Blue badge application

Hi 

Since the law on blue badge application changed in August I decided to apply for my son. He is 17 over 6 foot severely autistic and has epilepsy. I applied to West Berks on 5.9.19 was asked for further documentation on 14th october which was sent on 17th at cost. proof of Pip, diagnosis, EHCP etc were all sent. So now I have a further form  dated 13.11.19 asking for a professional who has seen him in the last 12 months to complete but not sign. I only applied as he can have meltdowns or seizures and I am getting older as he is gaining strength and has no concept of danger. I feel like the whole process has been lengthy and they are just throwing more forms to delay as this form could have gone internally to social worker had they contacted me. Is anyone else experiencing difficulty?

  • Only if his Autism symptoms are such that it would justify a disabled badge. For example, my own autism symptoms would not justify a disabled badge but my youngest daughter's would due to her extreme lack of danger awareness and tendency to have meltdowns in random places!

  • Have you tried asking the GP to refer him to OT to assess him for a buggy for older children. My nephew who is 12 and has global developmental delay has one and I am going to ask for assessment for one for my youngest, not because they can't walk but because unfortunately, when children have certain disabilities it can mean that they can put themselves in dangerous situations, such as sitting down in the middle of the road and having a large buggy is helpful for us to be able to put them into rather than having to attempt to carry a child that is too big/heavy for us to carry.

  • Yes we will got some keys a while ago as it became awkward taking my son into female toilets if on my own. Great things.

  • I think you should try again. I did have an apology regarding the delay. Have had a professional complete the most recent form. I never applied before but now he is older and over 6 foot and prone to meltdowns I feel totally justified. 

  • I needed one, my son has asd, hypermobility and epilepsy. We gave up in the end. I'd have to carry him until I literally couldnt pick him up any longer

  • Yes I'd read this somewhere! Apparently it's the' hip' thing to be m asd!  I'd read a paper by a psychologist somewhere and was appalled. I can see why asd can be good but undiagnosed until now, my lifes been a nightmare so why youd want to clog up the system pretending to have asd I dont know. But then I dont understand alot of human behaviour 

  • Sorry to. Jump on your post and I'm sorry I have no advice but I'm currently putting in a dla claim for my son, asd diagnosis. Would I be entitled to a blue badge now? 

  • It seems as though they are making this far more complicated for you than it needs to be! I am thinking of applying for a Blue Badge, not for myself but for my youngest daughter who is Autistic and still preverbal as she has little danger awareness and will walk straight through the middle of a car park unless stopped. While she is little, it is reasonably easy to pick her up and take her to where she needs to go but this will get more difficult as she gets older and bigger! I hope you can get your Blue badge soon!

    On a positive note I did purchase a radar key for disabled toilets yesterday from our local tourist information centre. I need it as litlun can get under the door of a normal public toilet in under 2 seconds! The key was only £3.50 and apparently works on all disabled toilets nationwide. I didn't even need evidence of disability. Apparently anyone can buy one. Just thought that information might be useful for anyone who has a need for a disabled toilet key!

  • Like PIP Assessors! *Note the Irony*

  • I've been told that there's been a flurry of applications as everyone now (conveniently) classes themselves as autistic to get a badge - so they are having to sort the wheat from the chaff.     That means they are asking everyone for proof of disability - and there are a lot of fakers out there clogging up the system!

    Be patient - I'm sure you're just caught up in this annoying period.

  • I had to take a sabbatical from driving, because;

    1. Driving exacerbates my anxiety.

    2. I was no longer able to afford the maintenance of a car.

    The 'Blue Badge' proposal isn't for me, I'm afraid.

    Perhaps, there's a backlog in applications. Usually, changes in licencing laws result in that.