Disabled parking, is it fair?

I was always able to move at the speed of light and suddenly everything changed. Blue badges are hard to get but I now have one. It has changed my life, enabling me to do everyday things like get to the post office, the bank, the doctors etc. I should love to be the old me and be able to hand it back! That’s never going to happen and I am so grateful for it.

My local hospital has a number of spaces designated for WAVs only, clearly marked as such and requesting blue badge holders in anything other than a WAV to use alternative disabled parking. Unfortunately, it’s makes not a jot of difference and there are always at least two non WAV vehicles parked in these bays. On one occasion when my carer pointed out, very politely, to a man sitting in his saloon car, no sign of a blue badge, that the space was needed for a WAV, she was told that he wasn’t going to move as his wife wouldn’t know where to find him when she came out! I rang my consultants secretary, explained that I couldn’t park, asked to be rebooked and went by taxi next time. I could, of course have used a non disabled parking space, except for the fact that, particularly in the case of a larger vehicle in the adjacent spot, because of the size of my van, it makes it difficult or nigh on impossible for anyone returning to that car to open the door and I don’t think that would go down well. It’s not a problem for me as I exit via a ramp at the rear and any passengers can do the same or use one of the sliding side doors.

Most of my consultants appointments require me to attend a major teaching hospital which has two floors of a multi story car park designated as disabled parking only. Unfortunately, it’s an underground entrance which is very slightly too low for my vehicle to access. Scuppered every which way!

You’re NOT a law enforcer I presume

What really annoys me is the blatant mis-use of badges to gain free parking in some carparks. DD2 has been challenged by Parking Attendants a couple of times and was happy to show the photo on the reverse side of her badge.

How do you know they are blatantly misusing the badges? I have been challenged by a member of the public several times and I point out to them that my condition has been examined regularly by the authorities who agree I qualify. That is what counts. I don't feel I have to explain that whilst I can look perfectly normal on my outward journey, I show considerable suffering on the return.

Callistemon21

I might try again for a temporary one because the waiting list for surgery is so long here.

You can usually qualify for PIP for mobility problems that will last over 6 months. You can then apply for a Blue Badge. Once the op is done and you have recovered, obviously the PIP stops.

I would not challenge anybody displaying a badge but might if they are not. The other day, I parked with my badge and went into the supermarket to buy lunch. It was my intention to leave my Disabled parking space immediately and find somewhere nicer than a Supermarket Car Part to eat my lunch. I removed my Blue Badge but then got a pang of hunger so started to eat. Half way through, a man waved signalling I had no Blue Badge displayed. I smiled, got, it out and carried on eating. He was quite right, I should have had it displayed and I really didn't mind him pointing it out.
Supermarket Staff won't challenge anybody because they don't want to put themselves in the firing line. Consequently, those who don't follow the rules take advantage which is rather a shame. It is an offence for anybody to use a badge that isn't theirs and the badge will be revoked. This does happen, I know someone who lost theirs by lending it out and it served them right.

If someone has displayed a Blue Badge when parking, I believe it is not legal to challenge that person or demand to know what their disability is.
Not all disabilities are visible, not all disabilities require a wheelchair.
The disabled person is at liberty to tell you to mind your own business or even to report you

Bluecat

I got a Blue Badge eventually, after years of being nagged by my family to apply for one (including my husband pointing out people in car parks and saying "Look, she's got a badge and you're more disabled than she is!" ) I do appreciate it now that I have got it, as I have bad arthritis and walking is painful and very slow. We have only been challenged once, when I was out with my daughter and family. My son-in-law just said "We have a disabled person in the car" and the old man who questioned us backed off. I don't think he had noticed me in the back with the grandkids.

Normally nobody questions us because I am a white-haired old lady with a stick. However, I would never use a disabled toilet until I got old, even though I have a hidden disability (an ileostomy.) I was always afraid that someone would challenge me, because I was young and looked OK, and I would be embarrassed to explain to a stranger. I do think that you have to think twice before you demand to know the details of someone's disability.

Using Accessible toilets is another question. I have used these for years, long before I needed and had a Blue badge. With a permanent ileostomy (and before that with UC), I needed to use a loo which had a wash basin next to it.

One of my g,daughters had a problem that the nerves in her bowel did not work until she was well into her teens, Horrible condition, quite rare thankfully. When they were out, it was normal for her to require a complete change of clothes and wash down. Often, as my daughter was coming out of one of these loos with her so healthy looking daughter, people would shout at them. Bad enough for youngster to have this condition, and then be embarrassed even further by this behaviour.

icanhandthemback

Callistemon21

I might try again for a temporary one because the waiting list for surgery is so long here.

You can usually qualify for PIP for mobility problems that will last over 6 months. You can then apply for a Blue Badge. Once the op is done and you have recovered, obviously the PIP stops.

Thanks icanhandthemback
I think you have to be under State Pension Age to apply for PIP.

Yes, calli it was for people under state retirement age. I understand it’s been superseded by universal credit which has its own raft of complexities and is again for those under retirement age.

Living with any impairment (I hold to the social model of disability, people have impairments it is the structure of society that disables them) is challenging, painful and often distressing. Sometimes people simply run out of the energy to deal with barriers, whether that be a flight of steps, a quietly spoken shop assistant, a toilet queue or an able bodied person who challenges their need to park in a specific spot.

While a Blue Badge can’t fix everything, it can and does give the freedom to live a life closer to that lived by people who are not impaired. I’m grateful for mine and honestly fear the renewal process in case my deteriorating condition no longer ticks all the boxes.

Callistemon21

icanhandthemback

Callistemon21

I might try again for a temporary one because the waiting list for surgery is so long here.

You can usually qualify for PIP for mobility problems that will last over 6 months. You can then apply for a Blue Badge. Once the op is done and you have recovered, obviously the PIP stops.

Thanks icanhandthemback
I think you have to be under State Pension Age to apply for PIP.

Ah Callistemon21, I obviously read your posts thinking you are younger than retirement age!

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?

I think the same. I also think blue badge should be mobility only. Bring on a different colour for other types. 25 years ago I worked in an office and a fellow employee insisted on parking in the disabled bay. She operated a computer, could run, fit etc, but insisted on her right to park outside the office rather than walk to the plebs car park 50 metres away. Her disability? She was deaf in both ears! Admitted she had no balance issues but because she wore hearing aids she was classed as disabled so she would use her badge!

My sister's eldest was diagnosed with aspergers long before this change came in and she used to say taking him shopping with 2 normal, was a nightmare until she thought "sod it". She got the harness and reins out, even tied him into the trolley (around 2010!) No one told her off, if anything, at least she was keeping him under control!

I know of a woman who had dementia and to be honest, you didn't want to be around her when she was parking, but unless they are caught in the act, what can you say?

There are hidden disabilities, not saying there isnt, but blue badge is not the colour for it, and not.sure if wide bay's should be either, they are wide so that those with poor mobility can have more space to get out of the car.

SheepyIzzy

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?

I think the same. I also think blue badge should be mobility only. Bring on a different colour for other types. 25 years ago I worked in an office and a fellow employee insisted on parking in the disabled bay. She operated a computer, could run, fit etc, but insisted on her right to park outside the office rather than walk to the plebs car park 50 metres away. Her disability? She was deaf in both ears! Admitted she had no balance issues but because she wore hearing aids she was classed as disabled so she would use her badge!

My sister's eldest was diagnosed with aspergers long before this change came in and she used to say taking him shopping with 2 normal, was a nightmare until she thought "sod it". She got the harness and reins out, even tied him into the trolley (around 2010!) No one told her off, if anything, at least she was keeping him under control!

I know of a woman who had dementia and to be honest, you didn't want to be around her when she was parking, but unless they are caught in the act, what can you say?

There are hidden disabilities, not saying there isnt, but blue badge is not the colour for it, and not.sure if wide bay's should be either, they are wide so that those with poor mobility can have more space to get out of the car.

You really need to educate yourself as to why disability benefits and blue badges are now issued to those with mental health difficulties and also for deaf people. It’s not just a question of how far you can walk. It’s the manner in which you walk, whether you have pain, whether you need help from someone else, and whether you are safe while doing so. Mental health difficulties present safety issues, all of which are taken into consideration. I thought arrogant uneducated opinions like this were a thing of the past.

Good post, Pammie!

I was thinking about my reply, and trying to be polite when you posted.
Unfortunately, arrogant, uneducated and judgemental opinions are not a thing of the past. You only have to look at this thread.

Walk a day in my shoes!

cornergran

Yes, calli it was for people under state retirement age. I understand it’s been superseded by universal credit which has its own raft of complexities and is again for those under retirement age.

Living with any impairment (I hold to the social model of disability, people have impairments it is the structure of society that disables them) is challenging, painful and often distressing. Sometimes people simply run out of the energy to deal with barriers, whether that be a flight of steps, a quietly spoken shop assistant, a toilet queue or an able bodied person who challenges their need to park in a specific spot.

While a Blue Badge can’t fix everything, it can and does give the freedom to live a life closer to that lived by people who are not impaired. I’m grateful for mine and honestly fear the renewal process in case my deteriorating condition no longer ticks all the boxes.

PIP isn’t one of the benefits superseded by UC. It’s a stand alone disability benefit along with child DLA and attendance allowance. DLA is paid up to the age of 16 and then PIP replaces it while you are of working age - if you claim it before retirement age you can continue to claim after age 66 for as long as you qualify. Attendance allowance is for those claiming after retirement age, but unfortunately it doesn’t include a mobility component so can’t qualify you for a blue badge in itself, but the award should be taken into account in the local authority assessment.

If you qualify for the PIP mobility component from the moving around category at either the standard or enhanced rates, or are awarded on mental health grounds from descriptor E in the planning a journey category, it should automatically qualify you for the blue badge without any further assessment from your local authority. The problem with PIP is that the thresholds for qualifying are set very high and a lot of claimants who have substantial disability fail to do so for various reasons.

For those I think the problem people are having is that the assessment isn’t standardised - each council has its own rules for the blue badge. About time it was standardised in my opinion.

We have a lady at our church who uses her deceased husband’s blue badge. She has no mobility issues, but gets very irate if there is no disabled parking space available when she arrives (usually late)!

Sawitch

We have a lady at our church who uses her deceased husband’s blue badge. She has no mobility issues, but gets very irate if there is no disabled parking space available when she arrives (usually late)!

I’ve come across this before - the person was caught because they continued to display the badge after it had expired. They returned to the car one day and were confronted by a traffic warden who asked to see the badge details, and then asked where the badge holder was !! What followed was prosecution (it’s fraud and therefore a criminal offence) and £1000 fine. You might want to communicate this to her as a cautionary tale.

Sawitch

We have a lady at our church who uses her deceased husband’s blue badge. She has no mobility issues, but gets very irate if there is no disabled parking space available when she arrives (usually late)!

That is absolutely disgusting. She is taking a space a genuine disabled person may need. Has she no conscience? No point in going to church in that case. She may get away with it there but elsewhere she would get a hefty fine and quite rightly so. If I sound sanctimonious this is something I feel very strongly about. She should have handed the badge back. If it is by chance hers then her photo will be on it.

Marydoll

Good post, Pammie!

I was thinking about my reply, and trying to be polite when you posted.
Unfortunately, arrogant, uneducated and judgemental opinions are not a thing of the past. You only have to look at this thread.

Walk a day in my shoes!

It’s the walking a day in my shoes that most people ignore isn’t it ? They only see the things that blue badges and various disability benefits confer, but never seem to stop and ask themselves would they want the disability that goes with them. For example the poster who was criticising the issue of BBs to those with mental health difficulties doesn’t seem to understand that they have to meet a very high bar of eligibility. Same with the disability benefits which give automatic qualification for BB. The only PIP descriptor which gives automatic BB qualification for mental health problems is descriptor E in the planning and following a journey category and it requires the claimant to be unable to undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress. Even then it would only result in a standard award of PIP mobility unless there were other physical mobility problems. Contrary to popular belief, these things aren’t issued easily and evidence of disability is always a requirement.

Blue badges should be mobility only, I have never heard anything so ridiculous. A different colour for other types! Let's give a specific colour for a specific illness then there will be no guessing or asking what that persons disability is. Is that what you really want?

Judy54

Blue badges should be mobility only, I have never heard anything so ridiculous. A different colour for other types! Let's give a specific colour for a specific illness then there will be no guessing or asking what that persons disability is. Is that what you really want?

Ha,ha! I would need multiple badges!!🤣

Marydoll

Judy54

Blue badges should be mobility only, I have never heard anything so ridiculous. A different colour for other types! Let's give a specific colour for a specific illness then there will be no guessing or asking what that persons disability is. Is that what you really want?

Ha,ha! I would need multiple badges!!🤣

Or one with stripes or blocks of different colours Seriously though, is grading badges so different to stars and triangles used for identification in another time and place? All anybody needs to know is that the holder qualifies for the concessions that the blue badge offers. My teenaged grandson with severe autism and learning difficulties (amongst other co-morbidities) isn't safe to take himself to the end of the road, let alone be capable of getting a bus anywhere on his own. He qualifies for a blue badge for that alone, never mind his hypermobile joints and awkward gait.

I know in the past there were people who conned the system, but I truly think those abuses are long gone, and instead some people who need the assistance of a blue badge are being denied.

Or one with stripes or blocks of different colours : Rosie, that is a brilliant idea. 😉

Judy54

Blue badges should be mobility only, I have never heard anything so ridiculous. A different colour for other types! Let's give a specific colour for a specific illness then there will be no guessing or asking what that persons disability is. Is that what you really want?

Please please , before posting against mental health problems being included in the mobility allowance and blue badge schemes, head over to the many websites which detail the numerous mobility issues connected with mental health and cognitive conditions. Ignorance is no excuse for posts like these.

I don't know why you've quoted Judy's post, as I read it she's against any difference of badges.