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!!

@Lougle but they're not.

They're trying to make it easier so people don't have to repeat the information at every venue.

It's fine if you want to continue providing that info time and time again. Don't get the card.

Or, you could have everyone self-declare...but as PP have said, it'll turn into a sunflower lanyard situation where it dilutes the needs of people who genuinely need it.

And for what it's worth - yes, IMO assistance dogs should absolutely have to be properly registered and trained. It takes the piss when anyone can buy a jacket off Amazon for their pet dog so they can take them everywhere because they fancy it, and that dog may not be trained (in some cases, at all)

There does need to be some kind of check though. Because otherwise you get people rocking up with dogs in jackets saying they're an assistance dog when they aren't.

This is completely logical. How old is your child OP? I imagine based on your posts that they are still young and that you would need to buy an adult's ticket to a venue even if your child wasn't disabled. I don't see how you can claim that this is in anyway discriminatory.

Well there needs to be some clarity in the law, I agree. But as it stands, there is no check because there is no restriction.

My organisation has restricted the use of their logo for a vest until we've passed the third stage of training, to stop people getting the bare basics then just vesting their dog. But the reality is that anyone can buy an assistance dog jacket and shove it on their dog.

But who are they to decide whether someone needs a plus one, or whatever? What are their qualifications? Has anyone checked?

Then as organisations join, there won't be a choice to just provide evidence. It will be a case of 'if you haven't got a nimbus card....'

This is what happens when people take the piss.

For those saying it’s not mandatory can I just check about that as Alton Towers says you have to have a Nimbus card to be able to get one of their access passes. My DD would need an access pass but I don’t want to be giving her confidential medical information to a profit making organisation!

This. It’s not obligatory.

Would your child, if not disabled, be able/expected to go to the park/place/event on their own?

If yes, then you need the +1 and people here might be able to help you with that

If no, then you're not entitled to it as you'd need to go as a parent anyway.

In my experience the nimbus card can be used a form of evidence, but it’s not the only. You can get the passes at Disneyland Paris with other forms of evidence, for example.

Alton Towers says you have a Nimbus card to be able to get a Merlin access pass !

A neuro-diverse teen doesn't want their mate or their sibling classed as their carer, but that's who they want to go on the big rides at Alton Towers with, not me (thank Christ). And a good sensible friend or sibling can provide the support needed for my teen to do that.

The term 'plus one essential companion' covers more situations where the person needs support to access the activity. The terminology isn't a judgement on the person providing support or what they do day in day out, it covers the bases relevant for the type of activity the cards are used for.

You don't need to get the £15 card to get a ride access pass for Alton Towers. Merlin use Nimbus to process the RAP applications but getting the nimbus card is optional and you can get the RAP without it. I renewed DCs RAP in the summer, you definitely don't have to get the nimbus card or pay anything.

It does. However upon looking further, it seems they use the nimbus organisation to process their Merlin passes, but you don’t have to pay for a full access card if you don’t want to.

I can understand people not wanting to keep divulging personal information, but I guess say you get PIP for something completely unrelated to your ability to queue or do something unaccompanied, just using your PIP to get these access passes wouldn’t really be fair?

I’ve just seen that but it still says that Nimbus will have access to confidential medical information even if just applying for the Merlin Access Pass. How much medical information do they need when just applying for the MAP ?

The other thing worth pointing out is that you can get an Access Card even if you’re not in receipt of PIP or DLA. I got one before I even applied for PIP and it was useful.

My ds has one.

I think it's great.

Ok it's £15. But one trip out and me not paying as his carer claws that back and it's a 3 year card.

I prefer it because we've seen the benefit since theme larks etc have used nimbus - and you don't need the card.

We get ds exact needs met, queues are shorter because you only get what you need rather than a base - all people with disabilities use this queue. They also limit the number of ride access passes as you have to apply for the day needed so you aren't getting access for someone who can't queue and still queuing for 45 minutes!

He has the physical disability, can't queue and +1 symbol. It's been a real support in proving needs without the need to constantly provide everyone with the same details over and over.

How else do they satisfy themselves it is warranted? If they didn’t have quite a high evidence requirement, everyone would get one and the system would fail the people who need it.

Enough to judge whether you need the accommodation or not In our case, copy of child DLA showing higher rate for care was all that was required, and is what you'd use to show eligibility anywhere. Nothing more.

Thanks, that’s great. That’s what I wanted to know, exactly how much of her confidential medical information I’d have to give them as their website says that a DLA letter on its own might not be enough prove . My daughter has high rate care and mobility DLA so happy to provide that, it’s was just the more detailed medical letters I didn’t want to give them access too.

But then - by the same reasoning, the government COULD say : oh well you are a parent and you do it anyway, so you’re not a carer as your child is young. But the government DO recognise me as a carer.

But without saying too much about my DC, I am parenting but also doing a carer role on top of that : in regards to medical, self care, facilitating communication. More so than a child without disabilities of the same age.

I see myself as a parent and a carer.

This.
Ops posts make me feel embarrassed to be disabled!

No one is trying to deny you go above and beyond the care another child would need for your DC.

But for the purposes of accessing an event, it's whether a parent would be there anyway, or whether you being there is an extra need because of your DCs disability. So for instance you wouldn't let a 7 year old go to Legoland on their own, you'd need a parent ticket too - so no different with a child with disabilities. But if the 7 year old needs two adults to go due to their disability, that is an extra need and extra expense. It's not saying you don't do more than other parents of a 7 year old, it's whether anyone would need that support or supervision ,or it's an extra need due to the disability.