Thanks to our friends at Blue Badge Insurance and other partners, we have pulled together some staggering information to help us better understand what those in our community who are being harassed because of their invisible disability. It’s through awareness and community engagement that we will make a difference.
We invite you to take a moment to read some of the articles below and don’t stop there. Join the #thinkoutsidethechair movement and share these through your social spaces. It’s through simple sharing and donating of our social spaces that together we will bring change to the lives of people in our community.
Invisible but not Silent – People with Invisible Disabilities Speak Out.
The term “invisible disability” refers to any disability that is not immediately visible to the casual observer. It’s hard to estimate how many people live with invisible disabilities because they cover such a wide range of medical conditions and impairments.
https://www.bluebadgeinsurance.com.au/invisible-not-silent-people-invisible-disabilities-speak/
Harassment in car parks.
Have you ever seen someone using an accessible parking space and suspected that they were cheating the system? Did you know that many disabilities are invisible and have no obvious external signs?
https://www.bluebadgeinsurance.com.au/people-invisible-disabilities-face-harassment-car-parks/
Invisible disabilities survey results.
The term “invisible disability” refers to any disability that is not immediately visible to the casual observer. Our survey respondents alone listed over 100 different conditions between them, including impairments as diverse as spinal injury, cancer, dementia and vision impairment. For all of these reasons, calculating the exact number of people with invisible disabilities is very difficult, but researchers tell us that between 70 and 90 per cent of all disabilities are invisible. That’s a lot of people who may not look disabled, but who still need to access a wide range of disability services and accessible facilities.
https://www.bluebadgeinsurance.com.au/invisible-not-silent-people-invisible-disabilities-speak/
Survey link.
To help raise awareness of these issues, we at Blue Badge would like to find out if you have experienced this type of harassment through our anonymous survey. It should only take 5 minutes of your time and will hopefully help us make a difference.
https://www.bluebadgeinsurance.com.au/dont-look-disabled/
Accessibility symbol.
The international symbol of access is one of the most widely recognised symbols in the world. The image of the person in a wheelchair set against a blue background indicates that a certain area or facility – be it parking, seating, toilets, transport – is accessible. Despite being one of the most iconic symbols we have, many people think it needs a makeover to be more representative of a broader range of disabilities, including those that can’t be seen.
https://www.bluebadgeinsurance.com.au/need-change-accessibility-symbol/
Applying for a permit.
Under the new Australian Disability Parking Scheme, being introduced by the Federal Government, there is now a single permit with increased security features to reduce fraudulent misuse, and to make it easier for permit holders to travel interstate.
Parking space sizes.
A common complaint we hear from people with Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles is that the spaces are simply not large enough to allow the safe and easy use of the ramp – whether it’s a side or rear entry vehicle.
https://www.bluebadgeinsurance.com.au/need-space-accessible-parking-permit-users/
Accessible parking.
Accessible parking spaces are clearly recognisable and are labelled with a white international access symbol painted on a blue rectangle. This access symbol highlights the fact that parking spaces are reserved only for vehicles displaying valid Disability Parking Permits.
https://www.bluebadgeinsurance.com.au/fantastic-parking-find/