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One-armed driver refused disabled parking permit | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A woman who was born with one arm has claimed she was denied a disability parking permit because she was not considered to be "disabled enough". | A woman who was born with one arm has claimed she was denied a disability parking permit because she was not considered to be "disabled enough". |
Lisa Schofield, from Ballywalter, County Down, requested a permit under the Blue Badge Parking Scheme but her application was turned down. | Lisa Schofield, from Ballywalter, County Down, requested a permit under the Blue Badge Parking Scheme but her application was turned down. |
The scheme was set up to help those with severe mobility problems, allowing holders to park near their destination. | The scheme was set up to help those with severe mobility problems, allowing holders to park near their destination. |
The Stormont department that runs the scheme declined to comment on her case. | The Stormont department that runs the scheme declined to comment on her case. |
'Medically retired' | 'Medically retired' |
Ms Schofield is a former bank employee who had to leave her job because of her disability. | Ms Schofield is a former bank employee who had to leave her job because of her disability. |
"I was medically retired because I was unable to lift anything or type or write or count money," she told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster radio programme. | "I was medically retired because I was unable to lift anything or type or write or count money," she told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster radio programme. |
She has the use of one arm, but said that limb has deteriorated and she now struggles to carry anything heavier than a pint of milk. | She has the use of one arm, but said that limb has deteriorated and she now struggles to carry anything heavier than a pint of milk. |
She requested the disabled parking permit because she finds shopping trips particularly difficult. | She requested the disabled parking permit because she finds shopping trips particularly difficult. |
"I applied for a blue badge because of the whole lifting and carrying and yet I was turned down because I can walk," she told the programme. | "I applied for a blue badge because of the whole lifting and carrying and yet I was turned down because I can walk," she told the programme. |
"If you have only one arm, apparently you're not disabled enough," she added. | "If you have only one arm, apparently you're not disabled enough," she added. |
'Extra assistance' | 'Extra assistance' |
Ms Schofield said she was concerned about her deteriorating limb and needed to be close to shops so she could retain her independence. | Ms Schofield said she was concerned about her deteriorating limb and needed to be close to shops so she could retain her independence. |
"If I don't rest it, if I overdo it, it will stop working, I've been told," she said. | "If I don't rest it, if I overdo it, it will stop working, I've been told," she said. |
"All I want is just a little bit of extra assistance so that things don't get worse, because the last thing anybody wants is for someone to have to wash and dress them," she added. | "All I want is just a little bit of extra assistance so that things don't get worse, because the last thing anybody wants is for someone to have to wash and dress them," she added. |
Ms Schofield told the programme she believed she would have qualified for a badge if she was unable to walk or if both her arms were missing. | Ms Schofield told the programme she believed she would have qualified for a badge if she was unable to walk or if both her arms were missing. |
'Severe disability' | 'Severe disability' |
The Blue Badge Parking Scheme operates across the UK, and in Northern Ireland it is administered by Transport NI, a business unit within the Department for Regional Development (DRD). | The Blue Badge Parking Scheme operates across the UK, and in Northern Ireland it is administered by Transport NI, a business unit within the Department for Regional Development (DRD). |
The DRD declined an interview request but advised that information about blue badges was available on the NIDirect website. | The DRD declined an interview request but advised that information about blue badges was available on the NIDirect website. |
The website lists a number of eligibility criteria to qualify for the parking permit. | The website lists a number of eligibility criteria to qualify for the parking permit. |
Among them, it states applicants will get a badge if they "cannot walk, or have very considerable difficulty walking". | Among them, it states applicants will get a badge if they "cannot walk, or have very considerable difficulty walking". |
It also states a permit will be granted to those who "have a severe disability in both arms and are unable to operate, or have considerable difficulty operating, all or some types of parking meter". | It also states a permit will be granted to those who "have a severe disability in both arms and are unable to operate, or have considerable difficulty operating, all or some types of parking meter". |
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