Can anyone help me with the law and meeting outside when you have disabled kids?

[Dachshelp]

So you aren’t meant to meet with anymore than one person from another household in tier 4. What is the law for myself please?? I am a SP and have 2 disabled kids. Am I allowed to go for a walk with my friend from another house (tier 4) with my kids?? They are tween and early tween and can’t be left alone. Friend can’t be my support bubble as she already has one. I know if you have little kids they don’t count but is there a different rule for disabled kids with single parent household does anyone know? I can’t find any definitive answer to it?

Is there someone else you can form a support bubble with? Having read the rules, whilst there is provision for carers, I think the way the rules provide for someone in your situation to meet someone else is via the support bubble route.

I am also confused about this. The government website states that in tier 4:

Children under 5, and up to two carers for a person with a disability who needs continuous care are not counted towards the outdoors gatherings limit.

No one that I can walk with no.... need to get out of the house!

Yes @GinAndTonicOnIt I read that also

So do we come under that don’t we? They can’t be left alone...

Older children with disabilities have been missed from these exemptions, which is ridiculous. As a carer you 'don't count' towards the numbers for meeting for a walk - but your over 5's do so you can't take both of them and meet a friend. You could take one of them😔

Disabled people dependant on care don't count towards the 2 person limit
www.london.gov.uk/coronavirus/coronavirus-what-you-need-know

Just go and meet your friend if she is happy to. It's hardly an illegal rave, is it? It passes the common-sense exception that Dominic Cummings kindly established for us - the guidelines can be broken when you need to break them. You have no one else to walk with, it is a very minor infringement of a guideline, and you clearly need to get out and take exercise otherwise you are storing up all kinds of health problems, not least the MH kind.

Go, don't feel guilty!

Really @DownRightAmazing?? I can’t leave one behind, how can the government think that is acceptable? Disabilities do not disappear once they turn 5

It states:

up to two carers for a person with a disability

So that means each of your disabled children could have 2 carers? So technically four adults could accompany these two disabled people

Ok thanks. We won’t be holding her hand or anything... I just want to be prepared for any nosy neighbours judgements that’s all!

Just do what you need to OP for you all to stay as mentally and physically well as you can through this, as close to the guidelines as you can.

@Dachshelp

Really *@DownRightAmazing*?? I can’t leave one behind, how can the government think that is acceptable? Disabilities do not disappear once they turn 5

I agree with you and think it's ridiculous

Older children with disabilities have been missed from these exemptions, which is ridiculous. As a carer you 'don't count' towards the numbers for meeting for a walk - but your over 5's do so you can't take both of them and meet a friend. You could take one of them😔

It says 'people' with a disability. This means they can each have two carers. So technically 6 people can meet in this situation

Interesting link from @WeeDangerousSpike where it's been re-worded such that the dependant doesn't count rather than the carers who don't count.

@GinAndTonicOnIt

Older children with disabilities have been missed from these exemptions, which is ridiculous. As a carer you 'don't count' towards the numbers for meeting for a walk - but your over 5's do so you can't take both of them and meet a friend. You could take one of them😔

It says 'people' with a disability. This means they can each have two carers. So technically 6 people can meet in this situation

Yes they can - but are you suggesting that the OPs friend counts as a carer? Or one of the children themselves count? Because otherwise it still doesn't help the op.

The link above showing that a disabled person of any age doesn't count towards numbers themselves would help - I've never seen that before.

Ok I’m confused now....

Yes they can - but are you suggesting that the OPs friend counts as a carer?

Yes I am.

I am a SN parent. I often can't leave the house alone with my very young children - one does not have SN one does. I cannot safely go to a park with them both as they both separately require too much care. I need an extra pair of hands. So if another friend joined to help, why wouldn't they be a carer???

Any way, it's fine for you to meet up OP. There's many reasons in the (slightly different) guidance that imply you can x

@Dachshelp

Ok I’m confused now....

I think you are fine to meet up. I just think the guidance is rubbish and doesn't explicitly allow it. I only have one with SN and I class my older one as a young carer - maybe you do the same? If you do no one could argue IMO...

Ok thanks. We have worked hard to stick to the rules, just us Christmas Day... desperately don’t want to get ill as this house would fall apart! Just don’t want any curtain twitchers getting their knickers in a twist and want to know where I stand legally that is all.

Take a photo of their letters (DLA/diagnosis/appointment etc) as proof.

That’s a good idea @BlackeyedSusan thanks.