Just got dd's I count card

[Blossomhill]

It is a card that proves your child has special needs/disability. It is really handy as the council have also sent a list of venues (such as swimming, cinema, legoland) etc and shows you where you can use it to prove you are a carer the savings you make. They have also shown them to all of the shops, libraries etc so if need be you can show them say if you are in a ahop etc. Saves all that faffing about with letters and forms!
I have been saying we have needed one of these for years!

Oooh I was at Legoland on Friday and they let people with those cards to the front of the queues, very shallow I know, but some (don't know if this applies to you) of the children wouldn't havehad the patience to stand.

pleased for you

I have never heard of it BH. Is it just your council that issues them?

deegward - yes it is one of the benefits. Have to say though have had some awful looks from people when we have "jumped" the queue. As dh and I said we would much rather dd could wait and when asked by another person in the queue "how can we get one of those?"
A friend answered "have a disabled child" Person went very quiet!!!!

Is it a local scheme or a national one?

I was glad to let the people go infront of us, some people are so insular!

Not sure coppertop. According to the letter it is only the boroughs that have contracted for "I count".
deegward - thank you, it's so nice to hear of people being understanding. Unfortunately there are a fair few people around who really are ignorant when it comes to "invisible" disabilites!

My Soc Svs dept gives us an ID card. It doesn't entitle you to discounts etc but it a way of proving that your child is eligible iyswim. It also saves embarrassment for the staff when I say he's disabled and they don't have to ask how he is disabled. I've never heard of I Count though. I've also got a new ID card thingy from the NAS in a little wallet.

These are the organisations that have been made aware of "I count"

Alton Towers
Chessington
Drusillas
Kew Gardens
London Eye
Longleat
Maddam Tussads
Springboardproject
All local shopping and leisure centres

Thats a great idea, never heard of them.

Will have DH ringing round later to see if we can get one!!!

annie, if he finds a central place to get them or info, get him to post to us!

Sounds an excellent idea. Is it linked with the Disability register or DLA payments?

I must get my act together to apply for DLA - just keep shuffling that blasted form from one end of the sideboard to the other - and have now left it so long, I need to get another form as some things have changed!....Serves me right!

is this what you are talking about?

I think you could be right Mrs F - Blossomhill definitely comes under one of those boroughs (unfortunately we dont! )

Looks good doesn't it? Our ID card that is issued by Soc Svs is related to the Disability Register. I didn't realise for a few years that SOc Svs knew exactly who we were as DS is on the register, even though we didn't access services via them at that time. The register is voluntary though I think.