York man with MS feels ‘judged’ parking in disabled spaces

Ian Johnson said it is only when he gets a mobility walker or wheelchair out of his car that people realise he is disabled.

MS is an incurable condition that affects the brain and spinal cord.

Common symptoms include fatigue, problems with vision, numbness in different parts of the body and feeling off balance or dizzy.

For Ian, who was diagnosed with relapsing MS in 2013, the condition mainly affects his mobility which means he uses a rollator walking aid or wheelchair to get around. He also experiences fatigue.

Ian Johnson with his rollator walking aid (Image: MS Society)

The 54-year-old software engineer said he has felt judged for using disabled facilities, including a disabled toilet, as MS can often be a “hidden” disability.

“Half the times I’ve ever parked in a disabled space people are staring at me and I can feel the judgement,” he said. “Then when I get the rollator out of the boot, people realise I must have a disability. 

“Just recently I was judged for using a disabled toilet. I just carried on and kept on using the facilities – my greatest need was needing to use the toilet, so I wasn’t bothered about other people’s views.” 

Read more health stories:

Ian said he experienced people ignoring him when he was in his wheelchair and talking to his wife instead.

“It’s like I’m invisible because I’m in a wheelchair,” he said. “It makes you feel like you’re just not there.” 

York’s narrow streets ‘are a nightmare’ for disabled people, says man with MS

In York, Ian said the main problems he faces are uneven paths.

“Medieval cities like York were never designed for disabled people,” he said. “So narrow cobbled streets might seem ‘quaint’ to most people, but are a nightmare for anyone using a rollator or wheelchair.”

He stressed that “most members of the general public are very friendly towards disabled people” but added: “One thing that causes big problems is drivers parking across dropped curbs/ramps or parking on the pavement.

Ian Johnson in his wheelchair (Image: MS Society)

“In a wheelchair, you cannot wheel off a curb or squeeze though a narrow gap between a vehicle and a building.”

Ian spoke out about his experiences after new research from MS charities found that almost half of people living with the condition in the UK have been questioned or challenged for using accessible facilities.

Nick Moberly, chief Executive of the MS Society charity, said there is a “lack of understanding around invisible and fluctuating conditions like MS” which is “sadly driving hurtful behaviour”.

This behaviour has ranged from “being underestimated at work to being harassed for using an accessible parking space”, he said.

Nick urged people to “encourage everyone to take some time to listen, learn, and understand MS a little better”.