'I'm not drunk, I have Parkinson's disease'
BBCA man says people regularly think he is drunk because of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Paul Roberts, from Hull, wants people to learn more about the condition and other hidden disabilities after being denied entry to a pub, barred from a gig and left at the roadside by a taxi after falling over.
Parkinson's is caused by a loss of nerve cells in a part of the brain. The symptoms include involuntary shaking, slow movement and balance problems.
Roberts said: "People think I'm drunk in general because of the way I'm walking. I want people to know Parkinson's is an illness where you stagger."
He added: "It's not just Parkinson's either, it's MS, different diseases, where people stagger and have trouble."
Paul takes medication in the mornings and said the condition was much worse in the evening, when he staggers, sways and slurs his speech.
On one occasion, he was attending a concert when he had to leave urgently to use a toilet.
"Because of my illness, I need to go to the toilet instantly. And on that occasion, all the possible toilets were already in use," he said.
He told the woman on the door: "I'm going to the pub nearby and I'm going to come back.
"And when I came back, she wouldn't let me back in because she thought I was drunk."
He said the worst incident was when he fell flat on a pavement outside a pub and a taxi driver, who had been waiting for him, drove off.
"He must have obviously thought I was drunk. It's frustrating," he added.
Leon Atkinson, also from Hull, has a developmental delay and has experienced similar issues.
His mother, Debra Dakeyne, said they had tried and failed to explain the mistake to busy door staff.
"They just don't want to know, they just push you away. 'Get back, get out the way, you're not going in'."
Leon enjoys watching live music and singing karaoke, but always needs someone with him to help him cross the road and navigate the outside world.
He said his poor mobility and slurred speech meant people often suspected he was drunk or on drugs.
"I drink Pepsi Max and Diet Coke, I've got special needs," Leon said. "They think I'm on drugs but I'm on medication."
Juliet Tizzard, director of external relations at Parkinson's UK, said Paul was not the only person with the disease to have had experiences like this.
She said: "After a Parkinson's diagnosis, so many people want to carry on doing what they love, like Paul continuing his karaoke and nights out. Everyone should be able to do this without unnecessary barriers or stigma.
"There's no instant way to tell that someone has the condition, and symptoms like slurred speech, unsteady movement or falling can be mistaken for drunkenness. Increasing society's awareness of the condition is one way that we can help people be treated with respect, and supported when they need help."
Paul added: "If I didn't go out, I'd be socially isolated.
"I like seeing different people. I don't want to be stuck in the house all day."
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