Blue Badge Rule Change To Allow For People With Hidden Disabilities

[Deskdiary]

Do people who are anxious really need to be able to park a bit closer to the shops?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/08/29/parking-permits-extended-people-hidden-disabilities/

[Mamyalynne]

Once you have seen the anxiety present itself in a severely autistic child (sometimes a strapping teenager) or an elderly person with dementia when you help them from a car then you may understand a little more.

They may throw themselves to the floor or cling on to any available street furniture in real panic, making even a short journey a nightmare.

Just one example.

No one is suggesting you qualify for a blue badge because you feel a bit down.

The oversimplification expressed here is alarming.

[spathiphyllum]

If they have dementia or autism then it's not simply an anxiety disorder it's a cocktail of complication.

I'm solely talking about anxiety.

[sherrardk]

What you’re actually doing is solely talking out of your ***.

[pastafreak]

It would remove the fear and worry over just how far id need to walk...the fear of what was the unknown. Anxiety can mean constantly living in fear.

Here's a bit of reading for you...

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/anxiety-and-panic-attacks/panic-attacks/#.XWkMrnvTWf0

[spathiphyllum]

Thanks but no thanks. I'm well aware of anxiety.

Do you drive pasta?

[Spicerack]

I don't normally like censorship, spath, but I think it's time you reported some of these posts to you. Way OTT.

[spathiphyllum]

Water off a baby ducks back.

[pastafreak]

//I'm well aware of anxiety//
I beg to differ. You display very little awareness.

[NellieMay]

Gness, as I said earlier, I am an acute anxiety sufferer and absolutely understand. I don't need to be told about mental health issues.
But being a blue badge user and having to fight long and hard to get one even with multiple problems I can not see how it will benefit anxiety sufferers. Basically, all they do is give you extra space. In fact often disability spaces are no nearer to where you are going. I havee years of experience of using mine. There are simply not enough spaces blue badge spaces.

[spathiphyllum]

"I beg to differ. You display very little awareness."

Do you drive though?

[anotheoldgit]

It amazes me that some can't walk the short distance from the car-park to the supermarket entrance, yet once inside will walk around the store for 1/2 hour or more.

[sherrardk]

Maybe, for some, the anxiety comes from trying to find a parking space, getting parked in that space and then remembering exactly where the car is parked?

[spathiphyllum]

Unless they're with a carer... It amazes me that people of driving age can drive to the supermarket, but are unable to walk from the car to the shop door. (that is the only thing a blue badge would help, regarding anxiety)

I mean.. there is already a shortage of blue spaces.. So giving someone the hope of being able to find one, but not actually being guaranteed a space, surely would make people even more anxious?

Especially with the knowledge of how many more people are able to apply for the blue badge.

[Sqad]

I am not wholly in favour of this change.
People who are NOT disabled and are not displaying the Blue Badge, often park in the disabled spots and if challenged regularly give one verbal abuse.
Disable parking spots are already at a premium.
I thought that disabled meant...physically disabled but now i gather that it envelops mentally disabled of which, depending on the definition of mentally disabled,invokes millions and makes the parking spots at a a greater premium.

Yes many mental disorders would qualify for the term disabled, but in my opinion they are in the minority. A change of this kind will in my opinion lead to chaos and i disapprove.

[NellieMay]

Spicerack I agree completely. In fact I would go as far as to say he gets bullied. He is entitled to his views. I thought this site was moderated. Obviously not very well.

[gness]

Nellie..... I used a Blue Badge for ten years to drive my husband.

Even the times I did have a problem through lack of spaces wouldn’t make me want to deny a person with mental health problems a badge if it made their life a little easier and helped on the road to recovery...x

[NellieMay]

Thank you Sqad. You back up my thoughts.

[spathiphyllum]

I'm not being bullied it's all OK

[bainbrig]

To repeat... the key to this is strict ENFORCEMENT of Blue Badge regulations.

Everyone with a physical or mental disability should have help contending with Britain’s appalling parking.

Conversely, everyone abusing the system should have their licence revoked.

More police please! I don’t mind paying towards them.

BillB

[NellieMay]

Gness. Anxiety is rife. I would like to know how the average person with anxiety will benefit from a blue badge. I am not talking all mental illness. How are they going to assess how anxious someone is to approve a badge! Well nigh impossible. There are simply not enough disability spaces to cope.