Disabled blue badges held by one in 15 adults
Discussion
My next door neighbour was awarded a Blue Badge a year or so ago. She has no significant diagnosed medical condition. I don t know on what basis it was granted and was quite surprised when she showed it off to us.
She s mid 70s and very active. After the loss of her husband a couple of years ago, who was much older, she has developed a perception of herself, reinforced by her effectively absent family, as an old lady in need of assistance. She also has managed to register herself as a vulnerable person with the council so her wheelie bins are collected and returned by the collection crew. She wheels the bins from their storage place in her back garden to her front door and then makes conversation with the operatives who take them from there before wheeling them herself back again. There are other manifestations, too. For example, her dog now wears a high vis jacket when he’s outside of the house with “Service dog” emblazoned on the side.
I m not in a position to comment with any authority but it certainly looks like it s a reflection of loneliness, attention seeking or an attempt to find meaning after the death of her husband. It s been quite fascinating really.
For the supercilious reader I should add we speak every day, text multiple times a day, she was here for dinner last night, the kids and I walk her dog every weekend (and will be this morning) and so on. She s a close friend.
Anecdotally you do seem to notice a lot of cars parked here, there and everywhere sporting Blue Badges in modern times.
She s mid 70s and very active. After the loss of her husband a couple of years ago, who was much older, she has developed a perception of herself, reinforced by her effectively absent family, as an old lady in need of assistance. She also has managed to register herself as a vulnerable person with the council so her wheelie bins are collected and returned by the collection crew. She wheels the bins from their storage place in her back garden to her front door and then makes conversation with the operatives who take them from there before wheeling them herself back again. There are other manifestations, too. For example, her dog now wears a high vis jacket when he’s outside of the house with “Service dog” emblazoned on the side.
I m not in a position to comment with any authority but it certainly looks like it s a reflection of loneliness, attention seeking or an attempt to find meaning after the death of her husband. It s been quite fascinating really.
For the supercilious reader I should add we speak every day, text multiple times a day, she was here for dinner last night, the kids and I walk her dog every weekend (and will be this morning) and so on. She s a close friend.
Anecdotally you do seem to notice a lot of cars parked here, there and everywhere sporting Blue Badges in modern times.
Edited by scenario8 on Monday 6th April 08:28
I wish them luck with that. The sort of person who uses a disabled badge when they don’t need it is the one that will scream discrimination if someone tries to take it away.
Example is my local gym. Lots of the disabled bays are filled by people who don’t want to walk but then go into the gym and start lifting weights. These same people then no doubt frequent the local shopping centres etc and block spaces for people that genuinely need them.
Example is my local gym. Lots of the disabled bays are filled by people who don’t want to walk but then go into the gym and start lifting weights. These same people then no doubt frequent the local shopping centres etc and block spaces for people that genuinely need them.
I applied for one as I have balance issues, arthritis and a dodgy knee. They turned me down as the evidence I supplied wasn’t sufficient even though it included a detailed report from a specialist saying that my mobility was impaired.
I have now got a letter from my doctor stating that I need one. I hope that works.
I have now got a letter from my doctor stating that I need one. I hope that works.
South tdf said:
Sporky said:
Irs quite possible to have strong arms but not be able to walk significant distances.
Trust me, having seen them walk up a flight of stairs then do a round of the gym or a spin class they do not need a badge. valiant said:
Not all disabilities are visible.
It would be interesting to see a breakdown of types of disability. Apparently I possibly could get one for IBS.
Thankfully my IBS isn't so bad that it stops me going out. I manage it. But I have to be up and about for an hour in the morning, before trusting a trip to the shops.
My wife got one just a few weeks ago. Her ankle are so screwed up with arthritis she can hardly climb the stairs at home.
It was a fairly simple procedure, fill in a form and go for an interview. As soon as the guy doing the interview saw her struggling to walk across the floor to his office it was obvious she’d get it.
On the other hand I have a friend who’s got one. Her condition isn’t a physical issue and she posts often about taking her dog walks in the woods. But there you go, there may be a medical reason for it somewhere.
Bill said:
6.5%, and probably mostly the elderly. And they struggle to get out...
My grandmother is in 80’s and now has mobility issues to the point she finds it hard to push a trolley round the shops etc but she won’t accept any help or a blue badge. Before anyone says she rejects our offers to help her unless she really needs it. South tdf said:
My grandmother is in 80 s and now has mobility issues to the point she finds it hard to push a trolley round the shops etc but she won t accept any help or a blue badge. Before anyone says she rejects our offers to help her unless she really needs it.
I think this is a good attitude and one I hope I can continue to have as I get older.I noticed a quick decline in my mother-in-law when she moved into a bungalow and also my Dad when he gave up his vegetable plot.
Use it or lose it.
South tdf said:
biggbn said:
Perhaps the badge is for another person, family member? It does not have to apply to the driver.
And this is the problem. Blue badges, Motabilty cars etc are meant to be used by disabled people, not their friends and family hence the crackdowns and public backlash. Sticks. said:
I don't know about the car, but I'm pretty sure you can't use her BB in that scenario.
Eg, you give me a lift to the shops and we use my BB. I go into the shop, fine. You go into the shop for me, not proper use of the BB.
You are correct.Eg, you give me a lift to the shops and we use my BB. I go into the shop, fine. You go into the shop for me, not proper use of the BB.
"The badge is for your use and benefit only. It must only be displayed if you are travelling in the vehicle as a driver or passenger, or if someone is collecting you or dropping you off and needs to park at the place where you are being collected or dropped.
Don’t allow other people to use the badge to do something on your behalf, such as shopping or collecting something for you."
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-blu...
Sticks. said:
Antony Moxey said:
No it isn t. My daughter has a mobility car but she can no longer drive so my wife and I chauffeur her around. However, should we need to get her meds from the local pharmacy we are perfectly entitled to use her car as we are using it for her benefit. She doesn t need to come with us.
I don't know about the car, but I'm pretty sure you can't use her BB in that scenario. Eg, you give me a lift to the shops and we use my BB. I go into the shop, fine. You go into the shop for me, not proper use of the BB.
As for the people at the gym mentioned earlier, report the badge to the issuing authority.
South tdf said:
And this is the problem. Blue badges, Motabilty cars etc are meant to be used by disabled people, not their friends and family hence the crackdowns and public backlash.
Absolutely... last year I tooted at a car parked across a pedestrian crossing point, driver was sitting there on their phone with a cigarette hanging from their face.We went and parked up in the car park which was literally 70yds up the road and popped in a couple of shops to pick up some bits and pieces.
Got back to the car to find the car I'd tooted at parked across the back end of my car. The driver (a late woman in her late 20s) jumped out and started screaming that she had a blue badge and could park where ever she wanted...
She then told me and Mrs S that we should get "educated" ... well that went down with Mrs S who has a Bachelors, Masters and PhD and supervises PhD students and chairs PhD Viva Voces when appropriate.... Cue a total verbal take down of a semi-feral, illiterate gobsh*te.
Despite this, the driver carried on screaming and being abusive... but rapidly jumped in her car when told that a blue badge doesn't give her the right to cause an obstruction and is for her use and not her boyfriend to jump out and pop in to the tobacconist to buy a bag of Golden Virginia instead of using the car park.
Meanwhile he was sat in the passenger seat looking rather sheepish whilst carrying on rolling up their next cigarette..
Whilst she was probably entitled to a blue card this was clearly someone who thought they were "entitled" to do what they want as a result...
Edited by Seesure on Friday 10th April 09:17
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