Which companies offer discounts for people with disabilities?

Kay.Samuels

My son is autistic and receives the high rate of care Disability Living Allowance.

I am on my journey to become debt free so am trying to spend carefully and wondered what companies offer discounts to people/families/children with disabilities? For example leisure activities at a discounted rate on being ahown proof of disability (like benefits/doctors letter)

Maybe you know of a link that would tell me, or have stumbled across a company you know does, any help is appreciated!

Indie_Kid

http://www.enabledpeople.co.uk/ may be of some use.

munchings-n-crunchings

Hello,

You can apply for a CEA card. It cost £5.50 and is valid for 1 year. The carer gets free admission to the cinema when accompanying the disabled person
http://www.ceacard.co.uk

You can also apply to the Family Fund.
http://www.familyfund.org.uk

They can give grants towards things like a trampoline, a new washing machine, driving lessons or a holiday.

Regards
Munchie

kingfisherblue

Chester Zoo lets carers in free with a disabled person. Legoland (and some other theme parks, I believe) stamp the hand of a disabled person and those in their group, allowing you to get onto the ride at the exit - not money saving, but it means that you don't queue for ages, which can be very important with some disabled children.

Have you had a benefits check? You might be able to claim Carer's Allowance and you should let Child tax Credits know, as your payments will probably increase.

It's also worth registering with your local Carer's Centre - they can give you lots of local information, as well as supporting you in your caring role. Our centre has recently started to give grants to carers (I understand the the PCT gave the grants before, but no one had ever heard of them!). The grants are designed to give you a break from your caring role. I know people who have a year pass to the cinema, gym membership, massages, cleaner, gardener, short break, etc. It's not for the children, but might benefit you.

Kay.Samuels

Thanks for all of your replies. :T

I will look into them all, I did not know that you could get a cinema pass that's great, I will also be checking out all the links and trying to find my local carer's centre (I know my town has one but not sure where it is), have never got round to dropping in but they sound like they could be a big help. Have never been to legoland but I bet my son would love it so will look into that too.

I do currently receive carer's allowance, and the extra element of CTC, they are such a help!

I have sent a form off only two days ago applying to family fund for driving lessons - I have heard they take quite a long while to process the claims but it would be such an amazing thing being able to get in a car with my son instead of our usual journeys which can be problematic.

munchings-n-crunchings

Just remembered.

You can apply for a Concessionary Travel card through your local council.
The grounds for your application will be learning / communication disability.

It will give your child free bus travel, and any local benefits to your area.

Bus travel is not always ideal, but sometimes it's useful, especially if car parking is an issue etc.
You might not get a lot of use from it, but it's worth having.

Regards

Munchie

Indie_Kid

munchings-n-crunchings wrote: »

Just remembered.

You can apply for a Concessionary Travel card through your local council.
The grounds for your application will be learning / communication disability.

It will give your child free bus travel, and any local benefits to your area.

Bus travel is not always ideal, but sometimes it's useful, especially if car parking is an issue etc.
You might not get a lot of use from it, but it's worth having.

Regards

Munchie

Some LAs also offer a companion pass with the bus pass too.

If your son travels on the train a lot, he can also apply for a disabled persons' railcard. You pay £18 for a year or £48 for 3 years. He gets 1/3 off and so does a companion.

vivatifosi

Hi Kay,

I work for a local library and we also offer a range of services for carers and disabled members of the library in order to ensure our reach is as broad as possible. What you are entitled to will vary from authority to authority, but where I am disabled people and their carers can borrow: CDs free of charge, talking books free of charge, there are no concessions on DVD rentals here, but there may be in other authorities. You are also less likely to have to pay overdue fees (if at all) and if we can get items in that your child may enjoy that aren't available, then where I am we'd waive the fee for reservations.

In my library we have a section for carers, where we keep the most up to date information on benefits etc, though this won't be the case everywhere (I work in quite a large one). Speaking to a specialist children's librarian may also enable you to find items specifically recommended for stimulating the autistic mind, though I can't guarantee this.

jazabelle

vivatifosi wrote: »

Hi Kay,
What you are entitled to will vary from authority to authority, but where I am disabled people and their carers can borrow.

I realise you cannot speak for every library, but I was just wondering what you have to show to prove disability? Do you have to be on some kind of benefit? I'm disabled but not on a benefit.

I would really like to get some talking books, as I get really sore wrists and it hurts to hold books up, but love to read/listen to stories. I was just wondering if I would be eligible?

Humphrey10

Your son can get a railcard as he gets higher rate care: http://www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk/
It costs £18 for a year, and gives 1/3 off for both the railcard holder and someone travelling with them.

munchings-n-crunchings

jazabelle wrote: »

I realise you cannot speak for every library, but I was just wondering what you have to show to prove disability? Do you have to be on some kind of benefit? I'm disabled but not on a benefit.

For my daughter, I had to show proof of her DLA.

It's the sort of thing that would be worth asking for on Freecycle. It's like jigsaws, people use them once, and not again.

Regards
Munchie