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!!

Agreed. But if you want to go to some venues now then interaction with this company and sending your data to them is mandatory.

That’s a very good point. And it’s a large number of venues that a person with disabilities is effectively excluded from (I think the Access card said it’s for 100’s of venues) if a person with disabilities decides they don’t want to share personal info with the company.

I still think their decision/or decision by some venues to recognise my carer role/some not is monetary based. Take money out of the equation and I think they’d have no issue with stating ‘you are a carer’.

A decision about someone’s role as a carer should never, ever be influenced by profit margins.

To me, the question is : am I a carer. Me walking through the gates at a venue shouldn’t suddenly mean I’m not recognised as that anymore.

It also shouldn’t mean that some venues on this scheme say ‘yes you are a carer, and some say no you are not’. The standard should be the same across the board.

A decision about someone’s role as a carer should never, ever be influenced by profit margins.

Unfortunately, the piss takers, have meant that the companies are clamping down. Sorry this affects you.

I’m really confused by this point a lot of people who paid for the card don’t get the plus 1 symbol
I have 2’access cards in the house
1 has plus 1
and 1 has not
I paid for both

Because an Access Card is not just for someone who needs another person with them.

Some people maybe perfectly capable of going by themselves but can't stand for long periods, so they have the icon for this for example.

There are a number if reasons to need reasonable adjustments and these different options are offered on this card. It's not just about the one topic being discussed here

@Hercisback1

You say ‘pisstakers’, but I’m not sure that’s the case?

If you are recognised as in receipt of DLA, you’ve already been through an awful lot of paperwork. Similarly as a carer.

I would have thought your DLA letter, plus - perhaps - photo ID should be enough.
The decision there has been made officially.

I’m reading that you can get an ID card (for free) from some local authorities.
To me this seems unambiguous, standardised, official.
Nimbus Disability are allowing a great number of venues who sign up to them ‘decide’ about your role as a carer/your needs.

So it’s a case of one venue saying ‘you’re a carer, you’re not a carer’.

The venue I want to take DC to (so he can celebrate on invitation from a friend) - IS more stressful than other venues that are recognising me as a carer. Yet this venue is not acknowledging my carer role.
So what is the difference here? How are these decisions being made?

What difference is it to you if you are a carer or not, do you get in for free? That's the part I don't understand, because if you'd have to go in anyway as a parent, I'm not seeing your problem.

Piss takers are the ones who have used fake letters, claims or lanyards to get access arrangements they dont need. You must have seen the headlines about Disney having so many people in the no queue queue they've clamped down.

Ultimately, businesses can make whatever decisions they like. You choose to go or not go to the venue.

Nobody, not a single person, is saying you are not a carer. So stop repeating that, it isn't any more true becsue you keep saying it.

Remove the personal aspect here and consider that there are many disabled people who don't need a carer, yet have been taking an additional person in for free every time. It's entirely reasonable for venues to say, right ok, we will give you a free carer pass, but only if your disability means you actually need a carer.

So in your instance OP, if you feel your child's disability means they do need an 'extra' person simply for them, then fill out the form and get the pass. It's not a personal attack on your caring responsibility, merely a clamp down on every person with a disability being given a free career pass.

If you don't want to do it, that's for enough, but I don't think I it's at all wrong for venues to say they need evidence in X form to get a free ticket. There are literally thousands of people who get PIP/DLA/ETC who do not need the free carer ticket.

If someone gets DLA/PIP at the right level they are by law allowed for someone to claim carers allowance for them. The systems in place have established they have additional care needs.

adding in extra companies to decide simply adds an extra level of complication to someone’s ability to access society.

when it comes to things like ride access passes I can see the need for further information but when it comes to someone’s need for a carer that is shown by DLA/PIP level.

It's not really though, there are plenty of disabled people who don't need a carer, yet the entitlement to claim carers allowance is a blanket policy, probably for ease rather than then anything else. I'm not saying people should not get a free carer pass btw; I'm just saying it's not personal against OP if a venue chooses to only give to those who need it.

So your saying a venue or a company are more qualified than the dla system to judge someone’s need for a carer? Do you really think they would have the carers allowance system as it is if the vast majority of people who get those levels don’t have additional care needs?

And if the dla/pip system is apparently so poor at deciding need for a carer why have so many people said the only evidence they have had to send to Nimbus is proof of dla/pip?

@Sirzy

So your saying a venue or a company are more qualified than the dla system to judge someone’s need for a carer?

Not really no, it's not where I thought the conversation was heading tbh. The DLA judges the persons need for care, yes, but it doesn't actually specify whether someone child needs an extra person with them to be that's carer or if the person is just part of the the fatality day out. The venues are just businesses. They don't want to be giving me a free ticket for my eldest child who doesn't need an extra person on a day out as carer, that doesn't mean we are not caring for him, just that it form the ordinary family set up. I also claimed carers allowance when he was younger, It enabled me to stay at home as his needs re school were huge, but a family day out was easy. My youngest absolutely needs a person dedicated just to him, so I filled out the form.

Becsue every award letter is different, they do specify a persons needs in the summary or points of PIP or equivalent. But often to get the +1 symbol for an under 16 you do need to give a bit more; or explain it in more detail.

I'm not saying the DLA system is wrong here, it decided that a person is disabled essentially and the government decide that means carers allowance can be claimed, but many many people in disability benefits neither need nor have a carer.

Legally I am a carer for my autistic child. I get DLA for his needs. The law offers certain protections due to both my son's disabilities and my role as a carer.

None of that means that companies need to let me in for free. My sons card doesn't have +1 and that is correct as I would be there anyway as his parent.

IF he needed so much care that another adult had to be with us to allow him to attend then this would be an EXTRA adult and he would get +1 for this person as a carer. Carer in this circumstance means someone who would not otherwise be there if it wasn't for the disabled persons needs.

However lots of companies kindly offer discounts or free carer places as an additional and not legally necessary thing. For example my local zoo offers free carer spaces to anyone who has DLA mid rate or higher. That is a business decision not a legal decision.

Incidentally I also have a carers card from my LA. It specifically states it is for identifying carers in terms of things like medical support not to get in free to places.

It's not always a free carer either. Many theatres now I've noticed are doing half price for the companion ticket.

You are taking the use or not use of the word 'carer' as a personal attack and a denial of what it means to care for a disabled child. It's just a word. What's on the ticket or pass is just meant to cover all situations where a disabled person needs someone with them, not just your situation. Whether you are called a carer or a companion or a plus one makes no difference to what you do on the day or to your experience of the venue. What difference does it make to your visit what you're called on the ticket?

No one is trying to take away your identity or deny what you do for your child, by what word is used on your ticket when you enter a theme park. When I walk through the doors of Tesco's, Tesco's haven't suddenly not recognised me as a carer, and an entertainment venue isn't making a comment on you by what is printed on a ticket.

They're not going to change the wording because you personally prefer another term, and whatever wording is used makes no difference to what extra consideration you do or don't get on the day so it makes no sense not to take your DC somewhere because you don't like the wording on a ticket.

I have an Access card. I just filled out the online questionnaire, sent a copy of my ESA award and PIP award. Mine points out that I can't stand in a queue and I need a +1 carer.

Not had a problem.

It's not always as simple as a disabled child does or does not need a +1 either.

If i took one disabled child out they may not need a +1 (if you're looking at it like you'd be there regardless due to their age). if I take more than one disabled child out we'd need a +1 as I can't meet all their needs if one gets dysregulated.

I haven't read all the posts but we use the scheme and really rate it. They are quite strict on +1 for children though. Examples where you can get it is where you have other children and your child's needs mean they require a constant 121. Or where they have care needs requiring an additional person. They are sadly very cautious about accepting drs letters as people fake them a lot. We were successful with diagnostic letters, scans, copies of medication prescription and us writing in detail in each section what the needs and impact are. The £15 is an option you don't have to pay. It's so you can use the card everywhere. If you apply through the individual venue and make a separate application each time there's no cost. Many of the staff at access are disabled and their motivation appears genuine. There's a Facebook group where people share places they've used the card. The whole point of supplying all the evidence to access which you are sound voluntarily is that people then don't ask your access needs wash time. Its been amazing for us. If you get DLA a lot of venues will accept that as +1 which I know is annoying having to produce two pots of evidence but that's probably the best bet. Access don't control the individual rules a venue set about what gets you +1 they don't have any powers to.

When DC was at school we had a local authority card to prove he had a disability.
Now DC almost 30 he needs a carer to access the community. Amazingly, he didn't get cured when turning 18 or 25 !

DC has an access card. It was approved and received within 3 days. It makes it easier for him to explain or his companion access things. All booked on line so no stigma at the entrance.
ATG and Access Lines are usually extremely helpful and pleasant. I find it easier to call.

Access/Nimbus card is £15 for 3 years
CEA card ( cinema) is £6 yearly.
Disability Rail Card is approx £65 for 3 years
Disabled Bus Pass is free (Carer or +1 included. Although the neighbouring authority ignore the +1!)
All of the above is paid from his DLA.

He often goes with paid carers to venues. Some let his venues have a free or discounted tickets gor carers some don't.

I started to claim Carers Allowance when he was 18 and needed someone at home with him once full time education ended.

Although, I have CA and am classed as a carer, I see myself as his Mum!

Personally, I find it very useful, takes any stigma or doubt away. It makes access....accessible! Especially, as not sll disabilities are visible.

It's an optional scheme that you don't have to apply for if you choose not to.
They are an accredited living wage employer - £15 is barely going to cover an hour of someone's time to process the application, let alone the overheads of running the business, direct costs of processing the application.

@ThinWomansBrain

You say optional but a great many venues (100’s according to Nimbus) are requiring interaction with Nimbus Disability in order to verify your disability.
What if I choose not to share personal info with Nimbus? That now excludes my son as he has access requirements.

Yes I think it should be as well as, not instead of, a venue's own procedures.

Also, requiring online only is a sticky wicket from an equalities perspective.

I phone all the venues and book. They send email confirmation as I give the access membership number. They are all so helpful and suggest better tickets or more leg room or better access. Especially, when booking somewhere we havent been to or if I have left it late to book.
Our local theatre doesn't require an Access Card but has it's own register of people who have disabilities.
Recently, I popped into the local theatre cafe and went to reception to book tickets for my friend and I.
The receptionist tried to offer me a carer ticket as naturally DS is linked to my name and account on their system.
Probably, a reflection of the fact I don't get out much without DC.