Motorists with hidden disabilities such as autism and dementia could soon be eligible for a disabled blue badge, following a new public consultation.
The measures, if enacted, “would herald the most significant changes since the blue badge was introduced in 1970” according to the Department for Transport, creating “parity” between mental and physical health – a key Conservative party manifesto commitment.
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There are currently around 2.4 million blue badge permits in the England. These allow their holders to park for free on streets with parking meters, in dedicated blue badge spaces and on single or double yellow lines for up to three hours.
Some benefits – such as the High Rate Disability Living Allowance and the War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement – provide automatic eligibility for a blue badge. Other hidden conditions however, such as autism, dementia and myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), “are not in themselves a qualification for a badge” unless the person applying for one is “unable to walk" or has "very considerable difficulty in walking, in addition to their condition.”
The consultation document highlights that while some local authorities issue badges to people with non-physical disabilities, others are “unwilling to issue a badge if the condition does not manifest itself physically.”
In light of this, the consultation will examine the wording of the phrase “very considerable difficulty in walking” to determine if mental disabilities should also allow people to qualify under that clause, or whether the clause itself should be rewritten.
Announcing the consultation, Transport Minister Jesse Norman said: “We want to try to extend this to people with invisible disabilities, so they can enjoy the freedom to get out and about.”
The plans were welcomed by Sarah Lambert, head of policy at the National Autistic Society, who said: “There are an estimated 700,000 autistic people in the UK and whilst every person on the autism spectrum is different, for some, not being able to park in a predictable place close to a destination can cause a great deal of anxiety and put their safety at risk.”
Some concerns remain about blue badges being misused, however. The consultation document highlights there is a “significant amount of badge misuse”. Back in 2016 the Department for Transport revealed an 84 per cent surge in prosecutions for the offence – mostly concerning people using someone else’s badge.
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