Hi Kirsteen,

Here at Leeds, we are just in the middle of revising our policy/procedures for 
allocating parking permits to disabled staff and students.  Whilst things may 
still change, I'm happy to bring you up-to-speed with our current thinking on 
this.

We do allocate parking permits to disabled people who do not have a 'blue 
badge' - since we are clear that the DDA duty to make reasonable 
adjustments would go beyond 'blue badge' eligibility criteria.  (For example, we 
have had cases where people with Asperger Syndrome are unable to use public 
transport to travel to the University.  Local authorities are generally 
unable/unwilling to award a blue badge to someone with an autism spectrum 
condition, but there remains a strong case under the DDA for us to award a 
university parking permit.)

At the moment, if someone has a blue badge, they simply take this to our car 
parking team, along with a few other bits of info (staff/student ID card, etc.), 
and receive a university parking permit.  

If someone does not have a blue badge, then, at present, the Disability Team 
(within the University's Equality Service) generally gets involved in considering 
the merits of an application and liaising with car parking to determine eligibility.

In the interests of speeding up the process - and mainstreaming the 
responsibility for making more decisions within the car parking team without 
Disability Team involvement - we have recently drafted a new application form 
for people to use to apply for a permit if they do not hold a 'blue badge'.  

I've attached a copy of this form - although it is only the first draft...(any 
comments welcome!).  This same application form will also be used to apply for 
a key fob to access our new 24-hour 'campus access route' through various 
buildings.

The plan is that a member of staff or student who does not have a 'blue 
badge' will complete this form and return it to car parking.  We will agree some 
basic criteria with car parking, so that they will be able to agree some 
applications without referring the cases to the Disability Team.  In more 
complex cases, or in situations in which the car parking team is considering 
refusing a request for a permit, then we will have a procedure by which they 
must refer the case to a member of staff in the Disability Team (in most cases, 
the Disability Co-ordinator with lead responsibility for supporting students with 
physical or mobility impairments).

To respond to a few of your other questions:

-  Here at Leeds, we are moving towards referring to a "disabled person's 
parking permit" and "accessible parking (spaces) for disabled people".  The 
word "accessible" on its own is probably not enough, particularly as we are 
now considering setting aside other accessible spaces in our new car parks - 
e.g. spaces for people with young children.

- Parking permits issued to disabled people at Leeds are issued free-of-charge 
(although we did have a case where a member of staff insisted on paying the 
standard fee, which was fine)

- Disabled visitors are asked to show their 'blue badge' on arrival and then 
they are given a temporary one-day permit to park (again free-of-charge).  If 
a disabled visitor requires a permit but does not have a 'blue badge', then it 
would normally be the responsibility of the department hosting the visitor to 
make prior arrangements with the car parking team.

I hope this is helpful.

Levi

____________________

Levi Pay
Head of Equality Service
University of Leeds
Leeds
LS2 9JT

Telephone:  0113 343 3779
Fax: 0113 343 3944
Textphone/minicom (voicemail): 0113 343 2616
Email:  [log in to unmask]