Blue badge discrimination
18 September 2018
New laws will see blue badges issued to those with hidden disabilities, but councils already have discretionary powers to give the parking permits to those with autism and mental health problems. Here we show how some councils still refuse to use this discretion and insist on seeing disability as a purely physical issue. Darren Devine reports.
It was heralded as a momentous shift in government policy finally signalling that the moment when those with hidden disabilities would be given parity of treatment with wheelchair users had arrived.
“While one set of officials has decided his disabilities are so severe he is entitled to a Motability car, another say they don’t impair him enough to give him a blue badge.”
In the summer, the government announced plans to change the law so those with autism and mental health conditions would benefit from the blue badge parking scheme.
Those with physical disabilities already benefit from this scheme that allows people to park closer to their destination, including on double yellow lines.Charities like the National Autistic Society (NAS) had long campaigned for the change to help relieve pressure on families that can end up isolated by overwhelming challenges.
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