Extending free bus passes

National Entitlement Cards (free bus passes) are available to older people and some disabled people across Scotland. Before 2006, lots of people with learning disabilities had a local concessionary bus pass but now some people are finding that they cannot get a national bus pass.

Public transport and getting out and about is very important for people with learning disabilities and their families. ENABLE wants more people with learning disabilities to get a National Entitlement Card so they can travel free on the bus.

In May 2008 ENABLE Glasgow member Sally Ann Elfverson presented a petition on behalf of the Learning Disability Alliance Scotland to the Petitions Committee of the Scottish Parliament calling for free bus passes to be made available to everyone who receives Disability Living Allowance, regardless of the rate.

The government has not agreed to this as yet, but the campaign continues.  In the meantime, anyone having difficulty renewing their bus pass should check out ENABLE’s fact sheet on this issue.

Older Carers – Running Out of Time

Around 60% of people with learning disabilities still live in the family home with carers, usually parents.  May of these parents are now reaching an age where it becomes much harder to be a full time carer, yet still can’t get the services they need to support them in the caring role.  ENABLE believes this problem is especially acute in Glasgow, and that all agencies involved in the support of people with learning disabilities need to begin comprehensive planning now in order to meet the increasing demand for services when family carers are unable to continue in their role.

Today’s is the first generation of people with learning disabilities who are likely to outlive their parents, and society cannot continue to take the support provided by family carers for granted.

As well as campaigning locally, ENABLE Glasgow has been closely involved in ENABLE Scotland’s national Running Out of Time Campaign. The O’Hara family, who have been ENABLE Glasgow members for many years, have played a key part in this campaign.  Mrs. O'Hara is 90. She has four children, two of whom have learning disabilities. Her daughter, Rose, who is 69, is supported to live in a shared home by ENABLE Glasgow.  However, her son Michael, who is 49, still lives at home, with Mrs. O'Hara responsible for most of his care.

There are thousands of older carers like Mrs. O'Hara. who have been caring for their sons and daughters for their whole lives and see little end in sight. The Running Out of Time campaign wants to see people like Mrs. O'Hara better supported to plan for the future, with more realistic options available for her son.