Need Blue Badge for Autistic Son - please help!

[kabaray]

Can anyone help me? I've just been turned down AGAIN for a Blue Badge for my severely autistic 4yo son, Zac. It is an absolute nightmare getting him to walk where we need him to go, especially through a busy car park or street. He has major sensory problems and drops to the ground or tries to run away. I can't carry him and manage my toddler too. The council have refused as they say it's a behavioural problem, not a physical one - this is rubbish!! Autism is a neurological problem - that is physical. If anyone has any suggestions as to what I could do next, I would be so grateful - thanks.

I appplied for higher rate mobility- then the blue badge comes automatically. There is a court case (will have to dig out details later). I put at the end that I would be grateful if they would refer to that court case when considering my son's application. Hey presto higher rate mobility- and then of course blue badge.

Hi kabaray!!!! You found mumsnet OK then! I am sure the lovely crowd here will be a great source of info for you.

Thank you Dingle and Jimjams! Yes please, J, if you can find that court case for me I would be so grateful. I think we'll have to apply for the higher rate mobility and personal care - we're just on middle rate pc at moment. I'm going to try and get paediatrian to do a support letter too.

Hi, my son has a blue badge for exactly the problems you are describing and I was lucky enough to be given it straight away with no argument. My health visitor was very helpful and told me to stress the safety aspects of his lying down in road or pavement, refusal to hold hands/wear harness, total lack of awareness or sense of danger. I think this may have swung it in the end and I wonder if it is because the council didn't want to be held responsible if he was injured!
My Hv also said that it was lucky that some other autistic children in my area had already been given blue badges as it set a precedent and made it harder for them to refuse. Is there any way you could find out if this is the case where you live?

Forgot to say that my ds only gets lower rate mobility and he got the badge before he was even getting that so I think a lot of it comes down to luck and where you live. Getting support letters is a good idea though. Have you got a good GP who would understand? He/she should have copies of all your ds's notes on file so may be the best person to ask.

pixel,we are talking Kent Councils here![angry} The same council that I have fought with and up until a few months ago,refused to even send out an application form.

But we did win eventually.kabaray did you get my email?

Hello Pixel - that's fantastic that you got the badge. Would you mind telling me what Local Authority you're in, so that I can give it as an example in my next letter to the council? (If you don't want to I totally understand.) Thanks, from Kabaray.

Hi Kabaray, I got ours through appealing to get higher rate mobility DLA. I've got a few documents etc about it, will dig them out when I get time. There's lots on MN already about this but I'm blowed if I can tell you how to access it! Maybe try putting SN into Alpha order and look under "B" for blue badge or "D" for DLA. I will try to dig out the info I've got though.
THose people at the Council are ignorant idiots as they are WRONG!!

info here from the NAS It was the Megarry case that I asked to be considered when assessing my application.

Well if it helps, tell them that Brighton and Hove accepts severe autism as qualification for a blue badge.

Thank you Pixel - I appreciate that. And thank you Jimjams for the link - that's great. I'll let you know what happens...