New guidance to ensure people with hidden disabilities such as autism qualify for a blue badge is being rolled out to councils.
People who cannot walk as part of a journey without “considerable psychological distress or the risk of serious harm” will now qualify for a badge.
Blue badges: people with autism will return to being eligible to use one
Perceived unfairness
The changes will address perceived unfairness. The system has been issuing badges automatically to those with physical challenges, but not learning disabilities, autism or mental health problems.
The badges allow those who hold them to park closer to their destination, including on double-yellow lines.
Changes to Government guidance in 2014 meant that some people with autism who previously had a blue badge no longer qualified.
Councils retained the right to issue badges to those with autism, learning disabilities and mental health problems on a discretionary basis.
But the new guidance is needed because some councils chose not to issue badges to those with hidden disabilities.
Blue badge guidance ‘life-changing’
Jane Harris is director of external affairs at the National Autistic Society (NAS). She said the new guidance could be “life-changing”.
NAS spokesperson Jane Harris says council officials must understand autism for new guidance on blue badges to work
However, not everyone with hidden disabilities will qualify. It will still be up to councils to decide if an applicant meets the eligibility criteria.
Harris added that for the new rules to work, council officials need to understand autism and how it affects people’s ability to travel around.
Appeals procedure
Anyone unhappy with a council’s decision can appeal to the authority itself. If that is unsuccessful, they can take their complaint to the local government ombudsman.
Families would have to show that the council had not followed the right procedure in reaching its decision.
Justin Tomlinson, Minister for Disabled People, said extending the guidance was a “watershed moment”.
The Department for Transport said as well as extending the scheme it was launching a review of blue badge fraud.
Related:
- Call for urgency in issuing blue badges
- Act over blue badges, government urged
- Adults lose right to blue parking badge
- Issue disabled badges now, charity says
- Call for end to worry of benefit change
- ‘Disgrace’ of slashed benefits
Published: 17 June 2019
