Christine: Parents of autistic children need more respect
CHRISTINE McGuinness has appealed for parents of autistic children to be shown more kindness after she was confronted by a man claiming she had parked in a disabled space illegally.
The reality TV star has a concessionary blue badge in her car as the three children she shares with presenter husband Paddy have autism.
She says son Leo’s anxiety can lead to meltdowns if they have to compete for parking spaces.
Christine, 33, said: “I have actually been confronted when I was on my own with the children by a man saying I wasn’t disabled, my children aren’t disabled...‘so why are you parked in a disabled space?’ It was quite intimidating.
‘If there’s a blue badge in the window then just believe them’
I’ll take any opportunity to educate people...but there’s a time and a place and it’s certainly not when I’m in a car park on my own with three children.
“We all need to remember to be kinder to each other. If there’s a blue badge in the window then just believe that they’re entitled to be parked there.”
On the Tonight programme Hidden Disabilities: What’s The Truth?, Christine says she knows parents who “gave up” applying for the pass as the application is hard and has to be renewed.
The mum of seven-year-old twins Leo and Penelope, plus Felicity, four, added: “It’s quite disheartening to know that I’m going to have to go through this
same battle in three years’ time.” The TV programme also features people with hidden disabilities who are questioned about their ability to work and if they should be using facilities for the disabled, such as adapted toilets.
The programme is hosted by Saima Mohsin who said: “After I was injured on assignment in Jerusalem I could barely walk. I’d keel over and people would push, shove and tut at me.
“I made this programme so we would just stop and think and
give people a little more understanding and kindness.” Loose Women panellist Christine and Top Gear host Paddy, 47, are making a BBC documentary on autism and hope it will help people understand its effects better.
She said: “It is going to be uplifting.We want to raise awareness. It’s so important.We’ve had to educate ourselves, and now we want to pass that on.