In January 2021, the BBC Shared Data Unit worked with the Local Democracy Reporting Service to report people with non-visible disabilities such as autism or Parkinson's disease faced what a charity called a "shocking disparity" when applying for a blue badge parking permit.
Scores of councils had lower approval rates for non-visible disabilities applications compared to those for physical impairments.
Non-visible disability applications began in England in August 2019.
The Department for Transport (DfT) said it would review their impact.
James Taylor, from the disability charity Scope, said: "This new data shows a shocking disparity between the allocations of blue badges to people with invisible and visible impairments."
The National Autistic Society said the results showed how important it was for councils to improve training to ensure staff understood when people should be entitled to a "lifeline" blue badge.
The removal of accessible parking bays next to shops and amenities "overnight, without any consultation" to allow for social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic had also had a "massive impact" on disabled people, Scope said.
Applications for people with cognitive impairments were already considered in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The BBC Shared Data Unit obtained Freedom of Information Act (FOI) responses from the 216 upper-tier councils across the UK via the WhatDoTheyKnow website.
Of the 109 councils who gave full responses, eight out of 10 had higher approval rates for people with physical impairments. For ten of those councils, the difference was greater than 50 percentage points.
The data and background methodology released to partners are available here:
- James Taylor, executive director strategy impact and social change at disability equality charity Scope
- Tim Nicholls, head of policy and public affairs at the National Autistic Society
- Paul Edwards, director of clinical services at Dementia UK
- Councillor David Renard, transport spokesperson for the Local Government Association
- The Department for Transport
- Cumbria County Council
- Portsmouth City Council
- Durham County Council
- Coventry City Council
- Nottinghamshire County Council
- Rochdale Borough Council
- Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
The Shared Data Unit makes data journalism available to the wider news industry as part of the BBC Local News Partnership. Stories written by partners based on this research included:
- Bracknell News: Blue Badge disparity: Bracknell Forest has one of UK's highest rates 7 January 2021
- Northern Echo: Less blue badges for people with non-visible disabilities 7 January 2021
- Wigan Today: Wigan Council bucks trend on blue badges for non-visible disabilities 7 January 2021
- ITV Tyne Tees: 'Postcode lottery' for blue badge applicants with non-visible disabilities 7 January 2021
- The Guildford Dragon: No Visible Disability? Not Much Blue Badge Chance in Surrey 7 January 2021
- Yellow Advertiser: Blue badge disparity for non visibly disabled in Havering 7 January 2021
- Yorkshire Live: Kirklees Council refused more than half Blue Badge requests from people with 'non-visible' disabilities 7 January 2021
- Belfast Telegraph: Concern at lack of disabled bays in council car parks 7 January 2021
- Cranfield & Marston Vale Chronicle: Blue badge permit ‘shocking disparity’ revealed 7 January 2021
- Midsomer Norton Nub News: B&NES figures on handing out blue badges ; Figures not as disappointing as other areas under new rules 7 January 2021
- Rochdale Online: "Shocking disparity" in number of blue badge permits approved for applicants with non-visible disabilities 8 January 2021
- News & Star: Carlisle mother: lack of blue badges for invisible disabilities is 'injustice' 8 January 2021
- Times & Star: Carlisle mother: lack of blue badges for invisible disabilities is 'injustice' 8 January 2021
- Cumbria: The Mail: Huge disparity for people approved for a Blue Badge permit in Cumbria revealed 8 January 2021
- Portsmouth: The News: Portsmouth among worst cities for granting blue badges to people with hidden disabilities 8 January 2021
- Middlewich Guardian: Disparity found in Cheshire West blue badge bid approvals 8 January 2021
- Romford Recorder: People with non-visible disabilities much less likely to be granted Blue Badge 8 January 2021
- Knutsford Guardian: Cheshire East blue badge approval disparity revealed 8 January 2021
- Northwich Guardian: Disparity found in Cheshire West blue badge bid approvals 8 January 2021
- Winsford Guardian: Disparity found in Cheshire West blue badge bid approvals 8 January 2021
- Frodsham Nub News: Cheshire West and Chester to 'develop' blue badge scheme following 'shocking disparity' between allocations to people with visible and invisible impairments 8 January 2021
- Macclesfield Nub News: Cheshire East Council defends blue parking badge record 8 January 2021
- Nantwich News: Cheshire East defends record amid claims of blue badge permits disparity 9 January 2021
- Crewe Nub News: Cheshire East Council defends blue badge record for people with 'hidden disabilities' 10 January 2021
- Chronicle Live: Criticism over 'postcode lottery' Blue Badge applications for invisible disabilities in North East 10 January 2021
- Congleton Nub News: Cheshire East: Council defends blue parking badge record 11 January 2021
- Surrey Live: Surrey County Council less likely to give Blue Badge to people with non-visible disabilities 11 January 2021
- Cheshire Live: The Cheshire people with disabilities least likely to get a blue badge 11 January 2021
- Gloucestershire Live: Blue Badges for people with non-visibility disabilities less likely to be handed out in Gloucestershire 11 January 2021
- Planet Radio: Investigation shows big differences in blue-badge approvals in Essex 11 January 2021
- Nottinghamshire Live: Figures show the difficulty in getting a Blue Badge for a 'hidden disability' in Nottinghamshire 12 January 2021
- Teesside Live: Teesside councils respond after blue badge figures reveal stark gap for hidden disabilities 12 January 2021
- Chester Standard: Cheshire west blue badge scheme to be ‘developed’ amid 'shocking disparity' criticism 12 January 2021
- Peterborough Matters: Revealed: The difference in approval rates between blue badges in Peterborough 12 January 2021
- South Cotswolds Gazette: Gloucestershire drivers with non-visible disabilities less likely to get blue badge 15 January 2021
- Liverpool Echo: Council to review Blue Badge policy after 'shocking' figures emerge 15 January 2021
- Leicestershire Live: People with 'invisible' disabilities are disadvantaged when applying for Blue Badge parking permits 16 January 2021
- ITV News Central: New figures show people with invisible disabilities in the Midlands struggle to get Blue Badges 16 January 2021
- Bracknell News: "You spoke and we have listened" - Wokingham council improves disabled blue badge system following complaints 19 January 2021
- Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald: Two applications have been rejected from North Ayrshire Council for Blue Badge extension 19 January 2021
- Wirral Globe: BBC blue badge investigation sparks Wirral Council review 20 January 2021
The story featured on BBC front, home and England pages. It was also used by BBC North West Tonight, BBC East Midlands Today, BBC Midlands Today, BBC Look North, BBC Somerset, BBC Radio Shropshire, BBC Radio York, BBC Radio Tees, BBC Radio Leicester, BBC Radio Sheffield, BBC Radio Berkshire, BBC Radio Manchester, BBC CWR, BBC Three Counties Radio, BBC Radio Oxford and BBC Radio Bradford. It also led to a further report for BBC West Midlands online: Blue badge denied: Stourbridge mum feels 'worthless'.
- Sunday Mirror: Autistic 'less likely to get blue badges' 10 January 2021
You can find all coronavirus-related stories by the BBC data units tagged 'coronavirus' here