To be utterly, utterly appalled by Nimbus/Access card registration?

[JelliedFish]

Personal information about my child’s disability is sensitive. I’ve already shared documents/proof with DLA.

In order to register for an Access card, I need to share details again. Photographic copies of doctors letters etc are requested.

Surely the government DLA/Carers allowance letter is sufficient proof already?

Then we come to the +1. This is very ambiguously worded, but it seems that different venues have different criteria as to what counts as a ‘+1’. Meaning that some venues acknowledge you as a carer, and others don’t. Therefore some give you free entry as a carer, and others don’t offer this as they have specific wording to ‘wriggle out’ of acknowledging your role as a carer.

But my biggest problem is that they try and persuade you to pay £15 to register with them!

So surely, they are making a business out of people with disabilities?? Why do you need to ‘prove’ your disability again for their business?

This just seems so wrong to me!!

@Mumto42005

Upthread, I’ve already linked to the official definition of an essential companion v’s a carer.

A carer is defined to give more assistance than an essential companion. But I’m not being recognised as either by Nimbus.
The government recognises me as a carer.

@Sirzy I know that being a carer is bloody difficult. I have personal experience.

However, I don't understand the argument re the plus 1 from the OP. Carer or not, she'd be there as a parent. If no concessions, what difference does having plus 1 printed on a card make?

@nothingcomestonothing

But then by that reasoning, why not ‘do away’ with the whole +1 companion tick box??
What’s the point of it?

@Hercisback1 I agree. The child won’t miss out just because of the access card not being granted a plus one, if this is actually not the issue as the OP keeps stating!

@JelliedFish The access card is for your child - who isn’t a carer - why would you be recognised as a carer on a card that isn’t for you?

I read your definitions and the second two don’t apply to you 🤷🏼‍♀️ You have a bee in your bonnet that you can’t get a free ticket, despite what you say.

The site clearly states about a companion, but you refuse to acknowledge that because it doesn’t suit your narrative.

@Mumto42005

There are several other boxes on the card for toilet access, queue assist.

So he would miss out there if I don’t apply.
One of DC’s biggest area of need regards toileting and needing very quick access to one.

@JelliedFish - I know. I have one, and so does my son. I am aware of all the boxes, and we have the appropriate ones, including plus one.

@Mumto42005

What???
Of course he is not a carer.

There is a box on the card that indicates whether he needs a carer (a +1 companion).
He does need one. I am a carer.

Your child's toilet access isn't going to be compromised by not having a card with a symbol on it.

@JelliedFish If your son would miss out due to accessing the toilet, then stop moaning and apply. If the need for the card is solely about the toilet needs, the plus one is irrelevant to your child. £5 a year is nothing to moan about. Even local carers cards cost similar.

I stand by the fact that you are disgruntled because you now need to pay for your tickets places.

Either provide the information requested and pay the £15 so your son can access the toilet requirements, or don’t.

@Mumto42005

No actually - what you’ve done is been quite rude and applied your ‘thoughts’ and assumptions about my motivation.

Which I think says more about you than me.

I’ll engage with posters now who can discuss without being rude and judgemental.

@JelliedFish Exactly. You are stating that you are not recognised as a carer on his card 🙄 Why would you be as the card is for him!!

The plus one in this case is irrelevant as it is for an additional companion, not a carer.

I had no issues whatsoever getting the plus one on my sons card - so the fact you are so angry about this fact shows it is solely due to not getting a free carers ticket.

Your son can access the venue with or without the card. The card is irrelevant.

@JelliedFish No, I have not been rude at all, but that’s no problem as I have better things to do anyway in honesty. You just don’t like the fact that I have discovered your motivation and angst is exactly what I have stated. Have a fabulous day ☺️

I think tbh the plus 1 note is for the venue's benefit, not yours. So eg they know this person needs someone with them to get off a ride of it breaks down, they wouldn't be able to get themself off. It's not making a judgement on you or how much you do for your DC. It's not belittling you or taking anything away from you. It's telling the ride operator e.g. if this person wants to go on the viking river splash they need a companion with them, don't let them on alone

I think the +1/+2 is about the child/adult who has the card not about you as a carer. My son for instance has two carers that take him out for respite, this isn't me although like you I am a parent carer.

I've seen this issue of children not receiving the +1 on the nimbus card numerous times as parents feel they miss out in some way. If your child is so young that they would require an adult with them regardless then the +1 isn't issued. However even if a young child, if your child requires an adult with them solely for their support/ care so that another child couldn't also attend without another adult and you can evidence this then you should get +1. Can you get a sw or medical prof to write this for you or use his ehcp/ sw support plan if it says he has to have 1:1 at all times Inc breaks/ lunch? I think it would be that sort of evidence that is required to distinguish between those children who require some additional support but could be in a larger ratio and those who require constant 1:1 support.

I do think venues need to clamp down and I wish nimbus would clamp down more too as there are people who abuse accomodations - I'm not saying this about op or anyone on this thread as I don't know you or your circs bur I do know people I real life who have abused the various systems.

Also dla/pip although can lead to carers allowance being paid doesn't prove what accomodations people require so I don't agree with this as proof of what accomodations people need in real life. Disabilities and needs vary both with different disabilities and within a single diagnosis.

I am disabled and have disabled kids.

We both have access cards.

we find they make life so much easier. Sent off our dla/ pip paperwork and both got a card.

we have individualised symbols relating to our needs

so easy now booking tickets for shows / day out. No need to give venues all our medical details. Just quite the number on the card.

any where we turn up to and has ‘disabled price’ - just show the card as we say 1 disabled, 1 carer and they charge appropriately (sometimes free carer, sometimes reduced rate disabled etc) but no need to say anymore about our disability and no need to carry around our benefits letters pip / dla).

£15 for 3 years is an absolutely bargain.

beinging up a disabled child - I never expected a free ticket because of being a parent carer of 1 disabled child. But it did help having a free carer ticket to enable me to take in a 2nd adult as with 2 children both with disabilities, they both were 1:1. If taking 1, that was being a parent as all kids needed accompanying- but when taking 2 disabled kids - I did need a 2nd adult to keep them safe.

e.g. 2 kids aged 5 and 8 - 1 parent can manage fine… but 2 kids aged 5 with disabilities and 8 with disabilities - I couldn’t manage on my own due to their high needs.

I know the +1 is contentious on the access card scheme - as everyone thinks that their child should get it because they get dla / caters allowance - but it isn’t a perk to having a disabled kid - it is an adjustment to managing the child’s individual disabilities and enabling them to access things. Only if your child needs constant 1:1 (or 2:1) because of their disabilities is it a reasonable adjustment that venues kindly offer.

there is a lot of anger around this scheme but I have found both for me and my child it so helpful. I know some people think disabled people shouldn’t have to pay to prove their disabilities - but I really think it is worth £5 a year for the hassle saved when going to things.

similarly I ‘pay’ for my disability with my medic alert bracelet and upgrading my nhs aids to more comfortable ones… it’s what Pip / dla is for to pay for the additional things you need as a disabled person.

the card is voluntary but I really find it helpful - and really takes away hassle of having to explain my needs and is simple ‘proof’ to access ‘disabled’ pricing without giving an account if my medical history.

On the pip award letter it does state where you got points which does prove accommodations you need.

I don't know how someone who has never met you can decide what accommodations you do and don't need.

I can see the benefits to having the card but I would like to see it properly regulated rather than an independent company making decisions with no monitoring.

For children the dla award letter states the rate but even with pip saying which questions you gain points that doesn't equate to what accomodations are required including whether you require a carer.

The main issue with this is around children as upto a reasonable age all children should have an adult with them, it's at what point they require someone for themselves.

Not every disability requires the same accomodations and not every disabled person requires a carer. Someone has to decide, allowing te disabled person to decide does open the system up to abuse and ultimately it's those who really need the accomodations that suffer the most from their abuse.

As a disabled person I know my needs better.

I've had to fight with train companies because they don't understand why as a visually impaired person I need guided assistance or a ramp. I've fallen down that gap. I don't really want to risk it again.

I'm not saying you shouldn't have support, I'm saying that you shouldn't be the one to dictate what that support should be. Anyone could say they require accomodations in whatever form and for whatever reason and with thst system you get people who will want those accomodations and don't need them especially with things like free tickets or quick access. Something has to be in place to stop abuse.

I don't believe dla/pip is enough especially for free carers tickets.

The level of DLA/CDP doesn't necessarily mean anything about whether someone needs a carer to attend events.

For example you automatically get mid rate care if you get renal dialysis twice or more a week. A child on dialysis overnight won't necessarily need any more care while at e.g. a theme park than a typical child. In which case legally the parent is a carer but in the context of accompanying their child to an event they are just an everyday parent.

Hence just giving carer tickets based upon level of DLA is impossible.

Are you seriously suggesting that someone who has never met me is a better judge?

Regulated in what way? We have chiropodists working as assessors on behalf of the DWP. Not much use when you are claiming for a condition they have no understanding of.

People are quick to say it should be the DWP (as is OP) but honestly they are the biggest shower of shites when it comes to assessing people, I would far rather see them regulated then a company set up by disabled people, for disabled people who have a much wider understanding of need.

I'm saying not everyone is honest and will abuse a system where people think they are getting something for free or better.

Having a system that requires evidence and a outside person to assess stops some of the abuse and makes it better for those who really need the accomodations as less people will use them and services/ venues will more likely make the accomodations.

Please don't misquote me.