Anna'a welsh Zoo

uponahill

OneYorkshireLass wrote: »

I get the lowest level and that just covers someone to do my ironing and have my food delivered.

I wouldn't want more, cos that wouldn't be fair, so if what you say was the case then I wouldn't go anywhere that had entrance fees.

Companies offering to waive a carer's fee is nothing to do with the benefit - so no one is 'getting it twice'. If a company want to offer to waive a fee then that's their business. The National Trust do an 'access-for-all' card - permits one carer - they offered it, so I took it. Who wouldn't?

I didn't! My carer still pays to go in with me!! But that is my choice - I don't like being tagged as disabled.

SandraScarlett

When we were charged full price for both of us at a local farm, where we took our grandchildren, I sent the company a letter afterwards, saying I was surprised that they didn't offer a concession to those who couldn't enjoy the facilities to the degree that able bodied people could. My husband spent most of the day in the cafeteria, as he just couldn't get around the site. They replied immediately, with complimentary tickets for our next visit, and changed their policy.

Fortunately, there are many other places where you can accompany a disabled person, free of charge, or you both pay a reduced rate. Nearly all of the London theatres, and many local ones, as well as cinemas, offer this facility, on production of a DLA entitlement letter.

My DH wanted to see Les Miserables last year, and the Queens Theatre, in Shaftesbury Avenue were marvellous. I pointed out when booking that he couldn't manage stairs, and we were taken into the theatre via a side door, which led directly to the fourth row of the Dress Circle - many of the old London theatres have the stalls area below street level.

Both our tickets were for less than half price, and though our journey was planned with military precision, with umpteen expensive taxis, and having to find the nearest Underground station with lifts or escalators, it was worth it for me to see his pleasure.

It may well be worth a letter, or email, OP, as most places like to be seen in a good light. HTH

xx

L0RRY

uponahill wrote: »

Yes I am fully aware of that having grandchildren myself. I also know that it is very very rare that a wheelchair user has to pay the full price

but this thread is about annas welsh zoo where they only offer a £2 reduction for disabled users yet under 3s are free and there is a lot more on offer there for an under three than many wheelchair users

- in fact in most places they don't charge.

not in my experience. i regularly access a variety of places with someone in a wheelchair & some of them offer a free carer, some of them offer half price for both carer & wheelchair user, some (like this zoo) just offer a small reduction for the wheelchair user and some even offer no reduction at all!

However this thread was about the carer not getting a reduction. Hence the reason why I pointed out that mum's & dad's pushing a pram still pay the full whack.

So what is it with the poster throwing his/her toys out of the pram because they, as the carer, couldn't get a discount!
As I have pointed out that if they start giving discounts to wheelchair 'pushers' then the same should apply tp those pushing prams!!

its not an equal comparison at all because mums & dads choose to have children, disabled people dont choose to be disabled & they should have the same access rights as abled bodied people ie only paying one entrance fee in order to access the facilities

reply in bold

EycplUK

uponahill wrote: »

And all because the carer has to pay full price??

Don't tell me you are another one of the 'away day disabled can I get it cheaper' brigade.

How mean and petty can you be. What makes it right that you think businesses should reduce their fees just because you are pushing a wheelchair.

Maybe you also think that mum's or dad's even with young children should get a reduction because they are pushing a pram!

Talk about milking it for what its worth!!!

Here we go again ! self rightesnouss man to the rescue !
You really must get physciatric therapy uponahill :eek:
Plus your getting boring and repetative 1

lin473

I think that many peolple may be looking at this from the point of view that most 'carers' are family members of the disabled person who would be going any way.
In many cases (learning disabled adults for instance) this is not the case.
They have limited resources but would be expected to pay for themselves and their carers or they would not be able to go.
(The carers are paid for in their care packeges / personal budgets but not admission charges)

A similar injustice happened to my family at Drayton Manor.
The cashier charged me normally as a carer of my son who is in a wheelchair and we only had a tiny discount for him as disabled compared to a family ticket.
(it worked out about 20p cheaper!)
Yet He was only able to access 2 rides and I had to stand around with him also unable to access the rides whilest the rest of the family went on the inaccessible rides.
I'll never go back.

The_mangler

SandraScarlett wrote: »

It may well be worth a letter, or email, OP, as most places like to be seen in a good light. HTH

xx

I did send an email and was told that they thought their season tickets offered good value for money, and they were introducing a special Disabled + carer season ticket soon for £35. It's too far for us to visit any more than once a year (travelling causes discomfort for my husband) but the customer services rep insisted that as she regularly pushed both her parents around in a wheelchair, she found it a great way to have a chat with them and did not stop her from taking part in the event. Which is lovely if the people you care for are able to engage in conversation, dont need assistance while toileting, dont need reassurance every minute. Seems she and others in this thread are mistaking wheelchair 'pushers' with carers - a huge difference in my opinion.
Again thanks for replies (and I dont see any evidence of throwing toys out of the pram troll, but what difference does any one else's opinion make to you? :rotfl:)

formaldehyde_perfume

I do not need help with toileting, or the actual act of eating, but I still need a carer with me if I want to go out to a venue.

Most of the time I use a mobility scooter so I don't need a 'pusher' I need a carer.
I need someone to get my money out for me, count it, hand it over, and do the same in reverse.
I need help getting up from my scooter to get to the toilet.
I need someone to reach and grab on my behalf (such as in the gift shop or to get leaflets).
If we stop for a coffee or a snack, I need it to be carried for me.
In crowds, I need someone to make sure I do not bump in to other people with my scooter and as turning my neck causes great pain, I need someone to help me reverse where necessary.
I need reminding to take my medication, for someone to get it out for me and get a drink and open the screw cap too.
These are just some examples.

I am fully aware that even on the rare occasions my carer actually wants to be at whatever event or attraction we are at, they cannot fully enjoy it as they are constantly attending to my needs.

This is why I believe there should be some form of discount for the disabled person and/or the carer.

As for DLA, the 'care' element goes to my carer. The 'mobility' element goes towards electricity (for my scooters) and petrol. Anything left over goes towards aids, equipment and splints. I wasn't aware there was a 'days out' element, if there was, I would use it for the purpose it was intended for.

System

formaldehyde_perfume wrote: »

I wasn't aware there was a 'days out' element, if there was, I would use it for the purpose it was intended for.

There isn't specifically but DLA is provided to ASSIST with the extra costs, regardless of their source. So it could be argued that it is there to assist with the costs for a carer to accompany you to a venue.

uponahill

!!!!!! wrote: »

There isn't specifically but DLA is provided to ASSIST with the extra costs, regardless of their source. So it could be argued that it is there to assist with the costs for a carer to accompany you to a venue.

'Extra costs' yes, but not family members that were going anyhow!

And come to think of it, why do the disabled get in for free? Surely they should be paying full price as they would be going even if they weren't disabled.

That is a very good point - DLA = to cover the extra costs!!
As for a carer, that would only apply if the carer was a paid carer?

The_mangler

uponahill wrote: »

'Extra costs' yes, but not family members that were going anyhow!

And come to think of it, why do the disabled get in for free? Surely they should be paying full price as they would be going even if they weren't disabled.

That is a very good point - DLA = to cover the extra costs!!
As for a carer, that would only apply if the carer was a paid carer?

If the disabled person cannot take part in most of the attractions/features then I think they should be entitled to a reduction - some like to go to watch their kids enjoy themselves.

I am a paid carer. I receive the princely sum of £55.55 a week to care for my husband and be there for him 24/7. Im not sure what your point is? (But then, Im not entirely sure you are either.........:))