2 hours agoSpecial parking permit for mentally ill drivers
Periskopi(8 years ago)
(8 years ago)Starting next year, drivers of the United Kingdom with mental health problems will have the right to apply for a blue badge parking permit. This means that people with disabled invisible abilities, such as autism, and less obvious issues [...]
This means that people with disabled invisible abilities, such as autism, and less visible mental - health issues will be able to park in spaces for disabled people, like those with limited physical abilities. This decision has been made public by the Transport Department and represents the system's largest regulation for more than 40 years.
The government said that the current system has no clarity, although it does not completely exclude those with limited mental capacity, compared to the physical from the possession of the blue symbol.
They said the rules are open to interpretation by local authorities, and the move aims to clear up any confusion there may be.
Jesse Norman, United Kingdom Transport Minister, said the blue “s are a lifeline for disabled people, giving them freedom and confidence to go to work and visit friends independently”.
“The changes we have announced today will ensure that this scheme extend equally to people with limited hidden skills so that they can enjoy the freedoms that many of us receive from”, he said.
Jane Harris, from the National Autistic Association, said this change of regulations would make a massive change in the lives of many 600,000 autistic people in England and their families”.
And some autism people may not be aware of road dangers or be overwhelmed by busy or loud environments. The possibility of not being able to find a parking lot near where you're going may mean that you can't think about leaving your house in all”, he said.
