This is a real account of what my wife had to endure, when trying to do the 'right-thing'! (Names have been altered). A true story...(worthy of @Richard Branson?). I recently applied for and received the 'Disability-Parking-Permit'-(Australian version). I do not get out of the house very often due to my disability, so the rare occasion that I am is a major deal for me (and my family).
Anyway, this particular day, my wife took me to see a movie at the cinema-plex. We were in the car-park, and we noticed a message in front of this car-parking-space - and consequently now have a 'card' from 'W*******d', permitting (me) to have free-parking. A 'godsend' for me and others with disabilities. We were made aware of the availability of using a powered-scooter-chair, but as I 'can walk-albeit with problems', I'm not interested in using a wheelchair at this point.
In October, my wife took me to the movies - a 'spur-of-the-moment-decision' (after I'd been for a specialist-Dr's appointment). My first day out of the house in ages! And, an opportunity to do something 'just-for-fun'. As I have a 'rare'-neurological-condition, called "Transverse-Myelitis" - and compounded by a 'chronic'-back-injury - my mobility is affected and I use a 'Canadian-crutch to get around - I can 'walk', maybe 50m to 100m before I can't go any further (leg-tremors; spasms; back-pain).
My wife parks the car, as close to the entry of the cinemas/shops, as she can. I insisted that she pops-down and gets the parking-ticket 'validated' - every little bit helps! So, with key-tag inhand (and this way we don't have to stress about 'rushing-away', once the movie has finished), she can go do our grocery-shopping, then the pharmacy to grab my medicine etc.
We hadn't done this before (parking-ticket-validation), so she went to the 'Concierge' as directed on the ticket!
My wife was greeted by Miss 'Chandry', who promptly, and loudly asks who the 'Tag' belongs to? My wife says; ..."my Husband". She then again is told 'loudly' that to use the 'Tag', he (me)-'the disabled person', must come to the Concierge-counter. SO - for (me) to receive the 'free-parking' - I would have to walk the distance from the cinema's-(half way along the length of the entire shopping-center), about 500m - to have my 'Tag'-validated! For me (a MAJOR-problem) and then walk BACK! Surely defeats the purpose of parking near the entrance to the movies!
It would have taken me - the best part of an hour (with regular-stops), to walk down-and-back. Maybe, even longer depending on my pain-levels. This is not including the exhaustion I would experience from the effort required to walk that far. My wife explained this to her and exclaimed the ridiculousness of that for me - how I could not do that (and shouldn't have to). What is the point of me having to put that much effort in (to go to the movies), so my wife went to take the 'Tag' and the car-keys, back from 'Chandry' who had claimed them, when she first-asked for the validation.
My wife was very upset - in shock at the way she was being spoken to (she was in tears), and then angered when in the process of collecting her keys (exclaiming), she couldn't be bothered - Chandry pulled the keys and 'Tag' back (deciding) to let her 'do-it-this-time' - and 'lecturing' my wife, about;..."how people rort the 'system'". My wife was told - "there is another Concierge, closer to the cinemas", when she asked if there was somewhere else to do it? My wife felt that Chandry's whole 'attitude' was condescending! She was rude and certainly was disrespectful.
So, with a 'free-ticket' for parking (and tears 'streaming' down her face), my wife headed back to look for the other Concierge-desk - but found the 'Customer-Care-Area', instead! At this point, she decided to contact; "Center-Management". The lovely young lady was patient; respectful; and understanding too (my wife didn't catch her name), but she was given some forms to fill in... etc., etc.
As the wife of a disabled person, she is appalled that I (or any other disabled person) have to go to such lengths to get our 'Tags' validated. Remembering that it wasn't long ago - we could go shopping /movies there, without having to PAY to shop etc.
It is 'hard-enough'.. Every Single Day.. Without finding another 'Obstacle In Our Way'..
I understand there are scum in the community - who make it difficult for others - but the majority of us are respectful. Law abiding and grateful for any little bit of help we get! My wife shops at 'W*******d' and has NEVER thought about 'rorting-the-system' - and it angers us, that others do!
We don't understand the assumption that unless the 'disabled-person' fronts up at the Concierge-Desk - then we are trying to take advantage of 'W*******d'.
I am grateful for the opportunity when my wife takes me on a rare outing - that we can park 'close' to entrances - and are not burdoned by time constraints and having to pay for the pleasure of spending money at 'W*******d'. But, after this event - we don't believe it worth it, for the time and effort required.
We are disgusted - that we were made to feel like '2nd-Class-citizens' by using this facility. We are sure that is not the way 'W*******d' wishes to be represented. We're not actually making a complaint about 'Chandry' - and the customer-service 'skills' that she is lacking in; and/or the 'wrong-person-in-the-wrong-place' - thoughts we have. Concierge - she is not!
I am distressed that a 'disabled-person' (like me), would have to walk so far - to have a 'Tag' validated. And, that a carer; wife; husband; friend; or child; is unable to help the disabled person. I am also worried, that if I had sent one of my children to validate the 'Tag' - how they would have been treated - trying to help their Dad!
I'm not sure what can be done to remedy this situation - for holders of 'Disabled-Parking-Permits'; for their carers and family members - but, surely it shouldn't be so hard to go and enjoy a movie, as a disabled person!
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