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Original poster

Carers ticket - is it reasonable

63 replies

Rechargedfor2024 · 07/01/2024 09:37

my friend and I are taking both our children on a bunch of activities. There is 3 disabled children in the group. We applied for nimbus / access cards as one attraction only use these as form of proof.
when they came
1 child has plus 2 in the carers symbol
and the others didn’t get the symbol at all.
I then read up about it and had seen that many parents had said the same and it’s not always automatic that you will get a carers symbol especially in children.
there has been some negative comments about this online from what we could read.
it seemed like it was more younger children not getting them.
my friend said maybe it’s because say a 3 year old would beee to be supervised at all times regardless of disability and that so it doesn’t fill under prevents one attending because of disability.
do you think this is reasonable ?

OP posts:
Saltysausage · 07/01/2024 10:25

The only place I’ve needed a nimbus card is for the Merlin group this year. Even that’s not needed for entry for a free carers ticket but for the ride access pass. Also it’s free as it’s not the full card.

Even though in general all children need an adult with them the free carers ticket made a difference as to whether I booked or not. Due to sensory overload etc we sometimes had to leave places soon after arriving. Not paying full price often meant it was worth the risk of not making the full use of a ticket.

KeepGoingThomas · 07/01/2024 10:22

@premiur are you sure you have to pay for the card? Nimbus (who run the access card scheme) operates the scheme for some venues/organisations such as companion tickets at some theatres who use ATG tickets and a ride access pass at Merlin attractions (for carer’s tickets there some other forms of evidence are accepted other than via Nimbus), but you don’t have to pay for the full access card. You do have to complete the free application via Nimbus beforehand.

Whether people, including DC, get a +1 or +2 depends on their needs. Some young DC do get it.

DancefloorAcrobatics · 07/01/2024 10:15

I agree with others. It entirely depends on the age of the child and the disability.

premiur · 07/01/2024 10:10

What is the attraction?

I would actually argue that you should not have to pay for a card to prove anything re disability that you can do for free.

However the choice to offer free entry is just that, a choice. I think.

I would be interested to find out the legal standing of venues insisting people pay for these cards. I guess for a free carer ticket it's probably fine but in any other situation re the disabled person themselves I don't think it is ok for a business to dictate people have to buy a card to prove a disability

Ferraria · 07/01/2024 10:10

It seems reasonable to me. A 3 year old will always require an adult with them.

Hotchocolate2023 · 07/01/2024 10:02

It makes sense. For younger children you'd only get it if they would require a carer above the one adult that would be expected anyway due to their age. Perfectly reasonable.

littleducks · 07/01/2024 10:00

I have heard of this scheme so searched online and they do explain about the carers symbol part https://knowledge.accesscard.online/faqs/are-there-age-limits-to-the-card

It seems really interesting, on one hand great that you don't have to provide personal info like DLA awards to places like Legoland for access alterations but I can see that application for the nimbus itself is very detailed and possibly intrusive they don't for example accept GP letters as these have been faked excessively in past apparently.

Are there age limits to the card?

https://knowledge.accesscard.online/faqs/are-there-age-limits-to-the-card

NoraWaves · 07/01/2024 09:50

Rechargedfor2024 · 07/01/2024 09:49

Norawaves even putting that Info doesn’t mean you will get it there is a thing on it about the requirements and why you may not see a carers Symbol. There is comments about it and how many feel upset about it. Nimbus decide on the information provided whether you get the symbol or not.

Oh I see. My childs autistic and I've always had it on his card so thought it was an easy process.

Original poster
Rechargedfor2024 · 07/01/2024 09:49

Norawaves even putting that Info doesn’t mean you will get it there is a thing on it about the requirements and why you may not see a carers Symbol. There is comments about it and how many feel upset about it. Nimbus decide on the information provided whether you get the symbol or not.

OP posts:
NoraWaves · 07/01/2024 09:47

I have one. There is a section on the online form about needing a carer where you have to specifically put if they need one. So someone didn't put enough information on the form about the child's needs. Having that means you get a free ticket as most places offer a carers ticket, so the one that has it should get in for free.

Original poster
Rechargedfor2024 · 07/01/2024 09:45

@Savedpassword I am guessing it’s whether or not an additional adult would be required. So for instance If a child could be taken by one adult then doesn’t qualify but if need 2 then does ? Suppose it will hit a lot people thought because previously or places that haven’t moved over to nimbus just require Proof like a standard DLA letter or carers letter so it’s never mattered before.

OP posts:
Savedpassword · 07/01/2024 09:43

Surely it depends on the needs/dependency and age of the child?

TeaAndBrie · 07/01/2024 09:41

If the children are young then it would be the parents taking them anyway like your friend said. In that instance then I am see why you wouldn’t get a free carers pass.

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