UK charities supporting individuals with autism and mental health conditions have welcomed government plans to introduce blue badge parking permits for those with “hidden disabilities”.Well, good. There are lots of conditions that do not result in any obvious visual cue that a person is disabled & cannot walk far.
In what marks the largest overhaul of the current system in 40 years, the Department for Transport has confirmed that, from 2019, those with unseen disabilities will now be granted permits enabling them to park closer to their destinations.Good work!
Transport minister Jesse Norman said: “Blue badges are a lifeline for disabled people, giving them the freedom and confidence to get to work and visit friends independently.
“The changes we have announced today will ensure that this scheme is extended equally to people with hidden disabilities so that they can enjoy the freedoms that many of us take for granted.”Bravo! Are you going to mention some of these hidden disabilities, so that people can see how much of a change this is going to be?
Having recognised that people with mental health problems often struggle with the same travel issues as the physically disabled, the government has now moved to accommodate individuals with less obvious disabilities.Wait, hang on. 'Mental health'..? What the hell has that got to do w...
Oh, FFS!
Under the new criteria, those eligible for a parking permit include individuals who cannot make a journey without “a risk of serious harm to their health or safety”, or that of others, and those for whom journeys cause “very considerable psychological distress”, such as people with autism.I give up, I really do! This is going to be even worse than the 'mums vs wheelchairs' war!
Whilst accepting that there are indeed hidden disabilities, extending this to those with 'mental health' issues opens up a whole new avenue for fraud with people talking up their conditions in order to get free parking.
ReplyDeleteSo someone with a special parking badge might well be a danger to me? I will be sure to avoid them whenever I can, in future.
ReplyDeleteAll the BBC's victims (terrorists) have a mental illness, and a blue badge will let them get their stabbers and bombs closer to where they want to harm people.
ReplyDeleteIf they have mental health issues what the hell are they doing driving............
ReplyDeleteIf they have mental health issues, how do they relate to the use of their legs?
ReplyDeleteGreat, so the blue badge spots will be clogged up by fat benefit fraudsters who've been on the social for two decades with 'depression' and that special kind of agoraphobia which prevents you going out to work but not to the pub.
ReplyDeleteMC
"...a whole new avenue for fraud ..."
ReplyDeleteOh, indeed! It's going to cause some headscratching in the legal departments, for sure!
"So someone with a special parking badge might well be a danger to me?"
Heh! Didn't think of that. :)
"Great, so the blue badge spots will be clogged up by fat benefit fraudsters who've been on the social for two decades with 'depression' and that special kind of agoraphobia which prevents you going out to work but not to the pub. "
LOL! Spot on!