AITA For Staying In A Disabled Spot, Or Was Grandma Overreacting?
When a disabled man took a short break in his car after therapy, a stranger decided to confront him — assuming the worst just because of how he looked. But was he actually in the wrong, or did she overstep?
The OP (25M) is disabled and owns a valid disabled parking permit. After a long physiotherapy session, he sat in his car — parked in a designated disabled spot — to take a few minutes to catch his breath before driving home. But a stranger decided that wasn’t acceptable.
“You Don’t Look Disabled.”
The parking lot was practically empty — multiple open spots, including another disabled space across from him. But an older woman, around her 60s, pulled up, parked diagonally across the other disabled spot, and walked up to his window.
“Why are you taking up a disabled spot? You’ve been sitting here playing games for fifteen minutes, and I want to park here.”
He tried to explain that he was disabled and had a valid permit, but she interrupted him, saying he didn’t need to justify himself — while still demanding that he move. Her reasoning? Her car was “too long” for other spaces.
🚗 When People Judge By Appearances
The OP kept calm but was frustrated — it wasn’t the first time someone assumed a young person in a nice car couldn’t possibly be disabled. After a few awkward moments, the woman stormed off mid-sentence, leaving him confused and upset.
“No one sees why that blue card is there in the first place.”
He wasn’t blocking anyone, the lot had plenty of spaces, and he wasn’t overstaying. Still, he wondered if sitting there for a few minutes after therapy made him seem inconsiderate — or if she was simply out of line.
💬 What He Shared Later
In an edit, he added that he has Friedreich Ataxia, a progressive neurological disorder that affects coordination and speech. He walks with a cane, is unsteady when standing, and spends enormous energy just moving around — but when seated, he appears “normal.”
“Not for pity — just understanding.”
He estimated he was there for only 5–6 minutes, nowhere near the 15 she accused him of. To him, the encounter was just another reminder that disability isn’t always visible — and that judgment comes easily when people don’t bother to look closer.
💬 Reddit Weighs In
Reddit users were furious on his behalf — and empathetic toward how often invisible disabilities are judged harshly.
“You don’t owe anyone an explanation. You have a permit — that’s the end of the story.”
“People think disability always looks like a wheelchair. They need to learn that invisible illnesses exist.”
“She was projecting her own frustration. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
The consensus? He was absolutely **not the asshole** — just a man trying to get through his day in peace, while others rushed to judge without understanding.
🌱 Final Thoughts
Disabilities aren’t always visible. And when people assume they can tell who “deserves” accommodation, they often end up exposing their ignorance. Compassion is free — and everyone could use more of it.
What do you think?
Was the OP wrong to sit there for a few minutes, or was grandma simply out of line? Share your thoughts below 👇
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