The government is consulting on widening the criterial for blue badges so that claimants with hidden such as dementia and autism are more likely to be eligible.
Transport Minister Jesse Norman said:
“Blue badges give people with disabilities the freedom to get jobs, see friends or go to the shops with as much ease as possible.
“We want to try to extend this to people with invisible disabilities, so they can enjoy the freedom to get out and about, where and when they want.”
Sarah Lambert, Head of Policy at the National Autistic Society, said:
“The National Autistic Society welcomes this government proposal. It could mean that many more autistic people will qualify for a Blue Badge, which can be a lifeline.
“There are an estimated 700,000 autistic people in the UK and whilst every person on the autism spectrum is different, for some, not being able to park in a predictable place close to a destination can cause a great deal of anxiety and put their safety at risk. Some autistic people can experience too much information from the environment around them on public transport, while other autistic people might not be aware of dangers on the road.”
You can read the consultation document and give your views on this page.
