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People with autism and other mental health problems – including dementia – will be able to apply for a Blue Badge next year following a Government overhaul of the scheme.

This will mean that many of the 600,000 people in the UK who have autism will be eligible to apply, as well as more than 800,000 people with dementia.

A Blue Badge enables a disabled driver or a badgeholding passenger to park closer to their destination. They can sometimes park without charge and can use dedicated parking spaces on streets and in car parks.

The new criteria for people with hidden disabilities will

extend to those who: ✔ Cannot undertake a journey without there being a risk of serious harm to their health or safety (such as young people with autism) ✔ Cannot undertake a journey without it causing them very considerable psychological distress

✔ Have very considerable difficulty when walking (both the physical act and the experience of walking).

The planned changes have been welcomed by Sally Copley, the Alzheimer’s Society director of policy and campaigns. She says: “This decision will be an absolute game-changer for people living with dementia. As it’s a progressive condition their abilities, including walking, can rapidly decline. Combined with symptoms such as anxiety and

confusion, this mean simple tasks, for example going to the shops or a doctor’s appointment, can become a real struggle for those with dementia.”

At present if you, or your passenger, has severe mobility problems, you can apply for a Blue Badge. It is linked to a person, not a car, so you can apply for one even if you don’t have a car and you can use it when someone else takes you out. You can qualify for a Blue Badge if:

✔ You get the higher rate of the mobility component of

Disability Living Allowance (DLA), or you scored eight or more in the mobility section of Personal Independent Payment (PIP)

✔ You receive a War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement

✔ You are registered blind

✔ You received Armed Forces compensation for severe disability

✔ You have a permanent and substantial disability, which means you are unable to walk or have considerable difficulty in walking