To think that blue badge spaces are for people with blue badges?

[Sixweekstowait]

First of all I want to apologise to those people who were offended by the my use of a phrase which I will not, of course, repeat here. It was coined by a very wonderful disability rights campaigner in the 80s and was a tongue in cheek shot across the bows at all the negative labels that were in common use then to describe people with disabilities. Now...my point is that no one should use a disabled space without a blue badge. Is that BU? No one of course should challenge anyone with a blue badge . So I will say again that I was really really angry this morning for the second day running at the disabilist selfish entitled who were abusing these spaces at the station and I was upset that no one came to my support. I was actually trapped in my car by a van as I couldn't open the door to get out. I was going to work . Is it BU to mind that ? It happens over and over again and I am FUCKING fed up with it

There's discrimination in the rules for getting a blue badge with PIP, fanjo.
Here

I've only read about it in the past couple of days but apparently your points have to come from the "moving around" category to qualify. It's not automatic like DLA was.

That's awful Fairy

I hope it can be changed at some point.

I didn't read the thread but going by the responses on here, I assumed it was some awful term that I'd never heard about. People are beyond dramatic; "vile and horrendous"?! They must have very sedate and easy lives if that is "vile and horrendous".

I noticed that too about high rate mobility pip being not enough alone to qualify for a bb. It's another case of adults with severe learning difficulties being treated like they don't exist or their needs don't matter.

Of course YANBU. My dd has a blue badge and many a times I have witnessed employees of a large supermarket using the blue badge spaces as their parking. I asked to speak to the manager once after I watched 3 employees in the space of about 10 minutes parking in the spaces (closest to the door!) and lo and behold when the manager appeared he was one of them

My dd has lots of health issues and joint problems/arthritis but is not a wheelchair user. The amount of dirty looks and snide comments we get from other blue badgers is really quite upsetting.

A main shopping centre near where I live has so many blue badge spots it's really good. The other good thing is that they're highly policed too by security and plenty of signs stating fines etc for misuse, so they don't seem to get abused by non badge holders because usage is very strictly enforced. Shame all places can't be like that.

^I think the lack of blue badge spaces is a major problem. In our Children's Hospital (which is a regional one with the only ICU) there are 8 blue badge spaces, which is diabolical considering the number of people who attend there.

“His behaviour makes him a danger to himself and to others in public spaces. A blue badge has always been helpful for that.”

One of her concerns is that he might be forced to use public transport because he no longer has a blue badge, and that a member of the public might over-react to something he does, which could lead to him being sectioned.

This is from FairyCaravan's link. Don't tell me this person is driving a car?! BB or no BB, anyone with that level of volatility is unlikely to be a safe driver.

Anyway, that's an aside, but I agree with poster upthread who was talking about his wife, but there does appear to be different levels of BB need. Plenty of space is one need, and proximity to shop etc another. I have experienced grumpy pensioners who have glared at dh until he gets up... I know people will want to stab me through the internet, but some BB holders do not need the convenient parking that for some is essential. I know two people with BBs for agoraphobia (rarely experienced). If I were them I would be ashamed to occupy a BB space if I displaced someone who had, eg, a child in a wheelchair.

Given the description of his disabilities I would think it highly unlikely that he drives. He should still have a bb to be able to go out and about. An hierarchy of need of bb spaces would create chaos and is wrong. The only workable and fair way is first come first served.

Op you won't always be able to tell. My ds will have to have multiple amputations and a series of operations relating to his disability. He does not quality for a bb and wont even after his operations as he will not meet the 12 month criteria.

Also, he will be around 2 when he has his operations so will lose his ability to walk, but given that he is little (and I will also have a newborn by then), I will use a double pushchair instead of a wheelchair. Would you advise that I park in a disabled space or a narrow space during that time?

Not having wheelchair doesn't mean you don't have same level of need though.

It all becomes some sort of horrible game of Top Trumps. I was just saying "eg a wheelchair" because that is obvious. My cousin has no legs, but no wheelchair. If anyone saw him parking they'd be fuming at some middle-aged prosperous-looking man daring to park in a BB space.

It's so complex. You really just have to assume someone is legit if they have a badge. Although obviously some aren't. No way to tell.

Some who buy or borow badges I mean

Speaking of Blue Badges ...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2658233-UK-government-IT-how-shit-can-it-get?

Incidentally, you can report BB abuse on:

0844 463 0213

I always assume anyone is eligible IF they have a blue badge. However if people with a blue badge park in my Ramo space which is not even a space I leave angry notes. If people with no badge parks there its even worse.

Sometimes? You can tell if someone really is disabled because two weeks ago these two young guys pull up in a truck and get out and I know them. They work as mechanics two blocks over and they are NOT disabled. Hear them talking about borrowing the others grandmas truck for good parking.