I have aspergers in Kent and I want to know if I am eligable for the free bus passes. The guide they give for who is eligable is unclear if ASD counts as "a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes a significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning" or not.
That's yet another example of outrageous bypassing of conditions by the council then. Obviously as the autistic population/awareness of autistic issues has grown they have tried to find loopholes to avoid assisting people. Surely this is discrimination under the Equality Act 2010?
I keep coming back to this stemming from central government, perhaps secret directives to avoid diagnosing people where they can and those that do have a diagnosis to re-word anything that would be classed as a support to avoid giving that support. What use is the Autism Act, the Autism Strategy and Rewarding & Fulfilling Lives if there is corruption at the very heart of things. It's all lip service.
I note the NHS does not recognise Scotopic Sensitivity (Mears Irlen Syndrome) as a condition, I have it and sounds like you have it too. The system is cruel. I am lucky I can drive, but if I had to travel out of town I would have to use public transport as I couldn't do it driving. If I didn't drive I would be housebound. There need to be very specific laws about autism support.
IntenseWorld said:[/quote]What about people who haven't specifically been banned from obtaining a driving licence from a condition, but have Asperger's and feel too anxious to take lessons or have severe traits that mean they cannot cope with the driving instructions? Also, even once you have your licence your condition can fluctuate.
You would then argue that you have a disability which makes driving unsafe. Some of us find that our sensory issues would make driving impossible - in my case, headlights are physically painful and too much noise causes sensory overload.
I am banned for other reasons. I was told earlier this year that I've chosen not to drive (technically, true) and am entitled to a driving licence. (not true in the slightest) My consultant claims otherwise.[/quote]
But that's my point, the criteria for bus passes should (perhaps do?) incorporate a disability preventing you having a licence as instructed by your GP/clinician, in the same way.
So your ban was based on your consultant's information, then why have they bothered telling you it's your choice?
[/quote]
The wording has changed and the council were instructed to reject anyone who tried to apply for a bus pass on the grounds of sight impairment - that was previously known as partial sight. They argued that because I wear glasses, I can see well enough to drive. That's not the case at all. Many blind people wear glasses. They'd argued with no medical evidence that I can drive. No idea where that came from - my parents were told when I was 3, I would never legally drive and it was confirmed when I turned 18.
Going back to the OP:
You'd have to meet the whole criteria - social functioning. significant impairment of intelligence and arrested development of mind. That's more aimed at someone who is low functioning.
As mentioned before, if you have a driving licence, you won't qualify.
Personally if you are able to drive/have a licence/can afford a car I don't know why anyone would want to get on a bus. I have had some terrible experiences on buses, they let anyone on, including unstable (and dangerous) people, filthy, drunken tramps reeking of urine and aggressive people. I feel very claustrophobic on buses if there are a lot of people as well and I get very stressed. I even once had a maniac bus driver refuse to let me off the bus when I was on the way to collect my daughter from school after she broke her arm!! I haven't got a bus for years and I don't intend to again if I can help it. I feel safe in a car and don't have to worry about problems from other people alongside me.
stranger said:What about people who haven't specifically been banned from obtaining a driving licence from a condition, but have Asperger's and feel too anxious to take lessons or have severe traits that mean they cannot cope with the driving instructions? Also, even once you have your licence your condition can fluctuate.You would then argue that you have a disability which makes driving unsafe. Some of us find that our sensory issues would make driving impossible - in my case, headlights are physically painful and too much noise causes sensory overload.
I am banned for other reasons. I was told earlier this year that I've chosen not to drive (technically, true) and am entitled to a driving licence. (not true in the slightest) My consultant claims otherwise.[/quote]
But that's my point, the criteria for bus passes should (perhaps do?) incorporate a disability preventing you having a licence as instructed by your GP/clinician, in the same way.
So your ban was based on your consultant's information, then why have they bothered telling you it's your choice?
What about people who haven't specifically been banned from obtaining a driving licence from a condition, but have Asperger's and feel too anxious to take lessons or have severe traits that mean they cannot cope with the driving instructions? Also, even once you have your licence your condition can fluctuate.
You would then argue that you have a disability which makes driving unsafe. Some of us find that our sensory issues would make driving impossible - in my case, headlights are physically painful and too much noise causes sensory overload.
I am banned for other reasons. I was told earlier this year that I've chosen not to drive (technically, true) and am entitled to a driving licence. (not true in the slightest) My consultant claims otherwise.
This is a very interesting discussion.
A representative of Healthwatch classed me as having a learning disability and I have Asperger's. she could of course have misunderstood what AS is, and I did find it slightly offensive personally, especially as my emails were clearly not written by someone with a learning disability.
But I think that I misunderstood what a learning disability is. A learning disability can refer to any ordinary skill, so we do have learning disability in some areas, such as socially. I doubt they'd be able to discriminate because of the specifics of the learning disability.
It says this on this website:
http://www.autism.org.uk/about-autism/related-conditions/learning-disabilities.aspx
What are learning disabilities?
"People with autism can have different 'degrees' of learning disability, which can affect all aspects of their life, from studying in school to learning how to wash themselves or make a meal. Some people will be able to live fairly independently - although they may need a degree of support to achieve this - while others may require lifelong, specialist support.
People with a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome do not usually have accompanying learning disabilities, but may still have specific learning difficulties - such as dyslexia - or other related conditions such as ADHD or epilepsy.
If someone has a learning difficulty (as opposed to a learning disability), this means that they have difficulties in a specific area, for example someone with dyslexia will have difficulties recognising words, reading or writing."
I have a lot of trouble with maths, have always found it incredibly difficult and scored very low in all tests. I would definitely class that deficit as a learning disability.
You may also find this website interesting:
http://www.outsider-insight.org.uk/content/aspergers-learning-disability
On this NHS website they do include Asperger's as a learning disability:
http://www.tavistockandportman.nhs.uk/learningdisabilitiesaspergersautism
"The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust
Leaders in mental health care and Education
A diagnosis of a complex learning disability, including autism or Asperger’s, can have a profound impact upon the whole family. Although families have often already seen a number of professionals, some can remain confused about the situation and for many the diagnosis itself can be traumatic."
I have a driving licence, but I cannot drive outside of areas I know, and am on hyper-alert a lot of the time when I am driving. I also have to be very careful as if I drive after going out/having to be somewhere social I struggle not to zone out when I am driving home.
What about people who haven't specifically been banned from obtaining a driving licence from a condition, but have Asperger's and feel too anxious to take lessons or have severe traits that mean they cannot cope with the driving instructions? Also, even once you have your licence your condition can fluctuate.
The DVLA list Asperger's as one of those things you shouldn't drive if your GP tells you you shouldn't.
My opinion is that AS would (or should) count, so make your application giving very full information on the limitations of you driving/starting driving again.
stranger said:You certainly won't get a bus pass if you drive. With the exception of those with severe walking disabilities, all other people who are entitled to a bus pass, can't legally drive.
Aspergers isn't a learning disability. You're too high functioning to be classed as having a learning disability.
It definately impacts on social functioning
You certainly won't get a bus pass if you drive. With the exception of those with severe walking disabilities, all other people who are entitled to a bus pass, can't legally drive.
Aspergers isn't a learning disability. You're too high functioning to be classed as having a learning disability.
stranger said:That's more for lower functioning people on the spectrum, I think.
You can also get a bus pass if you've been (or would be) refused a driving licence due to health for reasons other than drug and /or alcohol abuse.
I've got a driving licence and i can drive so that route is out. I just would like to know if aspergers definately does count as sufficiant under the learning disability critera.
