Blue badge parking should be granted to all children, of any age, who are restricted after treatment with a spica cast.

Hip Dysplasia is the medical term which describes a variety of conditions in which the ball and socket of the hip do not develop properly. Very often, when children are treated for this condition, they need to be placed in a spica cast for several months at a time. This is a plaster cast which can vary in shape and size, but generally starts at the chest and goes all the way down to the ankles on one or both legs. Not only does this pose a huge problem transporting a child in a buggy or wheelchair, but is extremely challenging when attempting to get them into and out of a vehicle.

All children in a spica cast, regardless of their age, should be automatically granted a disabled person's blue badge to enable sufficient space to be lifted into and out of a vehicle. Not allowing a child to access disabled parking can affect their well being by restricting their ability to go out during treatment, thus affecting the emotional and mental well being of the entire family.

Families dealing with a child who has Hip Dysplasia have more than enough to cope with on a day-to-day basis and making it possible for them to apply for a blue badge with automatic acceptance would be one less challenge to face.

I started Hearts for Hips - a fundraising group raising money for specialist equipment to loan free to families of children with Hip Dysplasia - because there is very little affordable equipment available for these children. The attached video features many children from our support group and the many different types of spica casts and braces that are used. We also have a Facebook support group which can be found here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/220446427984293/

I am petitioning on behalf of all families affected by this condition because I have a daughter with Hip Dysplasia who was born with no hip socket. She has had several major reconstructive surgeries and needed to be placed in a spica cast for several months. Having a child of five years old in the first cast and then seven years old in the second cast was challenging, but having a blue badge made a massive difference to our ability to get her out and about. Not all local authorities grant a blue badge to a child over three years. That is the reason I believe this should be automatically granted to all children in a spica cast.

I would respectfully ask Justin Tomlinson MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Disabled People to make this request a reality and assist these disabled children to live a full and enjoyable life.