Blue Badge Parking

[Plenty]

Great idea - but like PIP benefits, will people with brain injuries apply and get turned down.

What do you write in the section 4 of the application form? to help brain injured applicants receive the blue badge?

[Plenty]

Headway link for blue badge

headway.org.uk/news-and-cam...

[john-boy-92]

I can't remember page 4. However, there is a question on whether you would be safe in a car park or crossing a road. For people with a brain injury, stroke, partial sight loss, anxiety, difficulty with crowds, that answer is likely to be no.

[Plenty in reply to john-boy-92]

It’s asking for examples.

Please give examples of when you have been a risk near vehicles, in traffic or car parks

[john-boy-92 in reply to Plenty]

A stroke means that my brain does not process visual images on the right from each eye. The example that I used in the application was using a traffic light controlled pedestrian crossing that showed a green light to cross. However, I had to be pulled back as a cyclist travelling at speed ignored the traffic lights and would have hit me. I also mentioned that I can't handle crowded areas in busy urban centres. It isn't always possible to be led by the hand on a pavement and, crossing the road can be an issue.

[Plenty in reply to john-boy-92]

But did that get you a blue parking badge?

[john-boy-92 in reply to Plenty]

You can only apply for hidden disability blue badges on and after 30 August, so I won't get a reply for between three and twelve weeks. The online application said that I could be eligible for a Blue Badge and allowed me to upload details of medication, diagnosis, ID etc.

[Marnie22 in reply to john-boy-92]

My disability is 'hidden' but I have had a blue badge for a while. I have the higher level allowance for mobility from PIP because of my severe fatigue and that obviously helped.

The blue badge has been so helpful to me, I hope brain injury applicants do apply and are treated fairly.

[Plenty]

Section 4. Questions.

Do you have a non-visible (hidden) condition or disability causing you to severely struggle with journeys between a vehicle and your destination?

YES or NO.

If yes, continue answering the questions below within this section so that we can understand what affects ​​you taking a journey.

Are you a risk near vehicles, in traffic or car parks?​​ Yes or No?

If you answered YES to the above;

When are you a risk?

Almost never.

​​Sometimes​​.

Almost every journey​​.

Every journey.

Please give examples of when you have been a risk near vehicles, in traffic or car parks

[HavingAlook1]

I have a brain injury and have got a blue badge, if I remember correctly I mainly used anxiety and getting tired easy.

So having a blue badge helped me massively when parking near entrances as I get tired quickly.

If you get to talk to the the people looking at the application, they are really helpful.

I also had a letter from a OT nurse saying it would be very helpful if I had one.

[Alb64]

My husband has a brain injury.Applied for blue badge as I drive.He has returned his license as he's unable to drive.Sent us for an assessment.Was told he was borderline.Badge refused.Had to send a letter and also one from doctor.When he gets out of car he needs door open wide to access vehicle.If a car is parked next to us he is unable to get in and isn't safe to leave him while I move car.He has no road sense and would wander off.Eventually got blue badge and can now take him out safely.

[Plenty]

One question is -

How would a blue badge improve taking a journey from your vehicle to your destination?

[john-boy-92]

My application for a hidden disabilities Blue Badge was successful.

[Plenty in reply to john-boy-92]

You were successful in getting a blue badge and you have a brain injury?

Do you know what information you put in the application?

[john-boy-92]

If you look at my reply 15 days ago I covered many of the things that I put in page 4. Within the evidence I listed my medication including Citalopram (for anxiety), my Esterman visual field test print out, DVLA assessment, that I'm "wait and watch" for prostate cancer (now awaiting on a fast track appointment) and my GP's name to confirm the medical diagnosis.

[Plenty in reply to john-boy-92]

Oh yes, sorry I didn’t see that you had previously replied.

Looks like they haven’t taken long to decide.