Imke Peeters from Knegsel has an invisible disability. Despite a disabled parking card, she often has to justify herself to the ‘outside world’ when she parks her car. She can walk, right? She shared her frustrations in an article at Omroep Brabant. The article generated a deluge of responses.
So recognizable. Many people on social media start their reaction with these two words. Especially if it focuses on not being able to see a disability. “We have a fairly neutral car on the outside. The car only has an adapted seat for our severely limited son. When we get out, people look or make comments. People no longer have any respect,” writes Renate van Ostaijen-Maas. “Due to an intestinal problem, I often flee into a disabled toilet, then I see people looking disapprovingly. As if you can only enter there with a wheelchair,” says Corine Batenburg.
“My daughter can walk short distances, comments about that are very hurtful.”
Not pleasant and annoying, Marieke van Zuijlen describes the comments she regularly receives when she parks in a disabled space. “It also happens when my daughter needs her wheelchair. Sometimes she gets out of the wheelchair because she can also walk short distances. The comments are then painful and insulting. You don’t get a card like that for nothing,” she says. There is also annoyance: “There is even parking in our special parking lot in front of the house.”
“I would like to trade places with someone healthy for once”
“People actually only see us at our good moments,” says Hanny van Leest. Like her husband, she has an invisible disability. “If we are in a lot of trouble, we don’t show ourselves in public, then we stay at home. A judgment is quickly passed if you enjoy a good moment.” Marina Verbaan-Zuurmond also sometimes feels the gaze of the outside world. “If only they knew how short of breath I am. I would like to swap with someone healthy and be able to walk a normal distance without my shortness of breath.”
“It’s high time for a new symbol”
“We often see and hear that a disabled parking card is lent out, so that parking is free,” says Marcella Smeijers. Because of these practices, they regularly fail in the search for a free disabled place. “We have a wheelchair with us. A normal parking space is much too small.”
Dora Pietersen knows examples of people who, according to her cry, cry at the municipality. “They say they have difficulty walking, so they have to park close to the store. But then they go shopping all day with the children. They should be ashamed!”
In another response, she is answered by someone with worn-out hips. “Sometimes I deliberately cross my limits to be able to do fun things. The next day I pay the bill for it and lie flat all day. Live and let live. You really don’t just get a disability card,” refutes Francis Doll.
According to Wendy Stet, it is high time for a new symbol. “A person in a wheelchair is not representative of people who are entitled to a disabled parking card. “There are also positive reactions. Lisette Koopman has a disabled parking card for her son. “I have never been bothered by comments, because I do not experience it as a burden.”
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