Anyone applied for a blue badge under new rules?

[Hairyheadphones]

I applied for a blue badge under the new invisible disability rules today for my DS who has ASD/ADHD.

Has anyone else applied? I imagine there will be a huge influx of applications and it will take a long while to hear. I didn’t manage to pay as the servers were too busy but I was informed that my application had been submitted.

This change has come about because an adult (I think who had autism and learning difficulties) who got an automatic blue badge under the old DLA criteria no longer got one under PIP. His council refused to issue a discretionary one and there was a legal challenge launched on his behalf which he eventually won.
There is actually very little change in the law. It is mostly making the wording clearer that mobility is not just about physical ability to walk but also about being able to get from A to B safely etc. The person will still need to have severely restricted mobility and most people with hidden disabilities will not qualify.

Thought I would update.
My sons application was accepted.

Glad to hear it was successful

The knew boundaries are very much open to explotation.

I do think we should limit it to physical disabilities, not because I don't understand the difficulties of challenging behaviour/anxiety but simpley because there is not enough spaces, we need to draw the line somewhere and everyone has some challenge to deal with. Some one with axiety doesn't need the extra space a wheal chair needs. Hoping to get one for my hubby, if we don't not the end of the world. (FND)

What do you mean june?

June it’s not only about extra space, it’s also about close proximity and ease of getting to/leaving places.

Again June they are not just going to be handing them out because of diagnosis it's going to go off need,my son is severely autistic, but autism is a massive spectrum not everyone on the spectrum will need one ,but children such as my son who has zero awareness of danger and cannot safely cross a car park should be able to get one .

Your right it should go on need but I think it is open to exploitation. I could imagine people with mobility issues loosing out due to someone who has less issues who (although it may be challenging ) can use a non disabled bay. Speakng as someone who is waiting on pip results so we can apply for one on behalf of my hubby. (and I am well aware that people will judge him too on a good day.)

Given how strict the criteria have always been I don’t think opening them strictly to others who need it will mean it is exploited.

We applied under the new rules and were given one for my son aged 7 who has autism and learning disabilities. His behaviour is very unpredictable and his special interest is cars and signs which makes car parking an absolute nightmare. Being able to park nearer the stairs / exits etc will be life changing for us.

I am a member of several large disability groups and it seems that more people have been turned down than accepted under the new rules, they certainly aren’t just accepting everyone. There’s a strict criteria to meet.

I agree that more spaces will be needed but my bug bear is the number of people who use them in private car parks without a badge. This happens on a weekly basis and nothing appears to be done to stop it

I think the anxiety would have to be severe. Plus includes people with dementia who may be able to walk reasonably well but can get stressed or panic when out.

That's a while different issue @millstonegrit and whilst I agree more should be done about people who abuse these spaces t has no bearing in the new ruling.

Whole *I changed it three times and auto correct kept changing it back

My son has severe ASD-he’s 15, non verbal, no sense of danger, prone to meltdowns, topped with being 6’3. I was talking to DH about the new rules and he reckons we still wouldn’t be entitled to one as we only get low rate mobility? I must admit-I could really do with it! Car parks can be an utter nightmare. 😕
From the sounds of it, I should ignore DH and apply anyway!

Yeah we do to Maisy my son is 9 non verbal etc ,I guess we can only apply and see what happens?

@MaisyMary77 absolutely apply. We only receive low rate mobility for ds - we get high rate care though and he is at complex needs school. We still got the blue badge. Those with high rate mobility dla would have been entitled to one automatically anyway under the old rules so the new rules are precisely for children like ours. Good luck.

@june2007 but autism is a physical disability and is the root cause of anxiety in many. When autism manifests in melt downs and requires 2 to pick a crying teenager off the floor as they are so overwhelmed, it does need extra space. Not every disability requires a wheelchair

That said I hope you get your bb

Anxiety?! Jesus half the population have anxiety! As a Blue badge holder for a physical disability, this infuriates me

@Underhisi my son do require the extra space because of how difficult his behaviour can be getting him in and out of the car

Should you be bringing him out at all if he's really that distressed?

@SuperLoudPoppingAction Blue Badge holders can park on double yellow lines?

@Venger That's more like OCD not Anxiety!

@ProhibitedRodent are you really trying to say people who have children with autism or other disabilities who become very distressed / have meltdowns etc should just stay home? Never go out? Really? Autism is not predictable. Meltdowns may happen because of specific things relating to cars / car parks / leaving / coming etc. The rest of the outing may be okay. Life is hard enough as it is - having a blue badge will make a huge difference for many families.

MaisyMary77 certainly apply. My DS gets low rate mobility. We went as much evidence as we could, Ed psych reports, dr letters etc.

ProhibitedRodent of course we have to take distressed children out - to school, medical appointments and our whole family lives can’t always stop due to the needs of one person. A BB makes these difficult occasions a little easier.