Bullying of disabled people has got worse – because it’s government-sanctioned | Penny Pepper

People feel they have permission to abuse us, because austerity has rendered us second-class citizens, excluded from society. This has to be addressed

The bullying of disabled people can often be subtle. Over time, I've become immune and also cynical. You filter out a lot of the abuse in order to get on with your life.

But last week, I was at a pedestrian crossing in north London, and here's the question: am I being oversensitive if I react to a cyclist speeding towards me shouting abuse? He didn't stop and neither did I, meaning the poor dear in his black storm trooper helmet had to swerve to avoid me because I dared to be on the crossing. He did shout "Fucking spastic!" - which I suppose means he fine-tuned his abuse to include a repellent reference to impairment. I didn't respond. What would be the point?

If you can't get to a pub or your favourite shop, then your visibility in your community decreases exponentially

Related: Turning Paralympians into 'superhumans' is no help to disabled people | Penny Pepper