The mum of a toddler with disabilities has spoken today of her shock and upset after finding an accusatory note on her car, after she and her family parked in a disabled parking bay.
Siobhan is mum to three-year-old Robert, who has Cerebral Palsy, Cystic Fibrosis and sensory processing problems, and she spoke about her experience with RTÉ Radio’s Ryan Tubridy this morning.
After driving from Mayo to Dublin last Saturday for Robert’s scheduled occupational therapy session, they drove to a coffee shop and parked in the spot in question.
When they emerged from the shop, they found a note which read: “Having a child does not entitle you to use a disabled parking bay. Consider those less able. I have photographed the disabled badge and [am] reporting your fraudulent use of same to gardaí.”
Naturally, Siobhan and her family were left very upset by the incident, and they went public with their story in the hope that the person who left the note will think twice before doing something like this again.
“We take Robert to an OT in Stepaside. So we had a session on Saturday and afterwards we gave Robert his lunch. Robert doesn’t eat orally. He’s fed with a tube. So it’s not straightforward – you can’t just chuck a sandwich into the back of a car and let him munch away,” explained Siobhan.
She added: “So we parked up in a disability spot and Robert has been assessed for a disability badge and has received a disability badge. So we use that on the basis when he’s in the car with us to try and, you know, make it easier taking him in and out of the car.”
After finding the note left by the stranger, Siobhan felt compelled to speak about her experience. Admitting that she and her family felt ‘attacked’, she told Tubridy: “We felt judged. We felt Robert had been judged. That’s not a nice feeling. He’s a little boy. Maybe the person might hear this and see the other side of the story and might think twice in future.”
No doubt the stranger will have plenty to reflect on after hearing Siobhan’s side of the story.
