My experience of disability hate crime

I wanted to share my story about being effected by disability hate crime. 

I am a middle aged member of our community and I suffer with several chronic invisible illnesses. My illnesses effect my life day and night. I am now unable to work due to how my illnesses effect me. 

I have experienced several instances of disability hate crime in the 10 years since I was diagnosed with my first invisible illness. The first instance of hate crime that was directed at me was turning up at work one day with a walking stick. I didn't like to tell others about my disability, but looking back now, I wish I had been more open. 

When I walked through the door of the office that I used to work, my colleagues just stopped what they were doing and stared at me. This made me feel very uncomfortable. It wasn't long before they started to laugh at me because I was walking with a walking stick. It was awful. I was so upset that my colleagues thought that it was funny that I was walking with a walking stick. I could hear the laughter and sniggers as I walked past them. 

Their attitude towards me, was hurtful. I felt ashamed to work alongside some very nasty people. The way that they would laugh, snigger and stare at me was just too uncomfortable to deal with on a daily basis. So I took the decision, not to use my walking stick whilst in the office. In resulting to this, this caused me more pain and I felt very unsteady on my feet. I just had to make do tho, as I couldn't cope with how I was being treated. 

Not only did my colleagues make fun at me for using a walking stick, they also resented the fact that I had a blue badge too. They didn't like it that they would see my car parked closest to the building. Others didn't like the fact that I was able to use a space that others couldn't use, especially if the office car park was full. That would result in them having to park further away from the office. Something of which wasn't my fault but I was left feeling like it was. 

I didn't stay at this office of employment for very long after being treated this way. I didn't want to go to work only to be bullied due to my disabilities. In roles after that one, I decided to be more open and honest about my invisible illnesses and colleagues were very understanding. 

What really did surprise me one evening though, was that I became a victim of disability hate crime by another disabled person. I had been to the theatre to see a show. After the show had ended, I needed to use the public facilities. The toilets on the floor of the building where we were, were full to capacity. So my family & I decided to take the lift down to a lower level floor. 

We headed for a disabled toilet as there wasn't a queue outside of this one. I stood outside with my carer whilst waiting to use the facilities. When the person came out, she appeared with her carer and she was in a wheelchair. I was verbally attacked for trying to use a disabled toilet because I was stood there without an aid or wasn't sat in a wheelchair. 

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The woman was evil towards me. I had decided earlier in the day that I wouldn't take my crutch or walking stick in to the performance, due to a lack of room of being able to put these aids on the floor. I didn't want those sat next to my family to trip over my mobility aids, so I was led in to the building and to my stall by my carer. 

I couldn’t believe the wheelchair users attitude towards me, just because I didn't have a mobility aid with me. What made things worse for me, was the fact that the toilet had a sign on the outside advising that not all disabilities are visible. If anything, the wheelchair user should've been well aware of this herself. Unfortunately, in our society these days, some people feel they are above others. This is not the case. We are all equal. No-one is better than anyone else.

This wheelchair users comments at me, hurt me alot. I ended up in tears. Their nasty comments spoiled our evening. I left the theatre in tears. Why should I be left to feel like this just because I was trying to be considerate of who was going to be sat beside me or at the back of me. I didn't want anyone to trip or fall over my walking stick if I had laid it down on the floor. I didn't want the view of those sat behind me to have their view effected by my walking stick being propped up against the chairs in front. I thought I was just being considerate to others. I didn't expect abuse just because I didn't appear to be disabled because I didn't have a mobility aid with me.

I have also been a victim of abuse when I have parked my car in a public car park in a disabled space. I have clearly displayed my blue badge but some people think because I am young, that I shouldn't need a badge at all. I have been on the end of snide comments, just because I can drive and get in and out of a car. I've heard someone say that I can get out of a car better than what others can! 

Some people are very nasty with their words or how they look at you. Society seems to be getting worse these days in the way that people have to be so judgemental. So please think if you see someone parking in a disabled bay. Please don't judge them because they have a blue badge. Don't abuse them because they may not have use a mobility aid. Some illnesses are invisible. Illnesses such as cancer, chronic fatigue, arthritis, as well as many others. Please take time to learn more about invisible illnesses and how they may effect someone who you know. 

Please think before you speak. If you do not have anything nice to say, please do not say it at all. Remember how your words or actions may effect someone. Ask yourself, would you like to be treated in the same way? 

So please remember, that not all disabilities are visible. Please do not use disabled spaces if you do not have a badge. Please be kind and considerate to everyone you meet. 

Thanks for reading