Published on 12, July, 2020
Hello,
I live in London and recently became aware of the disability freedom pass and that those with autism are eligible to receive one. I was just wondering if I needed to have more requirements than simply being autistic to receive it, while I do face challenges being out in the public, I did not think they'd allow me to have a freedom pass because I do not suffer from a physical disability and I'm relatively high functioning. Does anyone know if these would be barriers to obtaining a pass?
You are describing being unable to drive because of your medical condition.
You can get a bus pass by writing to dvla telling them this, who will confirm you are unsafe to drive. This letter or a similar letter from GP or specialist will be all the council need. (Dvla may need doctors letter)
NHS separately can provide patient transport (timing can turn a short appointment into a long day) if the above is explained.(Although only for nhs hospital appointments)
Sadly not for a lot of things. Social services refuse to assess. PIP refuse to help. On my own with everything and the bill for it.
Ps I am so called high functioning and even come across as NT, but have to make adjustments for myself. For example you might need access to a loo in order to have a quiet place to calm down or have a cry. you might find busy buses or crowded areas overwhelming, you might go into a meltdown and need to state that you have an unseen disability. Etc
All you need to provide is evidence that you are autistic.
Hi James, it's not social care actually. the only thing I need help with is accessing medical care and managing medical anxiety and to a smaller extent possibly transport, but there isn;t any help anywhere. Social care won;t consider even assessing me. I have been able to access an advocate but it took me days on the phone and a three week wait to organise one doctor's appointment with an advocate.
the thousands I've spent is on autism informed counselling predominantly because I cannot get any support within the NHS.
If general medical ever have to do anything to me, I am going to need a shed load of support that isn't available anywhere, unless at that point I employ a temporary autism informed carer...I haven't run into that problem yet, but I'm getting older and sooner or later.
I tried PIP. They rejected it. :-( I'm forking out thousands for support here...
Watching this one with interest...
Transport is huge for me. I got a driving licence after many tries at 18 but haven't driven since I was 19 because objects were never where I saw them and it was getting dangerous. I'm now 57. I can't ride a bike either 'cos I can't co-ordinate the pedals or balance.
Public transport with all its sensory demands is exhausting for me, yet I have to do it. Even so, there is no public transport in our area after about 9 at night, so I'm kind of scuppered if I want to go any where.
A freedom pass would help, but I'd still have to find £ for taxis after 9.
As I'm getting older, I'm considering a mobility scooter - if - BIG IF - I can manoeuvre that. It's not that I can't walk, it's just that some places are too far to walk to, or involve walking through unsafe areas and I have no other transport.
There is so much I want to do now and can't because I can't get there :-(