Melbourne uni student Rhiannon Stark. Photo / Instagram@daddyrhi
Melbourne uni student Rhiannon Stark. Photo / Instagram@daddyrhi
When Melbourne student Rhiannon Stark pulled into a disabled parking spot outside her GP yesterday she was accosted by a woman she had never seen before, demanding to know why she was parking there.
"Somebody came up and started yelling at me about using the disabled space and I said, 'I'm literally just going to my doctor's appointment and I have a permit, as you can see'," she told news.com.au.
"They started yelling at me saying it's obviously my grandparents' and how dare I abuse the system."
Stark, 24, was diagnosed with fibromyalgia two years ago and is legally entitled to a disabled parking pass.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain, tenderness and fatigue, which Stark said feels like her "body has been hit by a car all the time".
But it's not the first time she's been abused by a complete stranger over her disabled parking pass. She was verbally attacked by another driver just 10 days earlier at Chadstone Shopping Centre.
Melbourne uni student Rhiannon Stark has gone viral after sharing a video responding to those who claimed she wasn't 'disabled enough' for her pass. Photo / Instagram@daddyrhi
"This woman got out and started screaming at me, saying, 'You don't look disabled how dare you,' called me the C-word," she said.
"She came up to my window and started banging on my window, taking photos of me in my car before I even got out of my car. I called my mum in tears."
Over the years she's experienced everything from abusive notes on her car or having neighbours claim she isn't disabled.
But Stark has had enough, and has slammed those who question whether she is "disabled enough" to have a pass in a TikTok video.
The video has now had more than 1.1 million views and counting. Stark says she's glad it has "started a conversation" about invisible disabilities.
She began experiencing chronic pain in 2017 after abdominal surgery, with the pain so bad Stark would need to be carried and would sleep most of the day.
"I spent probably six out of seven days bedridden to the point that my brother would have to carry me to the toilet or anywhere," she said.
"I wasn't awake for more than four hours a day and it was really quite gruelling and horrific. My mum watched me waste away and I lost a lot of weight because I couldn't eat, I felt sick from the pain."
Before she was diagnosed Stark was forced to spend days in bed. Photo / Instagram@daddyrhi.
Stark was finally diagnosed with fibromyalgia two years ago and applied for a disability parking permit, which helps her avoid triggers that can make the condition worse.
"Parking at my university can be quite rough and we found it necessary for me to have this space so I wasn't doing these long walks before I went to class and then just crashing," she said.
"I really struggle with walking for long periods of time … there are days where my mum sometimes needs to carry me out of the car and assist me out.
"And the [parking] space helps her do that and make sure I'm able to get out and get to where we need to go, especially for doctor's appointments."
Rhiannon's video got more than 1700 comments, with people slamming the other driver and calling for more awareness about disabilities.
Her disability pass enables her to avoid triggers for her fibromyalgia. Photo / Instagram@daddyrhi
"I get it all the time, I have arthritis and on chemo. I can literally walk into a shop fine and barely make it back. And still get abused," one person commented.
"I have a sticker on the back of my car that says 'invisible disabilities are still disabilities' … it happens constantly," another wrote.
Others claimed it was a generational issue, with one person writing: "The entitlement of old people is unparalleled".
Stark is urging people to 'keep your mouth shut' rather than question why someone has a disability parking pass. Photo / Instagram@daddyrhi
"It shocks me how many people get discriminated because they don't fit the disabled stereotype," another commented.
Stark said drivers who see someone parking in a disabled spot should think first before lashing out.
"I think if somebody has one of those permits I can pretty much guarantee they need it," she said.
"If it's not directly affecting you maybe just keep your mouth shut. I'm sure there are people that do misuse, however, I am going to go out on a limb and say that is very rare compared to the people who actually do need it that you might not think do."
