What A Lot Of Nonsense

[Sqad]

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/995674/disability-parking-blue-badges-issued-mental-health-dementia-autism-scheme

Physically disabled obtaining a "disabled sticker" is common sense, BUT mentally disabled being offered that privileged is nonsense.
So now we have the depressed, the anxious, the people with Autism and other doubtful medical diagnosis being offered parking spots.
Disabled parking slots are abused in any case and this new "rule " will make the situation worse for genuinely disable patients.
It's ill thought out and a nonsense.

[woofgang]

If your daughter doesn’t need a blue badge then don’t get one. I do think its important that people who have non physical disabilities and whose lives would be made easier by having a blue badge, then they should not be excluded. No one is saying that every person with any kind of disability or limitation needs one or should be allowed one.

[dunnitall]

OMG! I can't help but feel aggrieved at this news. As a disabled user of a blue badge with shortness of breath and osteoarthritis in my knees and hips i cannot walk far to get into places, I am furious at this!

Anyone within these new rules could say they have mental illness, or are afraid or nervous of walking could take a badge! Physical disability surely has priority because that's how it started out. Imagine the abuse of these added 'disabilities' .... who can prove otherwise...they are classed as unseen! Will turn down be challenged as discrimination??

There are so many million fake blue badges too, cutting down on parking for those of us who are in need of a space. It's not the FREE parking that applies in some cases, it's the NEED to be able to get about. I cannot travel by public transport but the 'unseen' disabled can and do!!!

I give up! Not only elderly but physically disabled they are really cutting us out of living or trying to live a reasonable quality of life ... Wazzat?? Try it when you have similar...it's no picnic believe me. I'm housebound otherwise without my blue badge!

[Buenchico]

Now that shops are now starting to recognise the need to cater for people with autism, it makes sense to me to ensure that they can get from the car park to the store (through being able to use a disabled parking space close to the entrance) without experiencing undue anxiety:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44884183

As others have said, it's not a blanket policy to be applied to all people with autism (and other relevant conditions). The badge will only be issued when they provide a genuine benefit to someone who would struggle to cope without one. (I'm on the autism spectrum myself but I'm not freaked out by crowds. Indeed, I love them and actively seek them out. So I rightly wouldn't qualify for a blue badge).

[dunnitall]

I have to agree with Sqad...illogically thought out and a nonsense. Totally open to abuse IMO, who can tell how much a neurological problem affects anyone? It is IMO open to abuse. You surely should be physically disabled to qualify for parking nearer to a destination simply because it's almost impossible to walk a distance to where you need to go.

People with mental disorders or autism can walk...they can even use public transport so why do they NEED to park near to their destination? There is also the problem that the people deciding on a disability can be accused of discrimination because they cannot prove a mental disability. Physically disabled can be called to be seen by the medical profession to prove their ability or not to walk or get about!

This is utter nonsense IMO that other than a physically disabled person can receive the blue badge when parking near to where they need to go! Crazy world .... In fear of being labelled discriminatory .... So give in to all...!

[cassa333]

Oh yes. Quiet hour at Morrison’s. The only difference is the lights are lower. You still have all the people making as much noise as they always do. Trolleys clatter8ng people barging and shout8ng as they always do.

My daughter has sensory processing issues and she just rolled her eyes in disgust when we went in yesterday.

[jourdain2]

Erm - I would so love a disability badge; but mine is an invisible physical disability and doesn't apply all the time. Sqad knows my problem, compressed nerve in spine. Some days I'm OK, others it is agony to walk and I lean heavily on a trolley, knowing that I will pay for the effort with great pain and immobility and painkillers for some hours (if not days).

I understand the mental health issues - but please can some recognition be given to people like me? Most days I give way to suffering hobblers - but sometimes it is me----- and I'm getting to the stage when I just can't do it some days. :(

[Jackdaw33]

What are 'sensory processing issues'?

[dunnitall]

Jourdain I do feel for you...it's physical even if intermittent and definitely should be considered for a blue badge here... No probs with that for me.... It's the questionable unprovable mental problems that bother me where it could be open to abuse.

There are so many forged blue badges..and openly for sale on the internet and the added questionable ones who apply that are flooding the system and putting genuine disabled people in a bad position.

[jourdain2]

^^^ dunnitalll- thank you so much for the understanding. :)

[andy-hughes]

This is one of those situations where people who are not directly affected or involved think that others are making a mockery of the system.


As advised, not all disabilities are visible, and they are assessed before badges are issued.

[woofgang]

Jackdaw sensory processing issues are precisely what it sounds like. Things that are heard, felt, seen, smelt, or tasted, or any mixture of the same, have a different and often unpleasant effect on the sufferer from how it affects most of us. Also they may not have the same awareness of what constitutes a dangerous situation because of the way that they process information. To give a relevant example, This can make places like large carparks both frightening and unsafe. Alternatively they may find something like getting into or out of a car difficult because of the change of type of space, smaller, darker, to bigger and brighter, and may also have problems with precise body placement and movement. Hence the wider parking bay of a disabled space can be helpful.

[woofgang]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensory_processing_disorder.
Its not yet accepted as a separate diagnosis because its arguable that its a symptom of other duagnosed conditions

[ludwig]

It'll be nice to see the endless rows of permanently empty disabled parking spaces being put to some use to be honest.

[dunnitall]

Ludwig....well I wish I could find those rows and rows of empty disabled spaces as where I go and the hospitals I have to go to, we have to queue nearly every time to get a space. Have waited over 40 minutes at times...so not only do you have that problem you have to ensure you leave a LOT earlier to get to your appointment.

[EDDIE51]

The Blue badge is issued to the person NOT to a car. The user can use the blue badge for ANY car that they are driving or are a passenger in. You can use it for a hire car for example.
Also they are ONLY issued automatically for a few specified conditions, most conditions require the patients GP to endorse the forms and write an explanation of why a Blue badge is needed.
The GP's endorsement & letter will be needed for this new category of disability, so it is FAR from a certainty that a dementia patient will get a badge.

[douglas9401]

From the website of my local authority:

Risk in Traffic Criteria

To be eligible under this criteria you must have a diagnosed mental health, cognitive or behavioural condition. This includes any mental health problem, personality disorder or learning disability, however caused or manifested. Examples are dementia, autism or Down's Syndrome. You will need to submit:

A letter confirming your diagnosed mental disorder, cognitive impairment or behavioural condition.

A completed questionnaire in Section 3 of the application form completed by a registered health care professional.

We appear to be ahead of the game up here.

[ludwig]

// Ludwig....well I wish I could find those rows and rows of empty disabled spaces as where I go and the hospitals I have to go to, we have to queue nearly every time to get a space //

I don't know about hospitals dunnitall, it may be different, but any other public parking I seem to have to drive past about 50 empty disabled spaces before I start a fruitless search for a 'normal' one.

[dunnitall]

Ludwig sorry wasn't just talking about hospitals, even public car parks etc are full more times than not for disabled people, supermarkets too. You must live in a remote part of this country to notice such a plethora of empty spaces.