Filling in blue badge form for anxiety question help

[granadagirl]

Hi
As mentioned I’m filling in my form on council website
The question are not really clear (to me) what there asking
Anyone able to help
So
What measures are currently taken to try to improve journeys for you between a vehicle and your destination
Enter description of measures taken to try to improve journeys ?
I’m not asking what to put, just what exactly they mean by it
Thanks

ExhaustedBeyondBelief

It’s not the doctors decision as to whether your gh has a blue badge.

The form for applying for a badge is online I suggest you fill it in and get it sent of to the relevant council where you live. You do not and should not need your doctors input for this.

He got it automatically because he receives high rate mobility DLA for severe mental impairment @Socialdistancegintonic a child who gets High rate mobility has an automatic right to a blue badge,however obviously i had to provide a ton of evidence for High rate mobility and go to a tribunal.

I am physically disabled and if I can't get a BB wide space then I can't get out of the car, sometimes have to just go home again. When I do park I very often see the BB car drivers jumping out of the car, with not the slightest hint of any issue with mobility, so yes I do make assumptions. As BBs are also given for those with non physical issues, yes we do need two types of space. However I sadly assume that every one of them (or us) would choose the space which is wider or nearer to the shop, and of course no one will ever challenge this or check up.

When I do park I very often see the BB car drivers jumping out of the car, with not the slightest hint of any issue with mobility, so yes I do make assumptions.

You really shouldn't. I can jump out of the car without the hint of a mobility issue, providing I hadn't been in it long. You would totally think I was taking the piss if you saw me on the way into the supermarket. But you'd change you mind if you saw me on the way out. I think it's at the around the 25 m mark that the pain starts to kick in and by the 50 m mark you'd be fetching me a chair.

'When I do park I very often see the BB car drivers jumping out of the car, with not the slightest hint of any issue with mobility, so yes I do make assumptions'

The whole point of BB parking is so people can park near their destination. So those with say MS who may manage 50yds fine but would struggle further. Or those with breathing problems who again can manage a short walk but no further. I cannot stand it when people are proud of 'making assumptions'.

As I said previously the only thing I would say is BB holders must have a diagnosis, not be self diagnosed and they should surely require primary care to monitor their condition. It seems it varies from council to council and imo it shouldn't be something issued from councils it should be associated with PIP or a GP letter.

@ginghamstarfish

I am physically disabled and if I can't get a BB wide space then I can't get out of the car, sometimes have to just go home again. When I do park I very often see the BB car drivers jumping out of the car, with not the slightest hint of any issue with mobility, so yes I do make assumptions. As BBs are also given for those with non physical issues, yes we do need two types of space. However I sadly assume that every one of them (or us) would choose the space which is wider or nearer to the shop, and of course no one will ever challenge this or check up.

You shouldn’t make assumptions. They may be able to “jump” (apart from young children, who jumps out of a car?!) out of a car but not walk more than a few steps. This isn’t disability top trumps.

@granadagirl

Sorry you’ve had your thread derailed.
for your application, I’d suggest you think of examples of times (as many as you can!) when you’ve not been able to go somewhere or it’s been very difficult to go somewhere due to lack of space. This will help identify the issues. I’ve helped people complete lots of BB forms and you’re more than welcome to contact me if you’d like some help.

@GetOffYourHighHorse

Gp's do certify if you don't have higher rate pip. Dd has asd and seizures so qualified but we didn't take the badge (only the bus pass) because she can use a normal space and cannot drive legally anyway

On Ds long list of diagnosis is adhd so yes he “jumps” out of the car at times.

Yesterday we had to go to pick up his new glasses and pay money in the bank. we parked in a disabled bay and he jumped out. Doing those two tasks knackered him, we could have taken his wheelchair but try to avoid it for shorter trips if we can (and getting into the bank with a wheelchair is a nightmare!) so he walked. He was in pain by the time we got back to the car and being parked much nearer the shops was very useful

@ginghamstarfish I am asking sincerely here, as I'd like to gain more understanding - do you make the same assumptions if you see somebody getting out of their car in a wide space and using a walking stick? I think this is where I'm struggling to understand the problem - the issue with people not needing wider spaces is not a new one in the slightest. If anything I believe that most blue badge holders don't need wider spaces; based on a summary of the users of the spaces that I see, I often see people walking 'freely', walking with one stick or sometimes even two crutches. I avoid assuming why they need a badge, if they have one legitimately then it's none of my business. All of those relatively require less space. I rarely see people who use wheelchairs (even when I see that many spaces are available - this is nothing to do with availability in these examples). Wider spaces are standard so as to meet the needs of as many as possible at any one time, and the situation certainly needs reviewing to introduce more spaces, however that's achieved. I can totally understand people with certain needs being frustrated at the situation. But I need help to understand why the frustration is ever directed towards individuals who are legitimately using their own blue badges? How are they able to help the situation?

It's not just wheelchair users who need the extra space. I have hyper mobility in my hips and I need to be able to open the door fully so that I can swing round and place both feet on the floor before standing. I also brace myself against the door when I stand up, so it needs to be fully open for that too.

@MashedPotatoBrainz so if somebody spotted you after you'd closed the door and gained your composure, they'd probably assume you don't need a wider space either? This is where the real problem is for me, without surveying every individual every time you're at a car park, which would be horrendously inappropriate no matter what capacity you're in, there's no one way of knowing who needs what and why. I appreciate that a 'system' might work better with tiered badges and applicable spaces, but I'm struggling to understand how individuals like yourself are supposed to rectify the problem, or how you could effect change at all. Not to mention what people newly applying for badges are expected to do about the current situation. It's very confusing.

There just need to be more spaces. Where I live there are plenty of spaces and the only times I haven't been able to park are when they're being used completely inappropriately. EG they often get used for charity hotdog stands or for shade for cars with dogs in.

Saying that, I'm having a mare of a time trying to renew my badge this time so I'm one less using them. Now I get people looking at me wondering why the hell I don't park closer, when clearly I'm struggling. I'm waiting for someone to helpfully tell me I need to get a blue badge

There just need to be more spaces

Absolutely @MashedPotatoBrainz there need to be a LOT more BB spaces in places where people struggle at the moment to find one free when they go out.

Please ask your MP to help with your BB renewal, it's gone way beyond something you can easily resolve yourself, through no fault of your own

@BlankTimes

There just need to be more spaces

Absolutely @MashedPotatoBrainz there need to be a LOT more BB spaces in places where people struggle at the moment to find one free when they go out.

Please ask your MP to help with your BB renewal, it's gone way beyond something you can easily resolve yourself, through no fault of your own

Agreed, if you can muster the drive please contact your MP, the amount you're having to go through for this just seems so wrong. This can't be good for your physical health, stress makes every problem worse and you deserve better.

ExhaustedBeyondBelief
My partner had massive issues walking

Drs told him that he would potentially need both feet off and he wasnt entitled to a blue badge......

As opposed to if he HAD actually had both feet off. POTENTIALLY we could have all manner of disabilities

I’d like to bet it the the doctors were saying he will have to have both feet off - he is already at the stage his feet are fucked

It seems going off a few of these posts unless your in a wheel chair you don’t need a BB badge

Here's something that will help the situation, make P&C spaces disabled spaces. What do you think Evelefteden, good idea ?

You're right @Evelefteden it definitely seems that way! Some of the comments also seem very random, sometimes I struggle to know which ones to address and which ones to ignore. But I guess that's the way things go on a public forum! its a shame the thread derailed the way it did but I've found some of the insight interesting nevertheless