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!!

As far as I recall the wheelchair aspect relating to queues is just that having a wheelchair doesn't necessarily mean automatically also having the queue symbol. Which is fair enough as you can't assume someone in a wheelchair is necessarily unable to queue.

It would be unfair and somewhat prejudicial to assume that someone is unable to queue or needs an extra adult carer etc just because they have a certain level of DLA/PIP.

How old is your child op? Do they need an extra adult with them?

This would be a problem for DD1. She can't cope with queuing if she's on foot. She can cope with queuing for a short while if she's using her wheelchair. If she can only have one symbol on the card, then it wouldn't meet her needs whenever she was in the other situation.

It's not true you can't have both - PP posted a pic up thread of a DCs card with both on.

We've got queueing and +1. It's about need

And it's not you cant have queuing symbol if in a wheelchair it's just it wouldn't be automatic. For queuing symbol you need to have difficulties with queuing. That could be ND kids or it could be those with urgent toileting needs or those with ME or issues that make standing difficult.

The website is very unclear.
We do not add the standing and queuing symbol for wheelchair users as if a queue is accessible this should present no problems. If a queue is not accessible then this will be addressed by each venue as an adjustment related to the need for level access.

Ok, so I had email contact with Nimbus Disability yesterday and they were great.

I have no doubt that they are very much trying to do the right thing.

If I could change this thread title, it would be to ‘venues that misuse the Access card’. Although I do really think that Nimbus need to be very sure and challenge venues that do this.

The venue I’m planning to attend is busy, crowded, lots of sensory overload. To the people who say ‘well take the option not to go’ : it’s for a friend’s celebration. I don’t want him to miss that.

If the ‘+1’ box exists on the card (and it’s not there because I want it - it’s because venues/Nimbus have put that box there) there needs to be absolute clarity as to what that box is for, and why some patrons would be awarded it and others not.

Whilst I agree that many people misuse a DLA letter, what is far, FAR worse is misuse by venues.

It also made me question my role as a carer - and I was upset by some of the comments on here and what they inferred. I don’t want to detail my DC’s needs, but from the time he wakes up, to bedtime I am exhausted and often fall asleep when he does. Then I’m often up in the night. My trip to this busy place will be very different to another parent.

I shouldn’t have to question this - or my motivation. I am a carer.

Thanks to all the people who commented constructively and with empathy. Your thoughts were really useful.

Other parents are up in the night too. NT parents avoid crowed places likely to induce sensory overload too.

No ones saying your DS needs aren't higher than an NT child. However some of hat you are describing is parenting.

I think it’s a wonderful scheme and I appreciate them screening evidence of need to stop people abusing the system. I know people who take advantage of things like the sunflower lanyards to queue jump etc whose children have no diagnosed disability and up until recently had zero issues with queues. I think the nimbus cards keep access for the people who actually need it. If you have evidence of need you get the access arrangements.

their argument with +1 is a child would already need to be supervised so to get the +1 you need to be able to show your child needs significantly more support and a dedicated adult providing one to one

Agree but parenting a child with SEND is not comparable. I can see why OP felt frustrated.

@YOYOK I agree. Both with some of the things described being parenting, and also as you said , parenting a child with SEND isn’t comparable with another child without SEND. I have 4 children, one SEND, three not.

The OP was focussed solely on the ‘+1’ and not being recognised as a carer, when on this card, they wouldn’t be as the card isn’t for them and for having to provide personal details, the exact same as everyone else who chooses to apply for a card.

Everyone with a child with SEND or any disability is a carer, whether recognised as one or not. I am personally not recognised as one, and I don’t care, as long as my son gets the support he needs which I know and he knows what is done for him.

I was accused as being rude because I voiced my opinion and there was still another dig at me in the final post from the OP. The OP has now changed her tune about the access card and is saying it’s the venues. I guess some people will never feel happy and always feel entitled which is a shame 🤷🏼‍♀️

Thanks for updating OP - I can see the wording pushed your buttons about your feelings about being DCs carer and I get that - mine was always when people (especially professionals) would say 'oh all kids do that' when I knew my kid was not doing what all kids do. No one can take away what you do for your DC, whatever word they put on a card.

https://www.carerscarduk.co.uk/?utm_campaign=&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_vSuriQBt4jeFi5hyzOxuzqK5v3&gclid=Cj0KCQjw4Oe4BhCcARIsADQ0csmWHLimzzzG85eHahEZXkVm4AnRE7N3IgBnZPrsPHbt4e8fetZhjrUaApN8EALw_wcB

Op - if you want a carers card - local council often give them out if you join the disabled child register (helps them plan services) - or there are ones like this ?? - no idea if recognised nationally but thought you might be interested

@VegasandPenny

Thank you! Yes I saw this - and thought - yes, maybe that better than an Access card. It’s standardised.

However, I think a lot of venues may reject this in favour of the Access card.

And my suspicious mind tells me that SOME venues may use this to muddy the definition of what constitutes a carer - or not.

I think the ideal solution is an Access card working in connection with local authorities/DLA - to say : if you sign up to us, this is what we expect from your venue. And the venue complies with criteria to meet the Access card requirements. And not the other way round.

Some places insist on the card. I think AGT theatres - we used to book direct with the pip letter but then they wanted the card.

Thing is, it is like the CEA cinema card - you don't have to carry around the pip letter. My daughter is 26 now and she likes having a wallet sized card. For her it is more like having a driving licence type of ID, which she finds more dignified. Otherwise she has to give third parties personal info from the pip letter.

So I'm okay with it tbh.

@Arran2024

I agree, it’s a great idea. Photo ID, it’s visual.

What my experience has told me is that a very busy, sensory-overload, crowded venue can give a different, more stringent criteria to another calmer venue, with no justification.

Thats not right?

Still though OP private businesses can set any criteria they like. They don't have to agree to anyone's expectations or anyone else's criteria of what a carer is, or justify what they offer, because they don't have to do anything for carers at all. It's voluntary.

I think the ideal solution is an Access card working in connection with local authorities/DLA

Not everyone on DLA needs a 'carer' though, just a parent is adequate in many venues. Why would the DWP/local authorities have any skin in this game at all? For the most part they are severely overstretched, why would they need to do this on top so you can get a free ticket?

I think the Access card is fantastic and well worth the £15 for three years. I regularly go to concerts and I've saved a fortune in tickets. I also go to various attractions with my toddler and my partner and it enables us to do things that we might not be able to afford to.

To apply I just had to send in the front page of my PIP claim. I also have the CEA card. Being disabled is utter crap so it's nice to get something back.

I guess so but that isn't the card's fault/issue. Different venues always set their own rules.

Well, then you get into a system of categorising venues, and you seem to have a real issue with people being (or not being) in categories....

I really think you have no idea how many people act in bad faith out there.

Not strictly true as they have to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act. However, what those adjustments should be, or what's "reasonable" can only really be tested in a court.

No, they have to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. They don't have to do anything for carers. Now obviously for some disabled people the reasonable adjustments will involve them having a carer with them, but businesses don't have to do anything for carers as carers. OP wants businesses to acknowledge her role as a carer and be required to make concessions for her as a carer, and the don't have to do that.

Yup that's it in a nutshell. Op keeps coming back to wanting to get things herself for being a carer and it's not about the carers identity. The disabled person gets the card and can choose anyone they want!