Proof Of Disability Card - Thoughts Please

Indie_Kid

Own_My_Own wrote: »

My son has Aspergers and carries a card from Autism Anglia that is recognised by the police.
He has only had to use it once when he witnessed an accident. But the officer then knew my son would have some difficulty explaining what he saw, and wasn't just being difficult.

I wish they did those cards where I am. I have one that says I have Autism; but they don't have any details about me. Which I seem to remember the cards you're talking about, do?

Own_My_Own

Indie_Kid wrote: »

I wish they did those cards where I am. I have one that says I have Autism; but they don't have any details about me. Which I seem to remember the cards you're talking about, do?

Only his name, my name and a contact number.

dori2o

DomRavioli wrote: »

Where are these "many people" then?

in various parts of the UK, where else would they be?

I personally don't know everyone in the UK, do you?

But I do know from speaking to people on various forums, in various discussion and support groups, and via facebook/twitter etc that there would be a demand for such a card.

Maybe I've just stumbled on the one thing I've been looking for to keep me occupied?

Cyclamen

I am unsure if the places asking for proof would accept this.. if they wont accept a copy of an award letter and maybe show a bank card with your name on/drivers license etc to prove its you.

I have disabled buspass (free) / disabled rail pass (charge for this) / DLA letters/ parking badge (but this would be in the car.. i guess i could colour copy etc and feel that if a place wont accept those they probably wouldnt accept another sort of card unless it was widespread and a national government scheme.

I have never been asked for proof.. i always buy tickets as a 'disabled and carer' and usually my carer is free.. sometimes they charge us both half price but its the sam ething to me.. and on the rare occasion carer is free and i am half price.

I dislike going out with carers in uniform.. so my ladies from the agency bring a normal top to take me out. My husband, cousin, mum and friend have all received carer costs.. early on i asked if they had to be a carer on payroll but was told that anyone accompanying a disable dperson could get the carer rate if they offered help.

Now I use a wheelchair so it's obvious and i have never been asked for proof, before getting ill i was the 'carer' for my friend and she walked with a stick and we were asked for dla letter which she kept in a plastic wallet in her bag.. it looked very much like the plastic wallet my driving license came in.

I do wonder if the staff on the attractions demanding all these things are following policy or making up their own rules. You cant get a bus/train pass without DLA, you cant get a parking badge without DLA or a dla letter.

it just seems like solving a problem that SHOULDNT exist and perhaps a few emails to the places refusing entry with a dla proof need to be sent.

nolabelrequired

We used to have to 'register' as 'disabled' before being considered for work - this practice was stopped in Dec 1996 with the introduction of the DDA. PLEASE don't let's take a backward step! I don't need to prove I am a disabled person of over 30 years - it's evident. I do have a card for cinema and theatre tho' for free care.

I agree with other quotes, it's only A4 size paper/put it in an envelope; but also, where are they/these people asking for proof in the first place: - let's get the language right and keep moving forward we've come too far not to! It's only taken 50-60 years so far - DEFINITELY NO to identity cards for us or anyone else.

HB58

I would happily carry a credit-card sized card. I walk with 1 crutch which many people are happy to accept but a few want to see further evidence. Such a card would be more robust than a letter and I could just show it through the transparent window of my card holder, I see it as less intrusive than showing my DLA award letter which has details I might not want to share with a stranger.

Tigsteroonie

I'd happily carry a card for our son, too. I really don't want to take his DLA award letter out with me every weekend (or leave it in the car), ready to show at whichever zoo/theme park/funfair/soft play etc that we have chosen to visit at that time. Laminating the letter? Then I'd have to carry round an A4 laminated letter for the rest of the day! (No, I'm not walking all the way back across the carpark to stow it again.) A small card would be most handy, I don't see it as labelling our son as disabled but rather a convenient way of proving that he is if/when required.

dori2o

nolabelrequired wrote: »

We used to have to 'register' as 'disabled' before being considered for work - this practice was stopped in Dec 1996 with the introduction of the DDA. PLEASE don't let's take a backward step! I don't need to prove I am a disabled person of over 30 years - it's evident. I do have a card for cinema and theatre tho' for free care.

I agree with other quotes, it's only A4 size paper/put it in an envelope; but also, where are they/these people asking for proof in the first place: - let's get the language right and keep moving forward we've come too far not to! It's only taken 50-60 years so far - DEFINITELY NO to identity cards for us or anyone else.

The two issues are completely seperate.

The old register was as far as I know was a compulsary requirement. We are talking about having a voluntary ID card, exactly like the cinema card, which would confirm that you are disabled and therefore eligible to receive the discounts etc that some businesses/venues offer to those who can prove disability.

Some places which I have visited who ask for proof are Alton Towers, Blackpool Tower, Blackpool Zoo, Conwy Castle......

There is a topic in this part of the forum which provides details of places which give discounts to disabled/carers when proof of disability is provided.

Despit the fact I have a copy of my award notice and my blue badge scanned and saved in my dropbox account which I can access and view from my phone, not everywhere will acept this as proof and they request to see the award notice.

Now, as people rightly say, the award notice contains some very personal data, including NI number, amount of weekly benefit, name and address. If a voluntary ID card system was introduced which had a photo, the name of the indvdual, and confirmation that they are disabled, this is much less intrusive and much less of a security risk than having to take the actual award notice.

The CEA Card scheme has shown that an ID card system like this is very simple to manage, and in an ideal world the CEA card itself would be enough to provide proof of disability considering it can only be applied for by those in receipt of disability benefits, but unfortunately not enough of these companies are aware of it.

I've been discussing this topic on another forum for people with disabilities and a couple of the people on there work for a charity for the disabled and they say they are already looking at a scheme in partnership with the Merlin Group and Visit England. So it is already something that could be in place sooner rather than later.

Bennifred

I agree with dori2o that you are in a bind if you are disabled but choose not to claim benefits for whatever reason, as far as proving "entitlement" to concessions.
I have primary progressive multiple sclerosis but choose not to claim benefits. I do have a Blue Badge - but that of course has to stay in the car so is of no use at attractions etc, so I would be pleased if some sort of voluntary "proof" card was available.

Indie_Kid

Cyclamen wrote: »

you cant get a parking badge without DLA or a dla letter.

If you mean blue badge, you can get one without DLA.