People are quick to judge others and make assumptions nowadays – too quick. We’ve all done it. If there’s one thing that my illnesses have taught me is to never judge or assume anything. You have no idea the reasons behind someone’s appearance, attitude, personality or beliefs. I’ve faced the harsh judgement of complete strangers and been left feeling humiliated, upset and angry. I was laughed at by a sales assistant in a pharmacy of all places for buying heat pads! Unfortunately for her this was after I gained some confidence and the ability to stand up for myself so her manager was informed and an apology was made to me in front of everyone in the store. It was quite embarrassing for me but I’m pretty sure it was more embarrassing for her. I haven’t gone back since but I hope she’s treating her customers with the respect and dignity they deserve.
You hear so many stories about people who face abuse for parking in a disabled space (with their blue badge clearly on display) – and the numbers are increasing. ‘Being fat and ugly isn’t a disability’ is what a young lady was recently told. Well, I say told – the spineless coward decided to leave her a note instead of stick around and say it to her face. She suffers from Fibromyalgia and was enjoying a day out with her son on a high pain day. If she hadn’t have used a disabled space, as was her right to, then she wouldn’t have been able to go into the shops and enjoy her day out. Another incident involved a woman from Sheffield who suffers from Inflammatory Bowel Disease facing prejudice for using a disabled toilet. IBD shows no outwardly signs so to those around her she looked absolutely fine. How dare she use the disabled toilet? There could be someone who really needed it – right? I’ve had to use disabled toilets before when I’ve had high pain days and let me tell you, I would only ever use them if I absolutely had to. Even though I know I need to use them, the guilt you feel when you walk out and there’s someone outside in a wheelchair waiting to go in is gut wrenching. And don’t forget the judging looks from every single person who has just witnessed what has happened. People seem to forget being disabled doesn’t mean being in a wheelchair. The prejudice against those with invisible illnesses takes place all over the world and this needs to stop. A lady in America who lost her leg in an accident had a disabled parking bay outside her apartment complex when she received vile, threatening letters from a neighbour about it. Despite being informed about the situation and why she needed a disabled parking bay, the abuse continued and the police were informed.
It’s not just those with invisible illnesses facing prejudice, but their loved ones too. A Colorado mum and her young daughter were reported to the police for illegally using a disabled parking space and accused of being lazy to walk. The young girl suffers from a rare genetic condition that causes her bones to break very easily. Her mum may not be disabled but she is the primary care giver of her young daughter and therefore needs to use that space for the benefit of her child. The truth is that being disabled or chronically ill has a huge impact on their loved ones and they are often faced with the same prejudice and abuse. It’s not easy seeing the one you love suffer on a daily basis, but to be judged and abused for simply looking after someone is just wrong. I read an article a few years ago about a man who was accused of ‘milking the system’ through his wife’s illness. His wife had rheumatoid arthritis, as well as chronic fatigue syndrome, and was unable to work as a result of this. She claimed a small amount of benefits each month which were spent on prescriptions and mobility aids, but because she looked fine she was accused of faking her illness and having her husband in on the act to claim the money. It’s absolutely shocking and disgusting behaviour – and it needs to stop. There needs to be more awareness and education about invisible illnesses because this cannot go on. It’s not easy having an invisible illness for many reasons, but to face prejudice and accusations of being a faker as well? It just makes the journey a whole lot more difficult.
spoonielolz 