Disability

Improvements to the Blue Badge Scheme

The Blue Badge Scheme has been widened to include some children under two and extend the criteria for people with upper limb disabilities. The Department for Transport has made the changes following extensive public consultation. The design of the badge has also been changed to make it harder to abuse and to prevent fraud.

Previously the scheme was available only for disabled children aged two or over but now includes babies under two who have a condition that requires constant access to bulky medical equipment such as ventilators or feed pumps. It also covers under two’s who are having correction treatment for hip dysplasia.

The criterion for people with disability in both arms has been extended to include the ability to operate all or some types of parking meters. The old rules only considered the ability to turn the wheel by hand.

The badge has been redesigned to make it harder for fraudsters to copy with the addition of an anti-fraud hologram. They will also show whether the holder is male or female making it easier for enforcement officers to spot abuse.

The changes come into effect on 15th October 2007.