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

It’s not like that at all @CurtainWitcher

@phoenixearthworm you can, my son has autism and everyone can see it’s affects. Although autism is a wide spectrum so perhaps it’s not obvious in all circumstances

How does autism affect since someone's ability to walk a few metres, for example?

I’ll defer to an expert on the subject...

“Jane Harris, Director of External Affairs at the National Autistic Society, said:

Just leaving the house is a challenge for many autistic people, involving detailed preparation – and sometimes overwhelming anxiety about plans going wrong. And some autistic people might not be aware of the dangers of the road or become overwhelmed by busy or loud environments. The possibility of not being able to find a parking space near where you’re going can mean you can’t contemplate leaving the house at all.“

www.gov.uk/government/news/people-with-hidden-disabilities-to-benefit-from-blue-badges

CurtainWitcher ODFOD.
You're either being a goady fucker on purpose or otherwise you are remarkably ignorant and should stop posting until you are more educated.
If you want to be pernickety, visual impairment is a sensory issue, not physical - and I was drawing a comparison to try to help people like you to understand.

I don't understand why @ArriettyJones is getting such a hard time here. She clearly understands both physical and neurodivergent conditions, and is advocating for a system that benefits both. It isnt difficult to imagine that say, ten bays made up of 5 with extra space for wheelchairs or motor tics and 5 with no extra space but closer proximity to shops etc for people with anxiety and so on, is a better system that what we currently have. Which provides not enough spaces, and facilities in those spaces that a lot of people using them don't require.

Blimey. Instead of turning on each other, maybe put that energy into writing to your MP to complain about the lack of facilities and parking spaces for all disabled people.

Thanks @CommunistLegoBloc

It’s really cynical of the government to pay lip service to invisible disabilities like this, but not increase provision. It was bound to cause problems.

I successfully applied for one (after an appeal) for my son who has autism, learning disabilities and a genetic condition which causes severe anxiety. On the form I used social stories and noise cancelling headphones as mitigating strategies we currently use. He has sensory processing disorder which means that some sounds are louder and disturbing plus he is sensory seeking and will run in the road to look at car wheels spinning and has no sense of danger.

I had to appeal becuase it was initially turned down because it was considered I could stop him running in the road. I had to point out that I also had to manage a newborn baby and he was getting a bit big to physically restrain.

I got the impression they would rather not grant one to those without a 'physical' disability unless you are prepared to fight despite of the change in guidance.

"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 think they are trying to work why specifically you feel you need a badge and what you're currently trying to do to improve things yourself.

I think they are looking for details op.

Well my autistic son (who would probably be on the aspergers side of things if that was used now) also has a wheelchair which is provided by the NHS so how does that work with the frothers on this thread?

@CommunistLegoBloc

I don't understand why *@ArriettyJones* is getting such a hard time here. She clearly understands both physical and neurodivergent conditions, and is advocating for a system that benefits both. It isnt difficult to imagine that say, ten bays made up of 5 with extra space for wheelchairs or motor tics and 5 with no extra space but closer proximity to shops etc for people with anxiety and so on, is a better system that what we currently have. Which provides not enough spaces, and facilities in those spaces that a lot of people using them don't require.

But even when not using his wheelchair my son needs extra space so I can get him into the car. So under your system which set of spaces do we need to use?

@Sirzy

Well my autistic son (who would probably be on the aspergers side of things if that was used now) also has a wheelchair which is provided by the NHS so how does that work with the frothers on this thread?

Well I’ve described myself similarly and nobody in the thread has told me I shouldn’t have my blue badge.

I think it is fair for people to say they disagree with the new criteria. Of course someone can have a hidden disability that affects their mobility. But I question the scheme being extended to people with anxiety, which I wasn't aware of. I think there are different adaptations and approaches more suitable to help someone with an anxiety disorder.

I think it is fair for people to say they disagree with the new criteria.

They should start a new thread to do so.

A poster who has anxiety that affects the so badly they probably qualify for a Blue Badge doesn't need the debate. They were asking for help filling in a form.

But even when not using his wheelchair my son needs extra space so I can get him into the car. So under your system which set of spaces do we need to use?

The one you need?

I suppose they would issue two types of badge. If you need extra space you apply for the kind that allows you to use bigger bays, I would think.

Adults with anxiety (which is the subject of the thread) could use the smaller spaces, though. Lots of people with badges don’t need extra space, lots do. 🤷🏽‍♀️

I don't understand how though. My kid gets low rate mobility and can't get a blue badge. I'm assuming the OP is on PIP and scores into the right category other wise they won't get it.

I think it is fair for people to say they disagree with the new criteria.

On this thread? The op isn’t doing anything wrong applying under the new criteria. She’ll either be successful or she won’t. I don’t think it’s very sensitive or kind for people to be debating here whether people who suffer from severe anxiety should qualify for a blue badge or not.

Not every disability is a visible one Jaxhog.

Hey, I wasn't getting at anyone who genuinely needs one! And I resent the comment that my friend should park further away with her wheelchair. Seriously? Have you ever tried to wheel a wheelchair through a busy car park on your own?

There are a lot of people who claim to have found it easy to get one or borrow a relative's badge. And the fact that there so many badges that disabled spaces are frequently filled up sends its own message.

I don't think people understand how hard it is to get a blue badge ,or course not everyone with anxiety or autism etc will get a blue badge you can't just rock up and say I'm a bit anxious can I have my blue badge please ,it's how it affects the person and I expect they will need evidence from Dr,s etc stating how the anxiety impacts ,them .

@gamerchick

I don't understand how though. My kid gets low rate mobility and can't get a blue badge. I'm assuming the OP is on PIP and scores into the right category other wise they won't get it.

You can apply even if you don’t get automatic eligibility.

My son only gets lower rate mobility (arguably wrongly so now but I’m not rocking the boat by asking them to look again before it’s next due for renewal next year) but has had a blue badge for about a year (before the new rules case in) because his needs where such that he was deemed as needing one by the council - it was actually the easiest thing to get for us no fighting amazingly!

I don't understand how though. My kid gets low rate mobility and can't get a blue badge. I'm assuming the OP is on PIP and scores into the right category other wise they won't get it.

You can apply for a Blue Badge without PIP or DLA, scoring the right category gives an automatic entitlement, but you can get one without too.

My DS has ASD/ADHD and has a blue badge.
Parking in a wide space means we don’t have to worry that he’ll fling (on excitement or anger) the door open and hit the car next to us, it means if we go for a day trip (zoo, theme park etc) we can get back to the car more quickly and safely when he’s having a meltdown. It also usually means less walking through a car park which is really helpful as he walks without paying attention. DS is 12 and we’ve had the badge for over a year, it’s been really helpful and thankfully we haven’t had any ride judgemental comments.

Why on earth do you need a blue badge if you have anxiety.

Sirzy same situation for us, ds lower rate mob although should be higher but not rocking the boat not worth it until renewal, the older he is the better it stands for us because it's easier to prove iyswim, but we got blue badge 2 years ago before new autism rule came in, I sent ehcp in and highlighted 2 important sentences regarding ds being such a danger & a letter from his consultant which said the same sort of thing and we got it no problems, rightfully so.

@Jaxhog

I have MS and can't walk unaided, and I have a blue badge. I still struggle to park near when I want to go because there aren't enough disabled spaces. I can't see this getting any better if able bodied people with anxiety can apply for badges now.

This struck me too. I occasionally take a friend who can't walk more than a few yards without support to the supermarket (before lockdown). This is because she can rarely get a disabled parking space that has room to get her wheelchair out. We often see 'apparently' able-bodied people with blue badges parked there.

This attitude isn’t okay. You wouldn’t accept judgement on your friend so you don’t have the right to judge others. Not all issues are visible.

This sort of judgement really needs to stop as it can be very damaging. Mental health issues can be extremely debilitating and sometimes things can be made easier by small acts you wouldn’t expect. I can’t get parking at home and sometimes have to park a long way away. I get anxiety and sometimes don’t want to be outside. Mine isn’t bad enough for me to apply for a blue badge but I can appreciate why someone who suffers more than me would, sometimes I can’t leave the house and the idea of being able to run to my car directly outside rather than walk 10 minutes and maybe see someone I know would be a great help.