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!!

They know absolutely nothing about the access workers qualifications!!! They are just pissed off because they aren’t getting something for free!

£15 and your card is valid for 3 years.

Why should disabled have to pay more than a non disabled person to access somewhere? Isn't that the epitome of discrimination?

They have to make it this way because people take the living piss out of things like this. Severely disabled people suffer the consequences.

Me too.

Yes it basically exists because of people abusing the system at disabled peoples expense. Yes, its another cost but, particularly valuable for concerts were the piss was being royally taken, now its a much simpler process. Disabled? Yes Can you prove it? Yes!

I think it is too easy to get a nimbus card. They need to rely more on proper evidence rather than the questions about what support the person says they need.

The more people who get +1 and difficulty queuing etc who are playing the system where there are costs to businesses to provide the adjustments such as free or reduced carer tickets the more those who really do require the adjustments suffer.

I do think people play the system.

They'll only give a +1 if an essential companion is required when a parent wouldn't normally provide such supervision. So for most children they would expect a parent to accompany and therefore wouldn't give a +1.

I have access cards for my DDs but tbh I hate the system and resent that a group of people with disabilities have deemed themselves able to judge what reasonable adjustments other people with disabilities need.

You don't have to pay - I don't pay for my RAP card. But the benefit of the Access card is convenience think - not needing to apply to each place for adjustments

I think the trouble is that a lot of places have decided to only accept the Access Card as proof of the need for adjustments because it's 'objective' and they don't then need to have their own systems for deciding who gets what adjustments.

A lot of the places who use Nimbus allow customers to apply for a free version that only covers that attraction/group of attractions rather than instead of paying for an access card. This includes places such as Merlin attractions.

I was replying to the person that said it's £15 for 3yrs for a card though. If a place refuses adjustments without this card you're having to pay extra to access the adjustments you need to access a venue, which is discriminatory imo.

If you have a free digital pass it's only for that one venue/organisation. Go to a different one and you'd have to apply for their digital nimbus pass. I.e, you get a digital pass for Merlin's attractions, cool, but you can't use it at say norwich theatre royal. You have to apply for their own digital nimbus pass. Then go somewhere else and you have to apply for their free digital nimbus pass. So either cough up £15 for a 3 year physical, card that most places will accept, or get the free one that's a shit tonne more hassle for you at every new venue you go too.

The cost is clearly explained on their website.

If you want a physical card its £15, to cover the cost of making, posting and administering the scheme.

You can get a digital one for free.

You can also apply for a carers card for £8 or a national disability card for 20 for 2 years with 25% off carers card.

Other schemes are available.

In terms of whether or not you get the +1, their guidance is here:
https://knowledge.accesscard.online/3rd-party/essential-companion-tickets

I think you are misunderstanding what the +1 actually means in this case.

We had to provide drs and consultant letters.

They do ask for proper evidence! My child was first denied a carers ticket even though he had 1 to 1 and 2 to 1 at school.
I would need 2 adults if I was to take both my children.

We just wouldnt go during busy times at theme parks even with rap as he still wouldnt be able to deal with queuing and how busy it is.

Works great for us. To be clear this is a very personal choice but we choose not to claim DLA etc for our child as we are in the fortunate position of not needing the money and feel it would be morally wrong to claim it.

However this means we have no way of proving their disability. It’s a godsend as it means we can access the support/services they need to be able to live a normal life and I was more than happy to share their medical info.

It really isn't easy in my experience. They told me level access was just for wheelchair users. Yet my local council accepted that I need a ground floor flat because I can't safely manage steps, this is harder when there's a large group of people. And yes I did provide evidence

I've talked to people on Twitter / X who are on enhanced rate pip for both components and been turned down. Someone else said their child was denied level access despite being on enhanced mobility for moving around

A child may get enhanced mobility for ADHD/ASD for example, but not need level access as can walk fine, it's their safety awareness, journey planning skills etc which need the support.

We only have the merlin RAP, rather than the full nimbus card, but it was made clear on application that need to state that struggle with queuing and why. If the evidence submitted doesn't clearly state this, then it's likely to be refused, regardless of DLA level

You clearly didn't read my last line - "enhanced mobility for moving around" not for planning and following a journey

You could manage one step. Someone in a wheelchair can’t.

It should be if you can save yourself from the upstairs of a burning building, you shouldn’t get as much support as someone who can’t. I’ve watched over the years as people who certainly don’t need all the support they claim, claim every single thing possible to the detriment of the most severely disabled in society. Someone needs to clamp down on it.

I never said I couldn't manage a single step. I've got 30% vision with glasses and zero depth perception. Ever tried getting down steps even using a mobility cane when there's a crowd of people behind you? I have and even with another adult it really isn't safe

There would be no way that I could safely get myself from the upstairs of a burning building. Hence being assessed by the council and being housed in a ground floor flat with no steps

Hi OP, we applied the first time and the plus one was rejected so they emailed me and happily refunded our £15. Months e applied a second time after diagnosis and I gave more info as to why the +1 was needed and it got accepted. It’s a great card with many benefits and worth the £15 admin IMO. We also have the toilet access on there and my DC requires it occasionally so very handy.

Actually, some wheelchair users could. Using a wheelchair doesn’t always mean you’re completely unable to walk.

I've found it helpful to talk to venues. For example, DD1 had carers but they needed me to be present because they didn't know her well. The local zoo and aquarium both happily allowed her to have 2 free carer tickets instead of one.

My son has +2. It was very easy but we have an awful lot of documention. He's had +2 since the scheme started.