The guidance/rules have been relaxed for people with specific health conditions, such as learning difficulties and autism

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www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/14/uk-coronavirus-rules-autism-learning-disabilities-lockdown

I think this is really good but am wondering why it needed a legal challenge when it’s not the law - this feels worrying?

Good news. This was done in France a few weeks ago. I was on a thread with someone at the time who was very resentful about autistic people getting supposed preferential treatment and they strenuously argued against it. Hope most people don't feel that way.

I think it has been clarified rather than relaxed, certainly in England. The rule was to not be out without reasonable excuse and it has been made clear that driving somewhere or exercising more than once a day for some people is necessary and so a reasonable excuse.
I'm sure the not fairers will still be crying not fair. I wonder if they have the hypocrisy to be clapping on a Thursday night whilst maintaining that it is ok for carers to be injured or have to watch those they care for injure themselves because 'rules are rules' even when they are not rules.

This is good news. I received the email yesterday which allows my daughter to go out up to 3 times a day, as per her care plan. As it happens, she's coped very well with one walk each day but it's nice to know I have that option if I need it.

Wish my daughter could go out but is also in the shielding group so can’t go out at all, she won’t even use the garden as she doesn’t like it when the neighbours are out there because they are too loud. She’s extremely sensitive to sound.

Definitely just clarified. The legislation doesn't limit the number of times a day, just says for exercise.

My dd would become a recluse if she could so it's really important to get her out as much as possible and go to places she is familiar with and feels safe.

I'm autistic and so is ds2. I took him to a woodland area a mile away this morning for a walk as opposed to walking around our village where people will have a go at us and we feel frightened. It was much better and he returned home feeling happy.

I had a meltdown couple weeks ago, as in hurting myself. If I'd have realised that I could get back out the house and away from people, then doing that would have most probably either reduced the severity of the meltdown or stopped it from happening altogether.

Just knowing I can if I need to has helped my stress levels no end and stopped me from going in to meltdown since the new guidelines were published.

*disclaimer I am autistic and it is in my notes that exercise outside the home is an important coping strategy for me. I also have a son who has autism and ADHD, and sometimes he needs removing from a situation.

So what's different? Sorry, the link wont load for me.

Reading between the lines on this thread it means people with additional needs are now allowed out more than once a day for exercise?

But everyone is 'allowed' out for exercise of unlimited amounts. The law doesn't place any limit on that.

DD has so far handled everything very well but it’s a relief to know I can get her out of the house without her needing to get to meltdown point and leaving on her own.

@Laiste everyone is allowed out more than once for exercise. The legislation just states that you can go out for exercise, it doesn't limit to once a day. The guidance says once a day, but that can't be enforced as it isn't law.

However the police, MN Gestapo and twitchy neighbours have been trying to enforce this as much as possible. I have a mh condition, for which it is recommended by my psychiatrist that I run or exercise on my own. It really helps. I also have a dd with ASD who is really struggling with all the change and so helping her has exhausted me mentally (not a complaint, I'd walk over hot coals for her). So when I suggested that some days we go for a walk as a family and then I might also go for a run, this was jumped on as illegal by many.

My dd will leave the house for specific places that she likes and feels safe. Some of these involve a short driv

It is also about driving to where you exercise and that it can be not locally if that is what is needed. That will particularly apply to adults who have been taken to the same places for years but those places may be more than a few miles from where they live.

But driving to exercise also isn't against the law. Just something put in the guidance.

I agree the guidance doesn't say you can't but it is clarifing that even a longer distance car journey to exercise can sometimes be reasonable.

In Wales too or just in England?

In Wales you really are only allowed out once a day?

My son has a physical impairment. I try to get both children out at least once a day for a walk. And I take the baby along as well in her pram so she can have some fresh air. I find that the walks really do help his constipation woes.