‘I’m no cheater’

By Shaun Inguanzo
A NOTE scribbled with the word ‘cheater’ in red lipstick is at the centre of a disabled parking controversy that has left a Noble Park woman an emotional wreck.
Debbie Rossi, 49, returned to her car after paying bills at Parkmore Shopping Centre last week to find a note written in lipstick labelling her a ‘cheater’ for parking in a disabled space.
But a hurt Mrs Rossi, who has suffered from fused vertebrae in her lumbar region for 30 years, said she had displayed a disabled parking permit.
She now wants the ‘gutless’ author of the note to come forward and publicly apologise.
“They should have the guts to come up to me face to face and say something, because I’ve got proof (of disability),” she said.
“By saying I’m a cheat they are discriminating against me.”
Mrs Rossi said she was already seeing a psychologist after finding her husband dead after an unexpected heart attack earlier this year.
“This note makes me feel like I shouldn’t be shopping down there (at Parkmore),” the distraught resident said.
Advocacy group the Disability Resource Centre (DRC) has flown to Mrs Rossi’s side in a bid to raise awareness about what it calls ‘hidden disabilities’.
The DRC and Mrs Rossi believe she was targeted because Mrs Rossi did not have a walking frame or wheelchair.
DRC advocate Anthony Giles-Peters said people disabled by conditions such as lung or skeletal disorders suffered just as much as wheelchair or walking frame bound people.
“While there are people who do cheat on the scheme, there is also a significant number of people who have hidden disabilities,” he said.
“For example heart disease, poor lung function, and other conditions which under the strict criteria enable them to have a parking permit.
“Sometimes these people, although to the lay person look to be alright, they do have a severe disability.”
Mr Giles-Peters said it was common for those with hidden disabilities to be targets of abuse.
He urged people, if unsure, to approach the permit holder to learn more about their condition.
“People sometimes do abuse and take parking spots that should be for persons with disabilities,” he said.
“So I don’t think disabled people would mind if you approach them and ask.”
Parkmore Shopping Centre manager Linda Burgess said security staff were aware of the incident.
“On Friday morning, centre security staff were advised of an alleged incident that occurred at Parkmore Shopping Centre,” she said in a statement.
Ms Burgess said the centre had 24 hour patrols of carparks and that would look out for such incidents in the future.
“We constantly review our security procedures, making changes where necessary, and we will continue to work closely with all stakeholders including local authorities to maintain a comfortable and safe environment for all.”