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!!

I agree, the whole system is shocking and needs an over haul but i don't think the answer is some unregulated third party making the decisions. There should be rights to an appeal which are overseen by an independent body and there should be both internal and external verifications done at random of decisions being made.

The 15 pounds covers some of their costs. They give the different logos depending on needs. So they DLA letter etc may not have all the info they need. For example, a kid with autism may not be able to stand in a queue, but another kid with it may well be able to. Hence why they ask questions and for different evidence.
But if you don’t want to supply the info, don’t. You don’t have to get an Access card, it is totally up to you

That would make the card cost a hell of a lot more than £15 and companies probably wouldn't bother providing the service.

@Threecraws

I agree, the whole system is shocking and needs an over haul but i don't think the answer is some unregulated third party making the decisions. There should be rights to an appeal which are overseen by an independent body and there should be both internal and external verifications done at random of decisions being made.

It's just an optional card, I think if it were mandatory you may have a point.

This is forever the problem. Excessive demands placed on what is ultimately a voluntary scheme which can't be making much money at all is going to make the whole thing unviable. Lots of disabled people have already posted on this thread about how the cards have made their lives easier and yet there are some that would rather see the whole thing scrapped than accept that maybe someone deems they aren't eligible to every concession that they feel is necessary.

No disability assessment process will be perfect, epecially one that has incentives for people to manipulate the process so that they are entitled to more than they really need. Sadly it is human nature to seek to maximise entitlements and for this reason it has to take all claims at face value.

Some places only accept those cards as proof of disability. No other evidence is accepted.

@TigerRag

Some places only accept those cards as proof of disability. No other evidence is accepted.

Very few places, but again, none of them are compulsory to visit.

But if places make it mandatory for admission then it does reduce options for those with disabilities.

@Threecraws

But if places make it mandatory for admission then it does reduce options for those with disabilities.

It doesn't, it just puts them on a par with everyone else who doesn't get a free carer ticket. OP is disgruntled because she doesn't want to give her information to nimbus, and not get +1. She is in no worse position by not doing so. It's personal choice.

@Bumpitybumper I think it is pretty mean spirited for you to suggest you definitely know about another person’s situation. I think it’s wrong to reach some conclusion and assume you know the ins and outs.

I also don't particularly understand how they apply the symbols. The standing and queueing symbol includes not understanding the concept of queuing but you can't have this symbol if you have the wheelchair symbol for level access. These are 2 seperate issues. You can have level access to a queue but still be unable to cope waiting in a queue.
As for the toilet symbol, whilst it may be handy having it on the same card, you can get a card from bladder and bowel Uk for free so not worth getting the card for that.

It does reduce options. Why somehow is an accessible card better than my pip letter or partial sight registration card?

I strongly disagree but know we are never going to agree.

@TigerRag

It does reduce options. Why somehow is an accessible card better than my pip letter or partial sight registration card?

I'm not saying it is better. But there are a lot of cases where it's entirely reasonable to consider that not everyone need a carer with them.

Actually hundreds of places now have interaction with this company as a compulsory prerequisite to reasonable adjustments.

It’s not compulsory for you to go places so maybe your child should sit at home and not get to enjoy facilities his/her peers have access to. I mean wtaf are you on?

@NotAnotherCodeBlueAt3Am

Actually hundreds of places now have interaction with this company as a compulsory prerequisite to reasonable adjustments.

That's not the case at all. It's recognised in hundreds of places, very few only accept it.

It’s not compulsory for you to go places so maybe your child should sit at home and not get to enjoy facilities his/her peers have access to. I mean wtaf are you on?

I haven't said or suggested this at all, merely that if OP doesn't want to share her data she can just pay the price for all.

As it happens my child mainly does stay at home, in fact he hasn't been out for about 3 weeks just now. That's another story unrelated though.

Quite agree- appalling. I’ve just completed paperwork for a ride access pass for a theme park for my daughter and I’ve had to share a deeply personal letter from her psychiatrist detailing the 1:1 support required and the quick access to the loo etc needed. Without the pass, she won’t be able to go as her needs are highly complex. We are in the process of applying for DLA (about ten years too late) so I have no evidence of that either.

My son has both symbols.

Good to know, the website stated they wouldn't give both.

Just to show, it may have changed since he got his?

I know it seems mean spirited but honestly some people you genuinely DO know their situation. I have looked after her kids for quite a few days and taken them myself to attractions. They are not anymore difficult to take out than my two NT kids and always manage to complete the full day. They do have additional challenges related to their autism but they aren't related to things that generally would materially impact a day out somewhere.

Increasingly places are making it mandatory to access reasonable adjustments and that’s where I have an issue.

as an option fair enough but not as the only way you get those adjustments. That is when it becomes a restrictive and quite possibly discriminatory policy.

Regardless of whether anyone agrees or disagree with the nimbus cards I also think it is worth saying that parenting a child with disabilities is hard and when planning a day out there are many extra factors to take into consideration. I don't feel entitled to discounts and accommodations but they can make things a bit easier.

It sounds like you just want the card to acknowledge that you have specific caring duties beyond that of a parent of a "normal" child.

Take it up with Nimbus. I am not sure it's their place though, or if it really makes any difference day to day.

I do wonder though, how you can decide that someone needs a carer for every venue. Surely they are all different and present different challenges?

It does reduce options because you have to apply online. That in itself is discriminatory. You should be able to apply over the phone or by post. A relative of mine had this with their blue badge renewal although in the end their local council backed down and did it over the phone.

(and before someone says, well you get a relative/carer to do it for you - it's not for the disabled person to make the reasonable adjustments, it's for the service provider - something GP surgeries should also consider when making access to appointments via online triage only).