Blue badge for DD6 should I apply?

[Coulddowithchoc]

my daughter is in receipt of DLA, HRC and LRM. She has autism and adhd. She isn’t automatically eligible for a blue badge but I am going to apply. Some examples of her struggles: we were leaving a shop and she had a meltdown, it took myself and 3 friends to safely carry her to the car. I cannot physically restrain her when she is extremely overwhelmed. It’s impossible to keep her safe. Meltdowns are not easy to predict. She has a tendency to attempt to escape when overwhelmed, for example if waiting in traffic to get into Asda she will become uneasy. She can’t understand any delays and I cannot help her rationalise as her communication is delayed. She will attempt to get out of the car while it’s moving. I have to be extremely quick and need space to get her out of the car. Crossing roads with her is also extremely difficult because of no sense of danger awareness and her sensory processing difficulties. At school when having a meltdown it has taken up to 4 members of staff to stop her from hurting herself. She is also on medication that can make her fall asleep unexpectedly. I had to collect her from school and drive to the door and my husband had to physically carry her to the car, my husband had to leave work as I cannot carry her.

what evidence can I put forward to help apply for a blue badge? Will a letter from my friend who is a nurse and has witnessed a meltdown help? The hospital and doctors have not physically seen a meltdown but school has seen many, so would a letter from them work?

Absolutely apply in your circumstances. You may find you don't need it long term but it'll help in the meantime.

I know someone who processes BB claims for his job. He told me that he definitely does use evidence such as prescriptions and letters to make a decision. So yes, apply and give all the evidence you can lay your hands on.

Apply. If you don't, you definitely won't get one. If you do, it will make your life easier.

Yeah you should be fine to apply for a blue badge with what you've put down

I have one for dd as she is the same with her autism x

Can I ask what evidence you sent? Should I send her ehcp?

You can try but it’s going to be incredibly difficult on this basis. Send loads of evidence. Good luck.

Like others have said, worse case scenario you don't get it. But if you don't apply you will 100% not get it.

Go for it

Ehcp and the information that I put in the dla mobility section, that's what I sent, along with the diagnosis letter of autism

I found it not too difficult tbh, I'm sure you'll be fine

I had wanted to get a disabled parking bay put on the street where I live but that seemed more complicated as they said hidden disabilities don't count

Edited to add we had the same issues with asda 😩, and a particularly difficult day at our local lidl just before Christmas last year. Definitely do it, life is easier x

DS, adhd, autism, to name a few. He was denied as although he doesn't see danger he could walk. Luckily he got better when he got to teenage years. No harm applying

Yes, you should. I also wonder if a disability pushchair might make your life easier? My autistic 5yo likes his if he's feeling anxious although he also has a mild physical disability.

Send anything confirming her diagnoses. Don't send appointment letters, only ones that state their illnesses or treatment. Definitely go for it. The worst that can happen is they refuse, which I'd hope they wouldn't.

I considered a disability pram but I know she won’t sit in it. She wouldn’t sit in the normal pram she didn’t like the feeling. I carried her up until she was almost 5 I just about managed it (she is quite small) but she is growing and I can no longer pick her up. She likes the feeling of being carried and constantly asks for it and will refuse to walk. My husband can carry her but obviously that won’t last forever.

Is she in receipt of middle or upper level DLA? If so apply. If she is lowest level, she won’t be considered. But you could push for her to go up a level, so you could apply.

We got one for my youngest before they were even 1. I’d definitely apply, they are really handy to have especially in these circumstances.