- Department for Transport plans will help those with mental health conditions
- People with 'invisible' disabilities such as dementia and autism to get badges
- It is hoped the proposals will enable more people to travel independently
By Martin Beckford Home Affairs Editor For The Mail On Sunday
Published: 17:02 EST, 20 January 2018 | Updated: 17:02 EST, 20 January 2018
Driving is to be made easier for people with 'invisible' disabilities such as dementia and autism.
New Department for Transport plans will help those with mental health conditions get Blue Badges, entitling them to free parking. It is hoped the proposals will enable more people to travel independently.
Transport Minister Jesse Norman said: 'Blue Badges give people with disabilities the freedom to get jobs, see friends or go to the shops with as much ease as possible. We want to try to extend this to people with invisible disabilities.'
Driving is to be made easier for people with 'invisible' disabilities such as dementia and autism
More than two million disabled people in England have a Blue Badge, but councils interpret the rules on 'non-physical disabilities' differently. The changes proposed provide clear and consistent guidelines.
A greater range of healthcare professionals would be allowed to assess Blue Badge applicants, seeing if their mental health is causing mobility problems.
Sarah Lambert, head of policy at the National Autistic Society, said improving parking permit access could be 'a lifeline' for many autistic people, who often do not qualify for Blue Badges under current rules.
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