Parliament Workbench

Petition · PE01576 · Session 4

Blue Badges for children with Autism and Down's Syndrome

Closed Submitted 29 Jul 2015 People & Communities
Signatures
0
1,075 online signatures with a country
Comments
75
Considered
2 meetings
in the Official Report

What it asks

Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to change the law so that children with autism and Down's syndrome who are under 16 are entitled to a blue badge as those who are over 16 are as is the case in Wales.

What the petitioner did first

I have contacted Duncan McnNeil MSP who rasied an motion in the parliament earlier this year on this very topic and my own MSP Jim Eadie to express my concern and support of this sublect. I also informed them both that I intended to start a petition to raise awarness and support on the issue. As a parent of a severely autistic child who was recently refused a blue badge then becoming aware of the problem facing all autistic and downs children counrty wide I have decided to do something about it so that all these children can benefit and there families gain this essential piece of help which makes daily life that little bit easier.

Where it was considered

Official Report
  1. 10 Nov 2015
    Public Petitions Committee
    New Petitions
    1 mention
  2. 12 Jan 2016
    Public Petitions Committee
    Continued Petitions
    1 mention

Signatures by country

1,075 online signatures
  1. Scotland907 84.4%
  2. United Kingdom106 9.9%
  3. England48 4.5%
  4. Australia3 0.3%
  5. United States3 0.3%
  6. Northern Ireland1 0.1%
  7. Ireland1 0.1%
  8. Singapore1 0.1%
  9. Spain1 0.1%
  10. Wales1 0.1%
  11. 3 other countries3 0.3%

Comments

75 comments, oldest first
75 comments · showing 1–50
  1. Ann Glendinning 3 Aug 2015
    signed and shared
  2. Glen Whyte 3 Aug 2015
    I think, its the best interests for people with the conditions, where it keeps them safe
  3. Tom Wightman 4 Aug 2015
    We need to be able to keep our kids safe.
  4. Catrina Rose 4 Aug 2015
    This could change so many lives for the better, its shocking this hasn't been changed before now!
  5. Ann Landels 4 Aug 2015
    Being in a car park with an Autistic child can be rather dangerous especially if you are struggling with shopping, a small space some distance away from the store and an unpredictable child.
  6. Amanda smith 4 Aug 2015
    Try living a day in their world and it'd be mandatory.
  7. lyndsay taylor 4 Aug 2015
    Signed and shared
  8. Richard Palmer 4 Aug 2015
    Msp should try a short period with an autistic child and they would get a better come on this when we need snp help the less privileged
  9. louise mckenzie 4 Aug 2015
    every day is a constant battle with authorities. Just please make life a wee bit easier for us for once in your lives. Mp's continually kick down the very people who elected them into power. its all take and no giving back.
  10. Beth Morrison 4 Aug 2015
    Many children who have complex needs but are mobile are "virtually unable to walk" because they are unable to go anywhere alone reliably, safely or in reasonable time. Some children simply sit on the ground and refuse to move and some have major sensory or behavioural challenges which make using public transport extremely difficult. It is unfair that these kiddies are being denied access to the higher rate of mobility which in turn means they lose their blue badge. I hope this petition is successful.
  11. Frances Stedman 4 Aug 2015
    Signed and shared
  12. tony thain 4 Aug 2015
    Please recognise them
  13. Jan Kerr 4 Aug 2015
    This is ABSOLUTELY essential. Life is difficult enough!
  14. Ian Macleod 4 Aug 2015
    My son has no awareness of cars or traffic. Parking somewhere safer is a necessity.
  15. Janis Cuthbert 4 Aug 2015
    Signed and shared
  16. Terri Robertson 4 Aug 2015
    Signed
  17. margaret oconnor 4 Aug 2015
    Parents that have children with autism downs syndrome should get a blue badge automatically as you would if it was an adult
  18. krysia mulvihill 4 Aug 2015
    My child is in this category of disability. He is liable to run off into the road and has no sense of danger. He needs space around the car as he will bang the door into adjacent cars.
  19. Lorna Gray 4 Aug 2015
    I have a granddaughter with autism along with mobility problems. She needs a blue badge to allow her to get as close as possible to where she needs to go. She uses a wheelchair and is only 5. Children deserve the blue badge just as much as adults. Please consider this.
  20. Shirley Anderson 4 Aug 2015
    I have 3 children with autism a blue badge would make our lives so much more easier
  21. Angela porter 4 Aug 2015
    My son was refused blue badge as he doesn't get high mobility, ye has hyper mobility in all his joints which cause him pain and to tire very easily.
  22. ellie christie 5 Aug 2015
    exhausted parent with 5yrs old son who refuses to walk has autisum crys that his legs are always sore
  23. Amanda McDougall 5 Aug 2015
    A child having an autistic meltdown brought on by sensory overload is at that mention I'm time crippled by the experience
  24. Margaret wardrope 5 Aug 2015
    Why take away something so simple that can make a big difference to how children are treated
  25. Janette Docherty 5 Aug 2015
    Its not a matter of age its a matter of safety
  26. Anne Marie Lynas 5 Aug 2015
    My daughter is Autistic and this would be a great help as car parks are a scary place for us both!
  27. Lorna jenkins 5 Aug 2015
    I defiantly think all these children deserve a blue badge as I struggle with my nephew who is 8 with Down syndrome and feel a blue badge would help him greatly
  28. Margaret mccann 5 Aug 2015
    My grandson is autistic and a blue badge would make a big difference
  29. Ray mcann 5 Aug 2015
    What a difference this would make for my autistic grandson
  30. Elizabeth McDonald 5 Aug 2015
    As a parent of a teenager with autism ADHD and a and a significant learning disability , just because his mobility isn't affected doesn't mean he is safe to walk any distance ,educate yourselves instead of pen pushing !!!!
  31. Lynne farnan 5 Aug 2015
    Keep blue badges
  32. Samantha jones 5 Aug 2015
    We should have the same law as everyone else instead of taking away from children who need this
  33. Gillian Gartshore 5 Aug 2015
    I'm a single mum to a 9 year old with ASD. Parking and walking the distance to a shop can be awful, he runs, and also drops to the ground. A blue badge would help and take the fear away from my son and myself.
  34. Laura copland 5 Aug 2015
    My son has autism and we have just been refused a blue badge. Little thing can make our life easier and safer.
  35. Lorraine Marshall 5 Aug 2015
    My son has autism and getting him from building to car can be hectic, frantic and dangerous as he panics or can be overwhelmed and wants to run, he is strong and impatient.
  36. Lisa mcareavey 5 Aug 2015
    Would be so much easier for outings as they are the most stressful times
  37. Jan noble 5 Aug 2015
    The car is my safe place. If my 3 yo kicks off, or throws himself on the floor, or slips my restraint I am scared what might happen. I am therefore restricted to going out with my husband to help me keep him safe. Please allow us to park closer so when he explodes I can keep him safe and retreat to a safe place without having to crosss a busy car park too. It's not pretty, its not dignified, it's not right. If he was a pensioner with bouts of collapsing in roads or anywhere we'd have a blue badge .
  38. rab houston 5 Aug 2015
    why has this not been done already ?
  39. Elaine mcdonald 5 Aug 2015
    I have three children 1yr, 4yr and 7yr old the two oldest have high function autism. Not the easiest of tasks to go out doors. And struggle every day worring of all three of their safetys. Being calm and listening at anytime are things my kids find very difficult to do, more so when change ro routine.
  40. Victoria Swan 5 Aug 2015
    We would be lost without our's when it comes to going out with our son, having a blue badge keeps him safe.
  41. Eileen Jones 5 Aug 2015
    My grandson has Autism and other disabilities. It is discriminatory that children and adults with mental disabilities cannot get a blue badge. My daughter was refused one for her son who is getting harder as he grows for her to control and she finds it hard to get out with him yet people who can actually drive themselves about get them. So unfair.
  42. Elizabeth McIntosh 5 Aug 2015
    My grandson has autism and has no sense of damage and needs a safe place in which to enable his parents to help him out the car
  43. Stevie Barber 5 Aug 2015
    Anyone in this situation knows how dangerous it is. If ever there was a case to change the rules, this would be one. This is about safety rather than convenience. Please change the qualifying criteria.
  44. anne marie price 5 Aug 2015
    I tired for a blue badge last year as my 12yr with asd and sensory problems was refused as they said he can walk life is very stressful as he will not do public transport or walk any distance.
  45. Claire brannan 5 Aug 2015
    My son has autism and had no sense off danger, i was refused blue badge twice and couldnt believe it. If my son was out alone he wouldnt last 20 minutes on the street.
  46. Fraser McKenzie 5 Aug 2015
    I have autism myself and yet I have no benefits at all. No PIP, no free bus pass, nothing.
  47. Siobhan fotheringham 5 Aug 2015
    This should be a basic human right for disabled children, having raised a child with autism and having a downs syndrome niece. It's hard to carry an autistic child that refuses to walk another step for what ever reason, I know at forty my back is destroyed making working each day harder and harder. Downs children often have a lot of health care needs appointments and should be able to travel in ways they are comfortable and with little stress in their journeys. This is essential not optional. The right thing needs to be done! I suggest challenging any mp to live a few weeks in the life.of an autism or downs family and question the necessity of a blue badge for their children!
  48. Tace Donaldson 5 Aug 2015
    My son who is 10, has Down's. We currently have a blue badge as oh HR for DLA (after fighting as it was lowered recently!) I was unaware he would have automatically been given one at the age of 16, not sure what happens differently up to that age?! Discrimination most definitely
  49. Mrs A Mackay 5 Aug 2015
    Children with DS who have low mobility require a badge to assist their parent(s) to gain a closer parking spot for hospitals but more so for everyday functions. To have a space closer with more space is so useful when trying to manage a special buggy and a chair and having a typical space hinders the needs of your child.
  50. Lynne Milne 6 Aug 2015
    This is such a common sense thing for the government to do for our kids. As a parent of a child with autism, and also as a support group leader, i am aware on a daily basis of how important the blue badge is to families struggling so much already with the isolation and restrictions these conditions bring.