Justine Van Den Borne is a mother in Melbourne, Australia. Recently, at the Mitcham Shopping Center she received a cruel thoughtless note – and had the perfect response. These notes are a unique form of disability discrimination and Justine Van Den Borne handled the one she received perfectly.
Justine Van Den Borne is 41 and was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at 35 years old. Multiple Sclerosis, according to The Multiple Sclerosis Society, is “an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body.” Multiple Sclerosis is not rare, 400,000 people in the US alone have the condition. Multiple Sclerosis is invisible in the early stages. While the sufferers experience many symptoms, they often look like any other healthy adult. Often, they do not have to use a wheelchair until the condition worsens.
The note left on her windshield read, “Did you forget your wheelchair???” It is understandable that bystanders want people to save disabled spots for people who are truly disabled. However, wheelchairs are not used in every disability. Many people have invisible illness and look healthy, but truly need disabled spots. These notes are a unique form of disability discrimination. These passive-aggressive notes are hurtful and come from a place of ignorance. This Melbourne mom is schooling these ignoramuses.
In response to this asinine note, Justine Van Den Borne wrote:
“To person that left this on my car last week at Mitcham Shopping Centre- I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when I was 35. Not just MS but the worst one that never goes away and is slowly crippling my life. My kids have had to deal with things that kids shouldn’t ever have to deal with and all of our futures are forever changed. On the day you saw me I was having a good day, I was walking with my daughter unaided having a nice day. Thank you for ruining that. You made me feel like people were looking at me, the exact way I feel when I can’t walk properly. I am sick of people like yourself abusing me on my good days for using a facility I am entitled to. A disability doesn’t always mean a person has to be wheelchair bound but lucky for you I one day will be. Right now my focus is to walk into my best friends wedding next September and not have to be pushed. I will be 42. Before you ruin another persons day remember you don’t know everything and just because you can’t see it it doesn’t mean a person isn’t struggling to put one foot in front of the other.”
Justine Van Den Borne’s eloquent response is a reminder to not judge before understanding someone else’s situation. You never know what someone is going through, invisible illness or not. Avoid disability discrimination with just a little compassion and empathy. Remember, a little passive-aggressive ignorance can easily ruin someone’s day. Keep Justine Van Den Borne in mind the next time you see someone’s actions that you don’t understand – or this bad-ass Melbourne mom might just put you in your place.
Featured Image by Justine Van Den Borne on Facebook.
