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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

Is this correct?

29 replies

Thatawkwardmoment · 31/01/2012 17:51

Was thinking of taking DS (22 months) to a local zoo - I note on their website that carers are admitted free of charge (as long as they accompany the individual with special needs).

I am in receipt of carer's allowance - DS gets middle rate DLA.

I e-mailed them and asked them what supporting documentation I would need to show at the gate. It then transpired that because DS is under 3 years old and would be charged the usual £1 admission price for a child of that age (as opposed to £8 for a special needs child above that age), that I would have to pay the full price of £14.50.

Therefore, if I visit the zoo before DS is 3 years old I will have to pay £15.50 entrance fee.

After he is 3 years old, I will only have to pay £8.

In other words, they do not appear to acknowledge the fact that children under the age of 3 with special needs exist, or that they have carers.

Hope this makes sense!

Has anybody experienced anything similar before?

OP posts:

outofbodyexperience · 31/01/2012 17:54

seriously?

what they are acknowledging is that no child under the age of three whether nt or sn would go to the zoo without a carer. not that sn doesn't exist in under 3's.

in older children or adults with sn who (if they were nt) would ordinarily be able to access the zoo without a carer, the additional perdson would not have to travel. it is an acknowledgement that this is an expense that would not be incurred if the person was not sn. and so the zoo recognises that the person would not ordinarily have to attend.

he is 22 mos.

you wouldn't send him on his own anyway.

pay up and don't be precious.

Original poster

Thatawkwardmoment · 31/01/2012 18:05

Thanks for your lovely reply

I am not being precious, neither would I allow my child to attend the zoo on his own if he were 3.1 years old...sn or otherwise.

OP posts:

eaglewings · 31/01/2012 18:08

Feel a little the same way as outofbody.

Thankfully when your child is 3 you will get the reduced rate.

outofbodyexperience · 31/01/2012 18:09

exactimo. isn't it lovely that they recognise it from 3 when really there is no need at all?

saintlyjimjams · 31/01/2012 18:14

It's a bit unfair. Some under 3's with SN require 1:1 - so then you can end up with an additional cost.

Incidentally has anyone ever had any success getting carer's NAtional trust tickets? I was told when I Joined I could get an additional carers ticket (as I can't take my 3 without a 1:1 for ds1) but the process of getting one was so unclear I gave up in the end. I found them very LD unfriendly anyway.

outofbodyexperience · 31/01/2012 18:16

ach, it's just like the blue badge scheme. or the fact you have to be 3 to get the mobility element for dla.

before three, you're quite entitled to get hr care on your dla if your child's needs are high enough. you don't need a blue badge (unless your child requires oxygen tanks and wider parking space than any other toddler, in which case you can get one) and you don't need the mobility element, as it's recognised that most under 3's can't walk v far and/ or run off.

i think the zoos do a fantastic job. lots of them offer not just reductions for carers once the child is old enough to qualify, but often special events where the zoo is closed to the general public and special events are laid on for kids and adults with sn.

i don't think moaning about not getting a free pass to accompany your 22mo to the zoo rates too highly on my list of things to fret about. i've got bigger fish to fry.

silverfrog · 31/01/2012 18:16

what the zoo are saying is that an under 3 is not going to get the most oout of the facilities anyway, whether Sn or no SN. and so the adult going with them is going as much for their sake (the adult's) as the child's.

over 3, there is a whole range of things - from petting sections, to info boards, quizzes etc that a child might enjoy. and which a person with SN may not be able to. therefore, the person over 3 with SN gets a reduced rate (as they cannot participate fully in the experience) and the carer goes free, because they will have to spend a lot of the time helping the child access whichever bits they can.

I think you are ebign a little unreasonab;e about it all, tbh.

outofbodyexperience · 31/01/2012 18:22

didn't know nt did carer's tbh - we buy a family pass for the gp's with the kids on... i thought it would work out cheaper that way. might have a look when it comes due though. they usually just go to the outdoor parks etc rather than indoorsy stuff. i've no idea how much it would work out... we get it for them for christmas, which is a bit cheeky but at least they get to use it without the dcs as well....

silverfrog · 31/01/2012 18:24

we just have a NT family ticket too.

and mostly, if I am taking someone else along, a friend volunteers to come as well, and she has an annual ticket anyway.

had not idea NT did carers tickets. we usually only go to the garden/outdoors ones with dd1 - she goes loopy in houses, really hyper and silly.

Original poster

Thatawkwardmoment · 31/01/2012 18:33

Okay sorry - my post obviously wasn't worded as well as it could have been. I'm just glad that I didn't post in AIBU

Thanks for the further clarification. I honestly thought (obviously selfishly) that being DS's full time carer meant just that - regardless of his age. I obviously have a lot to learn

I shall just slip away quietly now. Thanks again

OP posts:

saintlyjimjams · 31/01/2012 18:35

We have a family pass - well had, but that names DH. In school holidays DH cannot go as he is at work, but I cannot go unless I have an additional carer to help me out. This concept was incredibly difficult for the NT to comprehend.

outofbodyexperience · 31/01/2012 18:39

oh, yes. without a doubt you are his ft carer. but you would be at 22mos if he was nt as well.

apols if i was too blunt. there are many many things to get excited about in the world of sn. (and most of them i can summon a fair amount of outrage for

) but not this one, sorry.

silverfrog · 31/01/2012 18:40

I found this, jimjams - any good? worth a try, and sensibly the pass is made out in the disabled person's name, so totally transferable between carers.

cwtch4967 · 31/01/2012 18:46

RE: National Trust
DS has a card which can be presented to allow his carer free admission but he has to pay. You can apply for the card online - it was very easy to do.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/places/before-you-visit/view-page/item698729/

saintlyjimjams · 31/01/2012 18:49

Oh FGS why didn't they tell me that Honestly I was emailing left right and centre and getting nonsensical replies!

I probably won't bother now as we just surf all the time anyway so it's not worth the membership. I wonder if you have to be a member, or whether it would work when you're just buying day tickets

silverfrog · 31/01/2012 18:51

on cwtch's link, it says the disabled person pays 'normal membership or admission fees', so I would guess that day trips are ok.

at least you have the right email address to ask the questions now...

lisad123 · 31/01/2012 18:53

Tbh I think this is a little unfair, even at 3 you may still need 2 pairs of hands to take SN child out.
I rang local farm as they had a "child free with adult" voucher, it didn't say "paying adult" carers were free, so we all got in free!

saintlyjimjams · 31/01/2012 19:02

Yes that's fine if it covers day tickets as well.

Honestly you would not believe how round and round in circles I went!

saintlyjimjams · 31/01/2012 19:03

And thank you!

silverfrog · 31/01/2012 19:05

oh, i can believe it! NT cannot get our name right on our membership cards. small detail, I know, but irritating nonetheless.

we have chased around endlessly trying to get it corrected - the letters now come to the right people, but not the cards

oh well. hope you have some good days out

saintlyjimjams · 31/01/2012 19:10

Ha ha - our names were always wrong as well.

We have great days out with a board!

cwtch4967 · 31/01/2012 19:14

None of us have annual membership so it has to apply to day tickets! Haven't actually used it yet!

silverfrog · 31/01/2012 19:25

really, jimjams? I thought it was 'cos we had a furrin' name. but no, they are clearly incompetent...

yes, i know you are always off surfing - god what I wouldn't give to live by the sea again (sadly not a possibility for the forseeable, as we are stuck in a landlocked county). althugh I am not sure I would be braving wintry conditions to take dd1 surfing!

saintlyjimjams · 31/01/2012 19:30

It's been very warm this winter. Although the forecast for Saturday (when we are going) is 1 degrees C. I'm not entirely sure that we'll make it in the water (ds1's hands get cold, but he says he wants to go. I am sort of considering getting him into his wetsuit here and then driving there wearing it.

kennythekangaroo · 31/01/2012 19:35

NT suggested we get a family 1 adult annual ticket so DH counts as a carer. DS has an "admit 1 carer" card but nobody asks to see it.

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