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?
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 :-(
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...