Blue Badge scheme extended to hidden disabilities - Driving Mobility comment

Helen Dolphin MBE, Chair of a regional Driving Mobility centre, comments on behalf of the national charity to Sky News.
Full story: www.drivingmob...
People with hidden disabilities will soon be able to access Blue Badge parking permits, thanks to the roll out of new guidance today (Saturday, June 15)
For drivers or passengers with dementia, anxiety disorders or reduced mobility, anticipating difficulty travelling, such as trouble finding a parking space, can result in a build-up of stress on top of the stress of the journey itself.
The new guidance, which represents the biggest change to the scheme since the 1970s, will offer a lifeline to people who often find road travel difficult by providing better access to work and other amenities, while also helping combat loneliness by helping them stay connected to family and friends.
The expanded scheme coincides with the launch of a new task force to toughen up enforcement and help councils tackle fraudulent use of the badges.
Driving Mobility is the National Voice for accessible driving. As a registered charity, Driving Mobility accredits a network of 20 driving assessment centres covering the whole of the UK. Many with outreach facilities, these centres include independent charities and NHS centres which offer professional information and assessment so disabled and elderly people can gain or retain independence.
Driving Mobility ensures that there are common standards, promotes good practice and offers training and education to all regional centres, whilst working closely with associated national organisations. These include the Department for Transport, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, Driver and Vehicle Agency (NI), Motability and the Police, along with many other valued stakeholders.
Driving Mobility is privileged to have Baroness Thomas of Winchester as their patron, and is supported by HM Government. www.drivingmob...

[@pyewaket1]

My mother had lung cancer and walking was very difficult. People would threaten her when she parked with her blue badge because you cant see lung cancer and they presumed she was not disabled.

[@sheilanixon913]

In Salisbury , the jealous County Councillors have reduced the number of disabled parking bays and are making us pay , to use the disabled parking bays . Result -- the Disabled people like me are parking on single yellow lines , and not in Car Parks. I may look OK , but i have severe breathing problems due to 84 years of Asthma, and have difficulty getting in and out of cars due to a back injury 30 years ago when I was teaching. I do not drive any more, but use my disabled badge when a family member drives me there. Funny I can use my badge all over Germany for free , but not in Wiltshire, !

[@Partyanimal1066]

the person with the Blue Badge doesn’t award it to themself ,they apply for a Blue Badge and it’s up to the local authorities to decide whether they fit the criteria in order to have one. It’s the people who are assessing the potential holder of a badge that all this criticism should be aimed at,not the person who is applying. Nobody knows or understands what some people are going through ,which is why there should be a more intense interview of the person applying,.

[@HighTen_Melanie]

Having a blue badge absolutely won’t help you find a parking space! I find there are fewer spaces and more people looking for them.

[@MalcolmHudson-k4i]

There are not enough spaces for physical disabilities. Walking wounded should be escorted by relatives/friends not take up spaces for genuine need.

[@jamesstokes4585]

Then leave the disabled bays for the people that can't walk

[@acrobaticcripple8176]

I NEED a disabled parking bay. I CANNOT bend enough to get in and out of my car without opening the door WIDE. Despite using crutches and experiencing pain, I CAN walk. WHY do we have to rely on ignorant NON- DISABLED people, for the main part, to make decisions about BB parking. I don't care if I have to pay, I don't care if the space is 2 or 300 yards away from the shop. What I need is ACCESS. I also suffer from mental problems, but those don't make it more difficult to park my car! The whole system has gone pear shaped. If a disability is invisible, the sufferer DOESN'T need the extra space.

[@A.B.J.-vw5ne]

The last 3 times I have had to prove myself. I have it now for 3 years. I will be 83 if I am able to drive, I suppose I will have to be assessed again.