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The Blue Badge and Sunflower Lanyard Schemes

Please spread the word and support those with hidden disabilities

Sometimes, people have disabilities that aren’t obvious to other people. Until recently, those with certain conditions were denied a Blue Badge as the Blue Badge Scheme was designed to help people with set mobility problems. It has been very successful though since it was first introduced in 1970. In August last year, the Scheme was widened and now can aid the people with the following:

  • Terminal illness
  • Disability Living Allowance mobility component
  • Personal Independence Payment
  • Lump sum at Tariff 1-8 from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
  • War pensioners mobility supplement
  • Registered blind or sight severely impaired
  • Unable to walk or finds walking difficult
  • Non-visible (hidden) disability
  • Driver with disability in both arms
  • Child under 3 who needs to be kept near to a vehicle
  • Child under 3 who needs bulky medical equipment

For more information, visit www.gov.uk website or your local Council website, e.g www.oxfordshire.gov.uk if you live in Oxford.

Blue Badges can now be granted to those who cannot walk as part of a journey without ‘considerable psychological distress’ or the ‘risk of serious harm’ as well as the original criteria of poor mobility. Of course, the final decision depends on the Councils issuing the Badges.

Sunflower Lanyard Scheme

Unfortunately, this means that those with hidden conditions, who use the Blue Badge Scheme, can suffer from the psychological worry that other people may not recognise them as disabled. This is where the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme www.hiddendisabilitiesstore.com can help. This Scheme was first launched at Gatwick Airport in May 2016. Since then, it has been adopted in the UK by most of the major airports, supermarkets and railway companies as well as the NHS. It is also now known globally with many more organisations joining the Scheme.

 

 

By wearing the Sunflower Lanyard, a discreet sign is given that the wearer (or someone with them) has a hidden disability and may require additional assistance. Sunflower Lanyards are available free of charge to customers from many businesses and organisations who have joined the Scheme. Anyone who has a hidden disability and who would benefit from the Scheme should have access to one. The following stores/companies are a few of those participating in the Scheme:

It is also possible to buy a lanyard from www.hiddendisabilitiesstore.com, but there is a small cost involved to cover its production and distribution as well as employing staff to help manage the scheme and look after the website.

How we can help

Acquire Care Ltd. is also able to help those with disabilities to live more comfortably in their own homes. Many people do not like to ask for help but our helpful, friendly carers can support people who need help to stay in their own homes. This can be from short home care visits or full-time care when one of our carers live in the Client’s home with them. To contact Acquire Care to discover what can be done to help, please phone 01865 601010, email info@acquirecare.co.uk or visit the website www.acquirecare.co.uk.