A Disabled Charity And A PPC

HO87

I cannot trace the first direct quote she has provided in the article, i.e.

"To limit disabled spaces to Blue Badge holders is a breach of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) because it discriminates against disabled people who do not have a Blue Badge"

This has the smack of being creatively adjusted in order to floor the argument omitting - as I believe it does - the word "may". However, I have been able to track down the second one:

"in effect supporting and advocating discrimination against people with disabilities"

Which was originally posted earlier in this thread by fb1969 (Post #67)

I'm sure that the real issue is clear to Helen but by limiting its presentation in her article in the way she has is she has been somewhat disingenuous in my opinion.

The issue is that supermarkets - in particular - have been obliged (through the planning process) to provide car park spaces for disabled drivers as a consequence of the obligations imposed on them, as service-providers, by the DDA.

The (then) law only required that they make "reasonable accommodation" in creating access for disabled people but the establishment of an entirely arbitrary measure (The Blue Badge Scheme) was potentially "unreasonable" given that the ameliorative action - the granting of access to disabled spaces is hardly onerous.

The argument had long been that the use of the BBS, as the yardstick upon which the use of disabled spaces on private land was judged, was a "lazy" approach and for Helen to have never come across that argument would suggest that, at best, her research has not been extensive.

trisontana

Come on folks, please join that Disability Now forum to add you comments to the Helen's article.

fb1969

HO87 wrote: »

However, I have been able to track down the second one:

Which was originally posted earlier in this thread by fb1969 (Post #67)

Fame at last though it is quoted slightly out of context as I have never mentioned anything about their Baywatch campaign! The clear implication of my posting is that I was referring to the issuing of tickets/invoices/"fines" to disabled people that don't have a blue badge.

A posting on the Disability Now page clearly shows why I think this:

"Posted by Brian Fields at 28 Oct 10 22:50

My partner has suffered from ME for over three and a half years. She can walk but is limited by a lack of stamina - some days are far worse than others. She is classed as "disabled" under the Disability Discrimination Act but has now been refused a blue badge twice because we don't get the additional mobility portion of DLA and her ME is not classed as a permanent disability because it can fluctuates apparently (not much I might add). A trip to the supermarket has to be planned carefully because we have to take a neighbour with us to help especially as we cannot use the blue badge spaces. We either unload outside the door and cause a queue (she moves quite slowly) or chance getting a space close to the doors. The parking company have already charged us £80 once because I had to leave room for the passenger door to open wide and parked over the white line - even though it was on the end of a row. If we could have used a disabled space this wouldn't be a prolem because the spaces are wide enough but because we haven't a blue badge we can't. The stupid thing is that the car park warden went and got us a wheelchair last time so he must think she's disabled! I have spoken to the store manager and although he's sympathetic we haven't got a blue badge and that's an end of it. I agree there is some abuse of disabled spaces but in our supermarket there are 37 dsiabled spaces and I've never seen more than a dozen being used. Is this fair and what is the difference between a disabled person with a blue badge and a disabled person without one? There still both disabled."

peter_the_piper

Carry on using the disabled spot and tell them to go to Hell. If they were ever to decide to take it further then the DDA is on their side.

Spartacus_Mills

Flipper38 wrote: »

Click Me

I like the way she has chosen to reply to this thread via her Disability Now column and not come on here in person.

Quite a balanced write up don't you think?

That would involve growing a spine. Something Ms Dolphin has not really exhibited so far.

Ms Dolphin simply wants to reply to comments without the risk of engaging in any serious discussion. Probably because she knows her arguments will not hold water.

I would like to ask her why my Father, with limited mobility and walking with a stick but no blue badge, should be subject to a "fine" for parking in a disabled space when he clearly needs to use it on private land.

sarahg1969

Spartacus_Mills wrote: »

I would like to ask her why my Father, with limited mobility and walking with a stick but no blue badge, should be subject to a "fine" for parking in a disabled space when he clearly needs to use it on private land.

While, at the same time, it' OK for my Gran (who DOES have a blue badge, but more often than not doesn't need a wider space closer to the store) to use a disabled bay every time?

AlexisV

THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE ADVOCATING DOLPHIN: http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=56065&st=0&gopid=522131&#entry522131

Terrifying disabled badge holders in their own homes. Brilliant.

peter_the_piper

I think its now a case of "when in hole stop digging". It would not be easy for her to climb down and admit the error of "employing" UKthingy.

anewman

Likewise I have known one or two people with disabled badges who have no real need for them, and they seem to be the people who advocate their abuse by letting family members use it when not present.

The bloke giving the advice in the article, Will Bee, can be contacted by e-mail or phone, details at http://will-bee.co.uk/contact

taffy056

Hello Mobilise PPC,

I haven't forgotten about you, so have revisited this thread to see if you have the balls to come here to defend your position

And to ask a question from others on this forum, can we use a FOI request on a charity ? For example it would be great to know how much they are benefitting from these ppcs - thanks