Woman Discovers Message On Her Car Windshield, Struggles To Hold Back Tears While Reading It
Note: This story, originally reported in November 2015, is being republished.
Justine Van Den Borne, a woman living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), recently posted a photo on social media of an angry note she found on her car after parking in a disabled spot. The note, left at Mitcham Shopping Centre in Melbourne, Australia, read: “Did you forget your wheelchair???” and was placed on her windshield.
In her Facebook post, Van Den Borne included a detailed explanation about her condition and her right to use disabled parking spaces. She expressed her frustration with people who judge her based on visible signs of disability and emphasized that not all disabilities require the use of a wheelchair. She also warned that she might need one in the future.
Van Den Borne urged people not to make assumptions about others’ disabilities based on appearance alone. She encouraged understanding and compassion, reminding others that they might not be aware of a person’s full situation. Her post has attracted significant attention, with over 17,500 likes and many shares.
Van Den Borne shared with The Age that similar incidents occur frequently. Due to her age, people often assume she shouldn’t need disabled parking, despite her difficulties with walking and carrying items. She mentioned that her condition affects her bladder as well.
Diagnosed with MS at 35, Van Den Borne frequently uses a walking stick and anticipates needing a wheelchair in the near future. MS impacts the brain and spinal cord, causing symptoms like vision loss, muscle stiffness, balance issues, and fatigue. Van Den Borne’s form of MS, secondary progressive MS, leads to a gradual worsening of these symptoms.
Currently, there is no cure for Multiple Sclerosis. Liz Sayce, CEO of Disability Rights UK, commented on the incident, highlighting the widespread suspicion toward individuals with non-visible disabilities. She urged people to consider how they would feel if they had a condition like heart disease or MS and were treated with distrust while using a disabled parking spot.
Sayce also pointed out that among the UK’s 11 million disabled individuals, only about 1.2 million use wheelchairs. Many others require closer parking, disability benefits, and the freedom from discrimination. She called for an end to the prejudice faced by those with disabilities.
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Sources: Independent