A mum who just wants to make sure her son gets to school safely has called out other parents who use the parking bay dedicated for disabled people. Amy Ali, 40, said there have been "numerous times" when parents without a blue badge have used the parking bay located just outside Jesse Gray Primary school's entrance, on Musters Road in West Bridgford.
Ms Ali, along with Kerrie Van Ristell whose daughter is also disabled, thought the parking space would be the answer to their children's difficulties of accessing the school safely. But sadly this has not been the case according to the mothers, who pushed for the parking bay to be introduced in September last year.
A huge disabled parking sign is painted on the road marking the spot. At least twice a month however, the mothers say they drive down to the designated parking bay on Musters Road just to find it taken by somebody else who "may or may not have a blue badge".
READ MORE: Nottinghamshire school to install CCTV cameras in pupils’ toilets to 'reduce vandalism'
Ms Ali's son became disabled when he had a bacterial infection which led him being permanently brain damaged at the age of two. "He has a medical condition called ataxia. He has issues with his balance, he cannot stand or walk unaided", his mum added.
Adam Ali, who is now aged six and attends the school in Year 1, is on a waiting list for a wheelchair. At the moment, he is using a walker with wheels.
"He cannot do long distances in it and he cannot certainly go over a big hill. We only have a buggy, which it is not really suitable for him now. We think Adam is cognitively fine, so we do not want him to go to school in a toddler's buggy.
"It took me a year to get a referral for a wheelchair. The reason why we were told there is a delay in him receiving his wheelchair is because of Brexit and Covid."
Ms Ali described the parking bay as a "lifeline" for children like her son, who will "never be able to walk to school on their own". She added: "It is very frustrating. Just because I have a disabled child that does not mean that I have to be grateful for every little thing. I do not want people's sympathy - I want respect.
"I think it is important for people to know that my son was born healthy - he just got a cold. People do not realise that this could happen to anyone. He was healthy, he got sick - now he is disabled. On top of that, we cannot get him to school safely."
She said that she often has a "feeling of anxiety" when she drives her son to school in the morning, dreading the moment when she sees the space taken by someone without a blue badge. "I would say that it happens twice every month", Ms Ali added.
Despite the disabled parking sign clearly marked on the road, she said it is down to her and Ms Van Ristell "to police it" as the local authorities "are not enforcing the rules". Ms Ali added: "It is the confrontation that I do not like. It also makes the children feel uncomfortable.
"I have a plan already in my mind in case someone gets aggressive if I tell them that. I will just get in my car and lock all the doors. It should not be this way.
"If they continue to do this, it would just mean that I will have to go back to driving away from the school and pick him up or drop him off later. He will just miss out on his education over time."
She shares a rota for the parking bay with Kerrie Van Ristell, who five year old daughter Ophelia has autism. Ms Van Ristell added: "The council and the school have been brilliant in providing this parking bay. It is a lifeline for our children.
"While my daughter can walk, she does not have the capacity to do that safely. If there was puddle she would run straight into that.
"I dislocated my knee as well, so it is a lot harder. It is harder for children with special needs to get into special schools now due to reduced availability, so more mainstream schools have to accommodate these children.
"It is just very stressful when people decide to park here. It is about inclusivity after all."
Jonathan Wheeler, Conservative councillor for West Bridgford South, has supported the two mothers with introducing the parking bay. He commented: "Residents in the area and parents at the school should only use the parking space if they have a blue badge and really need to use it because we do have disabled children who really need that space. This is why we put it there and it is causing a lot of distress to the parents and children who need that parking bay.
"Outside this school there is a lot of parking for everyone else. The thought behind introducing this parking bay is for these parents to use it, but obviously everyone else with a blue badge can use it if they really need to. I think that further action could be taken could be taken if the space is being misused."
Emma Prescott, charity director at children’s disability charity Children Today Charitable Trust, said: “Parents and carers of disabled children face many additional day-to-day challenges and disabled parking bays are just one of the few things that can help make life that little bit easier.
“They offer crucial space for a disabled person to move around their vehicle and room for any mobility equipment they may have with them. We urge people to be mindful and respectful of this need.”
READ NEXT:
Boss of major Nottingham venues opens up on 'rollercoaster' since pandemic
Nottinghamshire school to install CCTV cameras in pupils’ toilets to 'reduce vandalism'
Admissions halted at Nottinghamshire hospital after legionella bacteria found in water systems
Man homeless after 'losing everything' pitches tent near Nottingham's River Trent
Join Slimming World for free with this great offer - claim now to kickstart your journey
