Disabled parking, is it fair?

Sonicbear01

When we now have people who have mental issues but are otherwise physically active, being given blue badges, it makes a mockery of the ability or otherwise to walk only a few yards. If they need a badge for mental issues, they shouldn't be driving. If they have heart issues, should they be allowed to take the wheel with the possibility of having a seizure at the wheel and endangering others?

This is so ableist I don’t know where to start. Disability benefit assessment and blue badge assessment was rightly changed several years ago to include mental health conditions, which can and do affect mobility. It’s not about how far you can walk any more, it’s about whether your condition - be it a physical or mental health related - means you can do so safely, without pain or other difficulty, without hazard to yourself or others, and in a timely manner. Many mental health conditions have a serious effect on mobility in different ways. And the recipient doesn’t need to be a driver themselves, although plenty of people drive safely with mental health issues, as do those with heart conditions. Most heart conditions don’t necessarily put you at risk of ‘seizure’ as you put it and when they do, the consultant will advise on whether or not driving is wise. Even those with epilepsy can drive these days if their condition is well controlled by medication. There is a list of conditions notifiable to DVLA, which is easily available online.

Pammie1

fancythat

If a non disabled person takes up a space that a disabled person needs, I think that is the business of the general public, personally.

The problem with that is that there are a lot of hidden disabilities. If someone is displaying a valid blue badge, it’s no-one else’s business why they have one.

Yes, totally agree with this. My friend's daughter has a blue badge - to look at her, you'd never know there was anything wrong with her, but she has several disabilities including being registered as legally blind. My friend has had run-ins with several people querying her use of a blue badge. So many judgemental people around.

fancythat

If a non disabled person takes up a space that a disabled person needs, I think that is the business of the general public, personally.

The problem with that is that there are a lot of hidden disabilities. If someone is displaying a valid blue badge, it’s no-one else’s business why they have one.

It was very rude and ignorant to question the lady at all and you should think seriously about minding your own business

My GP arranged for me to have a Blue Badge although I did not think I met the criteria despite having cardiac problems. It does make me cross if I see a vehicle parked in a disabled space and not displaying a badge.

My local authority does issue temporary Blue Badges for certain conditions.

Meant for Primrose53
😂😂

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If they have heart issues, should they be allowed to take the wheel with the possibility of having a seizure at the wheel and endangering others?
Are you a cardiologist, Sonicbear01?

I have heart issues, but have been cleared by my cardiologists and DVLA to drive. You come across as very judgemental.

Our local Tesco has excellent blue badge spaces. I have a blue badge and it is so useful. However, it states that it should be displayed each time you park - no good saying you’ve left it behind. You really shouldn’t occupy a disabled space if you don’t display the badge.

What I find unreasonable is why people find the need to ask someone what reason they have a blue badge. I mean I get if they don't have it but as soon as she says she has it it's not your job to decide why. Many people don't wish or need to tell you about their disability. I use a wheelchair some days but on others I look able bodied. I certainly don't want to answer some ignorant persons questions on why I look able bodied. I shouldn't have too. My disability is personal to me. I've already gone through assessment for my blue badge. I know people who are able to work daily who still need a blue badge. Who are you to judge.

Another thing that I have seen happen often is people using a badge that was intended for another person, for example someone I know by sight who used her disabled mother's pass even when she was not with her.

I know that they are pretty hard to get, though if your friend "didn't have it with her" it does should as though she doesn't actually have one. Most disabled people always have it with them. Having one for a sore shoulder doesn't sound at all likely, particularly if she is a golfer.
A friend had one for genuine reasons and was allowed to park almost anywhere. She never seemed to take any trouble to choose the spot that would inconvenience others less, for example sometimes parking on a bend when other close spots were available.

Grannie314

Good morning hithere. You're right - none of her business. There's so much more in the world for us to be concerned about.

I am pleased that she challenged her, people not displaying a badge should be challenged. Doesn't take long then you can go back to being concerned about other things. She was fighting my corner good for her

Good morning hithere. You're right - none of her business. There's so much more in the world for us to be concerned about.

I have had Primary Progressive MS for decades and have a Blue Badge which I value highly. In my long experience abled bodied folk really desire the benefits that the disabled are given be they parking spaces, lifts, special places at concerts etc. When they are challenged they are often aggressive and or down right rude. I have a card saying 'I see you like my parking space, would you like my disease as well?'. On top of all this I have to put up with folk parking across dropped kerbs, on the pavement etc. Of course there are lovely, kind people out there but you need the skin of a rhinoceros to cope with this disease plus the abuse. The reason why it's becoming more difficult to obtain Blue Badges, tickets for the disabled at the theatre etc is because they have been abused in the past. I don't care if the lady was 80 years old I would love to be as active as she sounds. The more people that challenge abuse the kinder society might become - I live in hope!!!

I was pretty disgusted when an acquaintance who had a blue badge admitted to me that he had been healed of the problem for which it was supplied but continued to use it for the convenience!
Since getting a Fitbit and trying to walk more, I deliberately park further away from where I'm going in order to get more exercise, but I would never have used a disabled space even when I did try to park close to my destination.

I take my Mum shopping - parent and child!! 😂 (She has a disabled badge anyway!)
As someone mentioned - not all disabilities are visible. Our 10 year old grandson has a parking pass - he’s autistic.

Sonicbear01

When we now have people who have mental issues but are otherwise physically active, being given blue badges, it makes a mockery of the ability or otherwise to walk only a few yards. If they need a badge for mental issues, they shouldn't be driving. If they have heart issues, should they be allowed to take the wheel with the possibility of having a seizure at the wheel and endangering others?

The mental issues may be such that the person needs to get from car to destination as quickly as possible - agoraphobia, anxiety. Such issues don’t render them unfit to drive. Nor do properly treated heart conditions. I have epilepsy - it is fully controlled and I haven’t had a seizure since the 70s, but should I not drive? My doctor and the DVLA are happy for me to drive. I don’t need a blue badge though.

We were parking in a disabled slot in a hospital - I have non-obvious medical conditions and saw a car parked in disabled and not displaying a badge, the driver was sitting in the car. My husband, having seen me being questioned previously about the badge questioned the driver. His reply was, I have a badge but haven’t displayed it, my husband said how does anyone else know that. The driver saw his point and displayed the badge. I have had a badge for many years and on one occasion, an elderly gentleman said to me, you shouldn’t be using someone else’s badge - my response was to tell him that I would have liked to get to his age before i needed one.

Totally agree with you Welbek. No ne's business to ask what a person's disability is. I would have told her to mind her own business.

Sonicbear01 I think you need to think more deeply about this. Helping people who need it is not making a mockery of people who may need it more - apparently. I find your post rather judgmental. When my son was applying for benefits the administrator who was advising us (wonderful man) pointed out that something totally different is going on in my son's mind when he walks, and this alters his needs. He is apparently very fit, but nonetheless he has significant additional needs that mean life needs to be simplified and smoothed for him. This cannot be seen by looking. Several aphorisms occur to me - one is 'Judge not, lest ye yourselves be judged'

To get a disability badge u need a lot of evidence from specialists. It’s also can’t be a thing that can recover such as a broken leg. The bays are not always policed and are used by the able bodied . Lots of blue badge holders would love to swop and be able but they aren’t so please allow them this tiny thing.

Personally I would never take anyone to task over this sort of thing unless something BLATANTLY harmful to others was taking place. I hate this sort of interfering do-goodery (although it may have been well-meant, OP, so I'm not meaning this personally) My autistic son used to have a disabled badge and although he (and I) are fit I felt I deserved it for the sheer exhaustion of dealing with him. He is better now, but they did not take his badge away because he is 'better' but because they changed the rules. Now when I go to the local supermarket there are always loads of disabled spaces free, which I do not think is fair on the rest of us. While my husband was waiting for his knee op I parked there anyway - anyone could see him hobbling. Common sense, common consideration, sense of proportion, tolerance, thinking outside the box, benefit of doubt, not sweating the small stuff - pu-lease!

When we now have people who have mental issues but are otherwise physically active, being given blue badges, it makes a mockery of the ability or otherwise to walk only a few yards. If they need a badge for mental issues, they shouldn't be driving. If they have heart issues, should they be allowed to take the wheel with the possibility of having a seizure at the wheel and endangering others?

I quite like those signs some countries display in disabled parking spots saying ' Take my space, take my disability'.
I would never question anybody as to their disability, as others have said, nobody else's business.