So... Disabled parking thread number 364836353

[BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability]

The many threads on the many various parking whinges got me to thinking...

The government are trying to cut the amount of people entitled to disability benefits and therefore higher rate mobility, I would assume?

To the few people on MN that don't know (although there seem to be millions if them in the real world) you can only get a blue badge if you are entitled to higher rate mobility DLA - ie very serious problems. So, if someone is disabled but does not have a blue badge, should they be allowed access to disabled parking? But then obviously everyone would use it, so what could be done about that...?

I'm lucky (ha) at the moment - my mobility is affected but having two little DCs no one can argue that I'm not entitled to use the P&C...

Not technically an AIBU, but what do you think?

You don't have to drive to get a blue badge. My granny has one, and she has never had a driving licence.

Spot on Nemno. It?s a ridiculous rule, and works against those with the least and in favour of those with the most. More bloody divide and rule.

IIRC last time I applied for DDs Blue Badge, you automatically got one if you were registered blind, regardless of how far you can walk.
You do not have to be a driver to get a blue badge. DD will never be able to drive, as not only is she wheelchair bound, but she is registered blind and has a severe learning disability.
My mum has never learned to drive. She has only qualified for a blue badge since her heart condition (which she has had since she was 16) deteriorated at the age of 82. She cannot walk very far before she gets out of breath.

I had an OT that came round and did an assessment so I could get things like a perching stool for the kitchen and a bath board and shower stool. I mentioned that my blue badge was initially only given to me for 1 year and had run out. She said to apply for a new one and she would speak to the blue badge team and when my application form came it stated they didn't need any supporting evidence from my doctor as the OT had confirmed I had problems walking.

Appreciate that some disabled people need wide bays, but others genuinely struggle to walk any distance - my Mum was in this situation, she couldn't walk more than about 6 metres on the flat. She wasn't elderly, for the record, and neither was she on any benefits - she was on salary as it was an unexpected illness due to her contract terms & conditions.
I don't really care how old someone is, either they at physically capable of using a regular space or they aren't. If they're not, then they should be able to access via a disabled spot. If none available, then the next most appropriate. IMO the answer is to have a greater number of disabled spaces available, or to encorage disabled to use P&C if they need the sapce to open doors but don't need to be so close to the entrance.

Monthly are you suggesting all wheelchair dependant should claim DLA and ensure they're the only driver of their vehicle so they can claim free road tax, all so we can park in a disabled bay at the hospital?

My dad doesn't claim dla even though I'm sure he'd get it as he can't be faffed with the paperwork.

He does however have a blue badge as he can only walk about 5yds, is in a wheel chair, deaf and has terminal cancer.

Nina there's the care component and the mobility component.

You are automatically eligible for a blue badge if you get the higher rate for the mobility component.

Viva if he has terminal cancer, I'm pretty sure he just has to tick a box to say he has a terminal illness - that's all it is on the children's form at least. He will be entitled to DLA. He should claim it.

Monthly my DS is disabled. We are currently applying for his blue badge. We still have to pay for our car tax (and that's fine with me) because our 1 family car is not for the sole use of my DS.

I wouldn't be able to drive to work, or take my DD to nursery. Or drive to the shops without him. So doing it on a tax exempt basis makes no sense to me.

I got blue badge first then a few weeks later was given HR mobility DLA (and medium rate care). So I should get my blue badge ok - only even though I got an unlimited DLA award, I'll still have to be assessed by ATOS in 2014 for the new awards (PIP). Even though I have a permanent degenerative neurological condition! Cos oh! Who knows? The nerves in my arms and legs might magically grow back if I get an independent assessment. (arses).

Also regarding Monthly's colleague, what?s the situation if she can?t park for work because an equally disabled person with whatever system is being used to ?prove? disability levels, has parked in the bay she wants?

I don't have the answers to these things either btw, I just find that the more divisions exist the harder my life becomes.

I had a ludicrous bloke demand I wheeled myself all the way back through a massive multi purpose building and get my blue badge (which would have left my car to be ticketed in the disabled bay) get myself back to him, and then I could do the same journey to put it back, in order to be accepted as disabled. I pointed out to him that I was sitting in front of him in a wheelchair and got: "I'have been trained to see the person not the disability."

When I complained I was informed (by able bodied man) that the fact I was visibly in a wheelchair wasn't proof that I was actually disabled, and I needed either my blue badge or a Dr's letter. I'm not really disabled if I don't have the right bits of paper? That's where all this stuff gets us.

Trazzle toes, he doesn't need the money so isn't that bothered but thanks.

Trazzletoes, I'm in the same situation as you, only one family car and a disabled ds. I was sent a leaflet about the tax exemption with his DLA letter when he was awarded high rate mobility. I didn't think we would be able to have it as I need to use the car when he is at school etc but I phoned the DVLA to check and the man said it was fine.

Monthly I'm sorry if I came across snipey, I don't mean to. I'm tired and sad and have been reading too many 'deserving' and 'undeserving' threads recently.
I didn't pick up that you were suggesting for 1 in 10 spaces rather than all of them.

I also work and without the car I too am stranded, but my reality is I have to lend my car out in order to be able to afford to have one.

monthlyholiday Not all wheelchair users need a wide space though. DD has to travel in her wheelchair, as she cannot sit up unsupported, let alone walk. We have a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) through the Motability Scheme. We need rear access so that we can get the ramp down and get DD out. We are fine in standard side by side spaces, but cannot park in a row of spaces where someone can park behind us.
The really annoying thing for us is that in our nearest main town, Blue Badge holders can park on the street (where there are parking meters) free of charge for 3 hours. However, we cannot risk parking there as even if we can get out of the car when we arrive, there is no guarantee that we will be able to get DD back in it if there is a different car behind us when we return. SO we have no option but to park in the LA run car parks and pay ridiculous amounts of cash, just so we can guarantee access to the back of our car. Now that is discrimination against the "wheelchair bound" in my opinion!

monthly If you want to find out where other fully accessible disabled toilets are, visit the Changing Places website.
Sadly whilst you realise that no one size fits all, the powers that be do not!
Our local hospital has a specially designated Blue Badge Pay and Display car park! They are so keen that we are not discriminated against by not having to pay!!! Sadly, this too was ill thought out, as you have to park your car, walk/wheel across the car park to the ticket machine to get your ticket (which requires you to key in your car reg number) cue people then having to go back to car to check reg no. before returning to your car to put said ticket on the windscreen and then wending your weary way to whichever department you are heading for. Quite a lot of walking/wheeling for a disabled person and rather defeats the object of having been able to park nearer to the entrance of Outpatients dept!!!!

You get automatic entitlement to a blue badge with higher rate mobility DLA but you can apply to your council for a blue badge without high rate mobility.

DS1 gets the blue badge because he gets HRM (and he should get PIP as well, although who knows in reality) - I felt it was actually easier for him to qualify via higher rate mobility than with the council as he is severely autistic and councils tend not to understand that (whereas for DLA there are very clear rules which he fits).

My

Forgot to say, that we do tend to use the parent/child spots as usually they are just as accessable and I don't like to deprive someone who has a badge for a different reason.