning some weekends away, because it's given me the confidence there are places I can go where I won't have to worry about being able to get about too much. (Incidentally, the hostel is literally across the road from the station - less than 200m, which I hadn't realised -I just wanted somewhere in the area for a night)

 

It might be good to write a positive article about places who *are* making the effort - not only share the good news, but hopefully inspire people to consider it.

 

As for me, I'm now mobility impaired following an accident. I have used a wheelchair, but generally get about with walking aids now, but have issues with stairs and bending - so for me.

[*Peaches*]

Lack of understanding from people, some days I am fine, others I am bed bound but I still get "Well you dont look sick", people parking in disabled bays ALWAYS riles me, I usually have a go at them or put a note on the window! Sports Direct has to e the worst shop for disabled access ever! Heavy shop doors is another problem, even my hubby struggles to open some doors, how am I expected to manage in a wheelchair with a dog?

[onewheeldave]

Being unable to access medical treatment due to the NHS's refusal to acknowledge the fact that autistic people often cannot endure the bureaucracy they impose as necessary pre-requisites.

 

It often causes so much stress and damage, that the autistic person simply ceases to try to get treatment, as they fear the consequences of trying to engage with the NHS will itself be extremely harmfull to their mental health.

Edited January 9, 2016 by onewheeldave

[markyspark]

I haven't experienced the following issue but I fully expect it. I've recently been awarded PIP at the enhanced rate and I've decided now is the time to get my driving licence. I've already bought a little van to use once I've passed the test. I chose a van as I only need two seats and there will be more than enough room in the back for my mobility scooter and walker. I fully expect grief off people when I park my van in the disabled bays, certain people will make assumptions and tell me I shouldn't park there. I do however have a warped sense of humour and am looking forward to see their faces when I get out and use my stick/walker/scooter. People can be so fickle sometimes

[medusa]

I haven't experienced the following issue but I fully expect it. I've recently been awarded PIP at the enhanced rate and I've decided now is the time to get my driving licence. I've already bought a little van to use once I've passed the test. I chose a van as I only need two seats and there will be more than enough room in the back for my mobility scooter and walker. I fully expect grief off people when I park my van in the disabled bays, certain people will make assumptions and tell me I shouldn't park there. I do however have a warped sense of humour and am looking forward to see their faces when I get out and use my stick/walker/scooter. People can be so fickle sometimes

 

I once made the mistake of mentally (only inside my own head) telling someone off for parking their sports car in a disabled bay, and then had to tell myself off when the owner of said sports car arrived back at the car in his very light and sporty wheelchair, which he took to pieces and stowed in the back of the car and then walked to the side of the car on his hands and climbed up into the drivers' seat using arm power alone.

 

You can't judge the disability by looking at the vehicle...

[hennypenny]

I had to drop off my daughter at the Sheffield interchange the other day. I googled to see where I could park and found :-

 

http://www.disabledgo.com/access-guide/sheffield-city-council/sheffield-interchange

 

On street marked Blue Badge bays are not available.

Clearly signed and / or standard marked parking bays are not available.

There is not a designated drop off point.

 

The main Sheffield bus station doesn't have any disabled parking (or indeed any parking), nor a drop off point!!!

 

---------- Post added 13-01-2016 at 19:35 ----------

 

As an add on to my last post, I asked the council and South Yorkshire Transport both why there was no disabled parking at the bus station. They both blamed the other one, and the council also added that no one had ever asked about disabled parking at the bus station before, and therefore it was low on their list of priorities as they had limited funds. I find this very hard to believe, surely disabled people use buses as much as anyone else, and also they have people to pick up from buses as much as anyone else. It might be useful therefore if they received more queries about disabled parking there

[Plain Talker]

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!

 

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.

 

I went away with my best friend to Torquay about 20, months ago.

 

The hotel had been instructed that as we are both wheelchair users we needed to be in a ground floor accessible room.

 

We discovered that another person, from another coach party had been assigned to the accessible room.

We were given a awful room, on the top floor. The room was filthy and damp, (the flat roof above was leaking like a sieve) and we could not get into the lift with a wheelchair, so had to use rollator-walking frame 'deelies', which also barely fitted in the lift. the lift door was manually opened and was too heavy. The room door itself was not wide enough to get the walking frames through and there was a floorboard missing which caused me to fall.

 

We nicknamed the place Fawlty Towers. We were on the look out for Basil and Sybil.

 

We complained and we were moved to a slightly more accessible and better accommodated place, across the road.

[sedith]

People texting on their phones whilst I am speaking to them.

[anouska]

Today they had a event at our local church. The people who went parked in my cul-de-sac on the pavement. This meant I was unable to get past .This happens very often. Is it illegal to park on the pavement?

[IRONMONGER]

Today they had a event at our local church. The people who went parked in my cul-de-sac on the pavement. This meant I was unable to get past .This happens very often. Is it illegal to park on the pavement?

 

I have always thought that it was illegal to park on pavements, in fact over my long driving career I am certain that I have heard of drivers being fined for parking with two wheels on the kerb. I have also heard of drivers being fined for parking more than nine inches away from the kerb edge.

However there is currently a bill going through Parliament notably the 'Pavement Parking (Protection of Vulnerable Pedestrians) Bill 2015-16' so an end to your problem may be in sight.