disabled parking badges

[bednobs]

i was reading this story today http://www.bbc.co.uk/...nd-berkshire-19215320 and i couldn't decide whether i agree with the council or the mum. I have seen people very vociferous on disabled badge entitlement on here before and wondered what you all thought?

[sherrardk]

I read this a couple of days ago and it's a tricky one. He could 'kick off' anywhere so maybe the mum should have the stuff she uses to calm him down with her all the time. But, a blue badge doesn't cost anyone anything so why not give her one to make her life easier?

[mrs_overall]

While I feel sympathy for the mum in this case, I have to side with the council

[bednobs]

I thought the first thing sherrard - if she has to get back to the car for a drink, why doesn't she just put it in her handbag?

[mrs_overall]

What are your thoughts on this one bednobs?

[sherrardk]

Maybe she could get her shopping delivered - it was overly-emotive, the way they mentioned about how little she was compared to how big he was.

[RATTER15]

I now work with people with autism and other challenging behaviours, some of the client will do similar things to those in the article and will also attack members of the public, they dont have any entitlement to disabled badges either. We would however ensure that there is one person trained in physical intervention either side of any clients likely to cause a disturbance or a threat, never would we take them out alone, it seems to me that this lady needs to get the assistance of the local authority to see if she can get trained support workers to assist when taking this guy out in public, she clearly needs additional support. No I don't think it is a disabled badge that he needs, its more assistance from qualified and trained support workers.

[bednobs]

i am really stuck in the middle. I think i agree with the council

[Prudie]

I also agree with the decision. These spaces are not usually in large supply and are there for those with physical disabilities to ease their way to their destination, If she has items that calm him then as said she should keep them with her. The line has to be drawn somewhere.

[dotty.]

makes little sense, West Lancs council built my brother's an entire 3 room extension for his autistic son to help them care for him, he is physically very similar to this boy too. Actually I am sure they have a blue badge for him too.

[Mamyalynne]

This is a very difficult one, as the Grandmother to two boys on the Autistic spectrum (Nothing as severe as this) , try to picture a six stone woman with a shopping trolley and also restraining an eighteen stone man from either running off into traffic or similar. Each case must be treated individually.

[Mamyalynne]

Each council has their own guidelines.

[dotty.]

yes i guess, and it was about 15 years ago they built it, Stephen is 20 this year, they were told when he was diagnosed he may only live into his 20s.

[sherrardk]

Dotty - your nephew must have medical issues besides autism if they have given him a limited life expectancy, maybe that's why he was eligible for the extension (and maybe the blue badge)?

[dotty.]

yes he has, quite a few, didn't stop him auditioning for simon cowell and I think he's trying again. The conditon he has is numbers and letters. B something

[sherrardk]

Good to hear he is not letting his 'condition' (sorry, didn't know what else to put) hold him back. Takes some confidence doing that once, let alone twice.

[237SJ]

I`m with the council on that one. The blue badge should be (and is) for people who don`t have the mobility to walk very far.

[dotty.]

personally, (and yes it's tough having small children), i think the family bays are wrong, we went shopping with 3 kids and managed, never occurred to us it was easier or harder than anyone else to park up and do the weekly shop 30 years ago. my mum left us 4 at home with dad on a saturday when she went shopping and carried it all home on the bus cos we had no car. now young families all go shopping together like it's a day out and expect to park outside the store.

[bednobs]

actually, perhaps she should park in the parent/child spaces

[Hopkirk]

She wouldn't half get some stick then!

[Barmaid]

As a step parent of a child with serious learning disabilities and on the autistic spectrum, I am inclined to agree with the Council!

I am at a loss to understand with this family how it matters where she parks the car. With us, we have to park in the same place if it is a car park we use regularly - if we can't park in that place, that's no problem, I get out of the car with step son and say "dad will park the car". I still don't see why she needs a disabled sticker.