Wide support for disabled driver

Kim Davies holds the new mobility card, which is quite different to the old one, left. Photo / File

Online readers were angered by the treatment of a disabled Masterton woman who received a note accusing her of parking in a disability car park without a permit.

Kim Davies believed the note writer did not recognise her new green mobility parking permit, which has replaced the old orange ones.

She says she often gets "looks" when parking in disability car parks because her arthritis is not always obvious.

Paula Materman said: "I feel for Kim. I have a disability that people can't see and know how hard day-to-day life is with pain. They need to stay with the old card, it's better and people know it."

Winter Greyfox said: "I have good friends who have disabilities I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy and just because they aren't in a wheelchair, people don't believe them. It's wrong. Good on you Kim."

Hayley Rawiri said the article made her aware of what some people have to put up with. "Maybe those people think they are helping the disabled by speaking up although they got bummed out cos they were wrong. I don't know but now the public know ... mind your own business, let the parking people deal with it, people are sick of justifying themselves."

Casey Crothers said people were too judgmental. "Peeves me off when people do have a permit and still have nowhere to park because selfish people who don't require permits park in these parks thinking 'I'll be a min'.

"A reason my paralysed grandfather hates going to town ... think of others and stop judging."

Kirsten Murrell says she has been abused by people while driving her disabled mother around and using the car parks. "One lady said she would key my car because I was too lazy to walk across the carpark. I never park in the spots for disabled people when I'm alone."

Her dad also had problems and had to point out the orange permit card to security on one occasion. "Not all disabilities are able to be seen. I feel for you, Kim."

Neesy said: "Not good enough to make comments when you aren't informed. There are many types of disabilities including heart and lung problems. Keep gobs shut maybe."

Helen Lenton preferred the new cards. "They're not so obvious, if I'm parked there it's for a reason and also it's none of your damn business."

Stu said: "I always thought these parks were designed for people who had mobility problems and needed the extra space to get in and out of a vehicle? Personally I think that if you can get in and out of your car and be able to walk 20m unaided then don't use the park ... you don't need it."