This is welcome news for people with hidden disabilities.
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Caring for someone with autism puts hidden strains on our daily routine. I once had a blue badge for my son when he was younger because a kind paedatrician recognised how exhausting it was to get him anywhere! The Blue badge took a huge strain off my life - especially as being a struggling single mum. I do have a Blue badge for myself but would definitely apply for one for my son if this comes in because if makes it easier for other carers, grandparents etc to help out with trios etc. People don’t realise that autism can cause serious disorders of movement and organisation of muscle groups. Having to jump, clap and spin several times and then skip and hop before even entering some building! This is fun but nervous work for carer and parent - especially when these jumps and tics are associated with sudden irrational thinking which can result in dangerous last minute decisions on the part of the person with autism. I have nightmares every single night about loosing my boy in one such dash! A blue badge for him personally would help me rest more easily when other people and carers who are less likely to be able to predict these splurts of physical activist are caring for my son.
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Thanks for your comments.My son with autism has no sense of danger.He dashed into the path of a taxi outside the hospital and narrowly missed being hit and then stepped out into the path of a van on another occasion, only missing being hit when my husband pushed my son and himself into a ditch.He just dashes out without awareness of what is going on around him as he finds social situations so stressful that he is probably concentrating on the sensory issues he is experiencing.So I welcome this too.