Paralympic gold medalist with multiple sclerosis says people claim she is 'faking' her disability because it's not visible

• Paralympic champion Kadeena Cox says some people claim she is "faking" her illness because it is not visible.
• Cox has multiple sclerosis – a disease of the brain and spinal cord.

The British Paralympic champion Kadeena Cox is speaking out about people who believe she is "faking" her illness because it is not always visible.

Cox, a four-time Paralympic gold medalist in athletics and cycling, has multiple sclerosis – a disease of the brain and spinal cord. Common symptoms of the disease include tiredness, vision problems, and problems with walking or balance. Cox uses a wheelchair part-time.

"As someone living with MS, I get people saying I shouldn't be parking in a blue badge spot," said Cox, according to BBC Sport.

A blue badge spot is a parking spot which is reserved for a disabled person.

"I get people who don't want to give up the priority seat on the train or the bus for me," she added. "I get people on social media saying 'Kadeena Cox can't be disabled, I don't believe it' or people saying you are faking it and taking money from the [government].

"It's people and their ignorant or uneducated selves making comments and passing judgment."

Cox's comments come in light of research by healthcare group BUPA and disability equality charity Scope into the experiences of people with disabilities, impairments, and conditions.

Their research found that "83% of people with less visible conditions and impairments regularly experience a lack of understanding or negative attitudes when in public."

Cox, 31, worked with BUPA and Scope on the campaign.

"Increasing people's awareness and prompting conversations around disability — whether visible or not — is a key starting point in making a better world for disabled people," she told BUPA's website.