Are companies allowed to insist on an access card for disabled access?

[TigerRag]

I have a certificate of visual impairment, pip letter and a blue badge. None of these are apparently good enough and some companies are saying they only accept an access card

I can't get the symbols I need and I can't be bothered arguing with someone who knows nothing about my disabilities

The argument for requiring an access card and nothing else is because the company themselves aren't medically trained. But my certificate of visual impairment was done by someone who is medically trained, assessed me and has access to my medical records. This person has far more understanding of how I'm affected than someone working for a private company who has never met me

Does anyone know how legal this really is? I don't have a problem proving my disabilities. I do have a problem with only certain evidence from a certain company being accepted

I don't know the answer, but a scan of his CVI was all my ex needed to get his disabled rail pass, and any museums or the like we've been to, they've just accepted the presence of the white stick. AFAIK, he doesn't have an access card, though I may be wrong.

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10738/

You might find this useful.

Also yes, when certain restrictions are accessed, companies can request evidence.

Most places I have been look at the wheelchair and go “you’ll be wanting the lift then”.

the most paperwork I have had to provide is blue badge/pip letter.

i’m not familiar with an access pass. What is it?

I have no issues with providing evidence. It's the fact that I've already got evidence that some say isn't good enough and tell me I have to get an access card. The evidence I used to apply for an access card was the evidence they say isn't good enough

What sections of the Access (NIMBUS) card do you feel that you need?

Step free access which they say is just for wheelchair users. I have a visual impairment which affects my depth perception

Ok, I presume that you have a Blue Badge because of your VI issues and that you can't walk far? Do you also have difficulty standing or queuing because of these issues?
Do you get PIP for both care and mobility or just mobility?
Do you need someone to help get about while you are outside of home?

Just like to point out that I am not in wheelchair and qualify for step free access

Ohhh the good old access card! A company who likes to take advantage of and make money out of disabled people, can't stand them!

Someone needs to challenge these places who demand an access card via court. I'm pretty sure demanding one is disability discrimination. Evidence can be provided by other means, which you have. You have to pay for a card therefore are being put at a disadvantage vs non disabled people by places that demand one. I would suggest emailing the ehrc for advice https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/about-us/contact-us

Yes to all. I have difficulty queuing but it's mostly if there's steps - even with another person it's difficult as I'm slower going down steps. Crowds are a problem too but they gave me the symbol for that. They said that because I can walk, I'm fine with steps which isn't the case at all

In that case you should qualify for a +1 carer, queueing, walking less than 50m and VI recognition.
Actually just having checked I don't have level access (so they're correct about the wheelchair symbol) but it's never been a problem when booking tickets for venues as I'm nearly always placed in an accessibility area with minimum steps & ramps if I need it. I automatically get to use disabled entry points at museums etc. I have never yet had an issue with getting about venues. I bought the lanyard with the card (£5 extra) which makes it easier for venue staff to recognise that I need help.

A lot more venues are now linked directly to Nimbus and only need your name + number and allow booking access automatically. The O2 always directs you step free seating on the website or you can phone most venues and do it over the phone. I'm really pleased as to how much easier it is now with more company's coming on board with Nimbus. I did Download Festival this year with disability parking, viewing platforms and access to the disability hub for better toilet/handwashing facilities etc and it made it so much easier for us.
Hope this helps but I've not found that not having the wheelchair symbol on my card has hampered my access at all. I've found that phoning the venue and having a quick chat helps usually - I've not had a bad experience yet.

As for you @PensionPTake what is your beef with the Access/Nimbus system???? I am more than happy to pay £15 for 3 years. Just the same as I'm happy to pay £6 per year for my CEA card so I can go to the cinema with the help I need because these schemes cost money to run and they can't whip stuff out of their arses for free. Funnily enough despite being on full PIP my local council wont give me a Blue Badge. So yes, I'm happy to pay and it is a small amount for so much joy and helps me to continue going to things that I love.....unless you believe that we're all faking it, should be stripped of PIP and should stay home hidden away getting no joy from life?????

@TigerRag my DD has a visual impairment that affects her depth perception and she has similar issues with stairs. I never thought about even trying to get it added to her access card - getting one in the first place was difficult enough! I wonder how they decide these things. She has a report from the eye hospital that lists reasonable adjustments including not using steps - what evidence did they reject for you?

I looked up the Access card and they don't accept blue badges as evidence,wtf?!

I had a blue badge for 18 years and they've not renewed it,the bastards. They said my condition isn't severe enough, despite being awarded one for the previous 18 years. I think they've been told to refuse as many as they can now.

Is that the same as level access? I have level access and I’m not a wheelchair user.

As someone not in the uk, can I ask, is this just to access a business? As in you have to prove you need the wheelchair ramp? Or am I not understanding something because that seems insane to me?

Nimbus say that the card is entirely optional and you can use a free digital access pass instead. So at least you shouldn’t have to pay.

Why are these businesses being such arseholes and making disabled people's lives even more challenging than they already are?

I have serious reservations about Nimbus as well. I kept finding myself having to jump through their hoops to buy theatre tickets with a free carer, hated that the theatres have increasingly jumped on the band wagon of contracting nimbus to decide who is eligible.
I did end up giving in and paying them my £15 though. However the reason I was able to do that is I am a wheelchair user on full PIP so they cannot argue at all about my needs. If I couldn’t get the symbols I consider I need I would be well pissed off.
In theory it should be illegal for Nimbus to say that you don’t need a certain reasonable adjustment. In theory the adjustment you need is up to you to determine. Most of us don’t have the means to consider taking them to court though 🤷‍♀️

I buy tickets to events for my disabled friend. It’s a shitshow. Every venue is different. It’s tricky to know how to buy the tickets especially for events that you know will sell
out quickly. Then arriving at the venue is often a mess. We’ve had to stand around waiting for them to email the correct tickets, not got access to a seated area, been offered for friend to have access to platform but not me. How’s that going to work? She needs a plus one with her, I can’t be on the floor whisked up in the crowd, she needs someone with her all the time hence the +1.

I get so cross because so much has been lobbied for other sections of society who quite frankly make themselves on the fringes.

Interestingly I am soon to be in a situation where the only way my elderly mother, think 90+, can prove her identity (UK born never lived elsewhere) will be through a purchase of an ID Card. She will no longer have a valid passport and has given up her driving licence. I am going to our local MP. Just getting her onto the NHS app without a mobile phone has shortened My life span by at least 20 years. Have you contacted your MP?

I would strongly advise you just renew her passport. I found that v useful when dealing with affairs got my elderly mum.

If you get full PIP the blue badge is automatically approved. The council can’t decline it.

I go to the theatre every weekend and I’m not saying it’s perfect and every venue is different but I have never experienced issues like you describe in your post.

last time I had a problem was last March when a platform lift was out of order.

For me, it is the privatisation, at private cost, of the vulnerable. My mum shouldn't NEED to pay at 90+ for photo id to prover her identity. Neither should disabled have to pay to prove they need help. Perhaps as a country if we were stronger on enforcing penalties against those who cheat the system, this wouldn't be necessary for the law abiding.