Buss Pass

birkee

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

There is no 'one size fits all disabilities' answers to any of life's problems, is there though? You have a bus pass: in some circumstances you can get a Carer to travel free with it (probably not with the Pensionable bus pass), so at least that reduces your costs.

Also, you certainly used to be able to swap your bus pass for taxi tokens in some areas: would that be more helpful?

May you never suffer severe deafness and the problems which can accompany it ...

It is true that not all profoundly deaf people have mobility problems, but since the ears are the organ of balance, it's worth remembering that dizziness and nausea can be absolutely crippling 'side-effects' of a lack of hearing. And personally, I know which I'd rather live with.

if you have no hearing, you may need someone with you whenever you go out. If you lose your hearing overnight (which happens!), your confidence is shot to pieces, even more so if you can no longer stand up or walk without falling over, or feeling you're going to fall over.

If those symptoms are variable, having a bus pass would at least mean that when you aren't safe to be out on your own, you don't have to pay for both of you.

And if those symptoms are long-term and serious, you'd be absolutely entitled to the blue badge.

However, just because you have a disabled bus pass doesn't mean you automatically get a blue badge, so you need not worry about that. Anyone with a serious hearing loss who has a blue badge will have a whole lot more wrong with them, and we're not going to play the whole "I'm more disabled / deserving than they are" game, are we? Please?

Isn't that the point?
I'm sure many blue badge holders would LOVE to be able to use the bus, or be able to walk across a car park.

delain

birkee wrote: »

No comment, just a question.

What's the difference between someone who can't hold a driving licence on medical grounds, and someone who can't have a driving licence because they've never learned to drive?

But they have the option to learn to drive, which someone who is disabled does not

Tehya

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

There is no 'one size fits all disabilities' answers to any of life's problems, is there though? You have a bus pass: in some circumstances you can get a Carer to travel free with it (probably not with the Pensionable bus pass), so at least that reduces your costs.

Also, you certainly used to be able to swap your bus pass for taxi tokens in some areas: would that be more helpful?

May you never suffer severe deafness and the problems which can accompany it ...

It is true that not all profoundly deaf people have mobility problems, but since the ears are the organ of balance, it's worth remembering that dizziness and nausea can be absolutely crippling 'side-effects' of a lack of hearing. And personally, I know which I'd rather live with.

if you have no hearing, you may need someone with you whenever you go out. If you lose your hearing overnight (which happens!), your confidence is shot to pieces, even more so if you can no longer stand up or walk without falling over, or feeling you're going to fall over.

If those symptoms are variable, having a bus pass would at least mean that when you aren't safe to be out on your own, you don't have to pay for both of you.

And if those symptoms are long-term and serious, you'd be absolutely entitled to the blue badge.

However, just because you have a disabled bus pass doesn't mean you automatically get a blue badge, so you need not worry about that. Anyone with a serious hearing loss who has a blue badge will have a whole lot more wrong with them, and we're not going to play the whole "I'm more disabled / deserving than they are" game, are we? Please?

I agree totally with Savvy_Sue - despite my mum being completely deaf I really didn't know what having hearing trouble was all about until I started having problems myself.

I get my free bus pass because of meniere's disease, my balance is totally shot as I feel like I'm walking on rough seas all day. I also get the vertigo which literally spins me out of control meaning I can't even stay upright, these attacks can last for hours, days or even weeks at a time. The hearing loss comes and goes after attacks but over time the damage begins to be permanent add that in with the horrendous tinitus and it's a mix that really limits your life.

After suffering with this for the last 3 years I'd never underestimate the level of disability a person claims to have.


PS: Please don't think I'm arguing but to whoever it was who mentioned blue badge and deafness I just have to say there is not one person at either mine, or my mum's, deaf club who qualifies for a blue badge due to deafness alone. They may qualify though for reasons which I have mentioned in this post. Hope that helps clear things up a little.

birkee

Tehya wrote: »

I agree totally with Savvy_Sue - despite my mum being completely deaf I really didn't know what having hearing trouble was all about until I started having problems myself.

I get my free bus pass because of meniere's disease, my balance is totally shot as I feel like I'm walking on rough seas all day. I also get the vertigo which literally spins me out of control meaning I can't even stay upright, these attacks can last for hours, days or even weeks at a time. The hearing loss comes and goes after attacks but over time the damage begins to be permanent add that in with the horrendous tinitus and it's a mix that really limits your life.

After suffering with this for the last 3 years I'd never underestimate the level of disability a person claims to have.


PS: Please don't think I'm arguing but to whoever it was who mentioned blue badge and deafness I just have to say there is not one person at either mine, or my mum's, deaf club who qualifies for a blue badge due to deafness alone. They may qualify though for reasons which I have mentioned in this post. Hope that helps clear things up a little.

I've thanked your post, because you're right, but don't forget there are lots of people out there who are ONLY deaf, and not suffering other problems.

Sueinbirmingham

birkee wrote: »

I've thanked your post, because you're right, but don't forget there are lots of people out there who are ONLY deaf, and not suffering other problems.

My guess is that the list is based on what was thought at some time in the past to be a fairly comprehensive list of people that shouldn't drive or who aren't employable and therefore should get a bit of extra help.

It seems to me that the criteria for all sorts of things are outdated. Take the list of who can get free prescriptions - I think it's based on who it was thought would need to be on medication for life a few decades ago, whereas now there'd be many conditions that that would apply to.

So some bureaucrat somewhere wondered what sort of disabled people needed or deserved free bus passes and ended up with this list. I don't suppose it will be amended, just abolished in time.

Savvy_Sue

birkee wrote: »

I've thanked your post, because you're right, but don't forget there are lots of people out there who are ONLY deaf, and not suffering other problems.

I would think very few people who are ONLY deaf have a disabled bus pass, and even fewer would have a blue badge. I shall have to ask at my next lipreading class, although most of them now have the bus pass by reason of age, but we'll see if any of them even knew that getting a bus pass might have been possible before they reached retirement age!

Dippypud

delain wrote: »

But they have the option to learn to drive, which someone who is disabled does not

The Mobility scheme can help with driving lessons and adaptations for the vehicle.

http://www.motabilitycarscheme.co.uk/main.cfm?type=CFIS&ObjectId=2193

birkee

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I would think very few people who are ONLY deaf have a disabled bus pass, and even fewer would have a blue badge. I shall have to ask at my next lipreading class, although most of them now have the bus pass by reason of age, but we'll see if any of them even knew that getting a bus pass might have been possible before they reached retirement age!

Lip Reading classes?
That sounds interesting! Can I join?

Can you tell me, are there any blue badge bays there, and can I get a wheelchair into the building, or are there steps to negotiate?
Perhaps you haven't noticed, because you walk or catch the bus though.

jetta_wales

birkee wrote: »

Lip Reading classes?
That sounds interesting! Can I join?

Can you tell me, are there any blue badge bays there, and can I get a wheelchair into the building, or are there steps to negotiate?
Perhaps you haven't noticed, because you walk or catch the bus though.

Any point to that post what so ever?

Or are we playing the "my disability's more deserving than yours" game?

kingfisherblue

birkee wrote: »

Lip Reading classes?
That sounds interesting! Can I join?

Can you tell me, are there any blue badge bays there, and can I get a wheelchair into the building, or are there steps to negotiate?
Perhaps you haven't noticed, because you walk or catch the bus though.

Our local deaf centre has lipreading classes - and a ramp to get into the building. Once inside, there is a lift for those who need it to access the upper floor. There is wheelchair access throughout the building, including a larger than usual disabled toilet.

Admittedly there isn't much parking outside (enough space for four cars) and no specific disabled space. If you ring to let them know you are coming, though, the staff will block off a space for you with traffic cones. They will watch out for you and will come outside to remove the cones when you arrive to park in the space.

Maybe it is because the staff and volunteers there are used to people with disabilities, and some have disabilities themselves.