By bizn_fun 
Last week, BBC News revealed that Alton Towers planned to stop automatically granting its disability queuing pass to some guests with autism, ADHD, anxiety and other non-physical disabilities, if their Nimbus access pass only indicated they struggled being in crowds.
Many families contacted BBC Your Voice to express their frustration and to say that it would stop them from taking their neurodivergent children to the Merlin theme parks they loved.
Some described the proposed system as “unworkable”, while charities warned it risked creating new barriers in an already difficult environment.
The now-aborted plan followed an update by the disability access card provider Nimbus Disability which Merlin uses to verify additional needs.
Nimbus has split its former “standing and queuing” card section into two separate symbols: “difficulty standing” (a physical need) and “difficulty with crowds” (often linked to neurodivergence or anxiety).
Nimbus Disability Managing director Martin Austin said: “We developed the Access Card in response to frustrations shared by disabled people and venues about how disability was evidenced.
“Merlin has been considering how these criteria relate to its Ride Access Pass… Accessibility is constantly evolving and improving, and we welcome Merlin’s willingness to listen to feedback.”
Nimbus said it remained in “close dialogue” with Merlin and the wider industry about how its system might best support both disabled guests and operators.
The British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers & Attractions (BALPPA) said that pressure on accessibility systems went beyond the parks owned by Merlin.
“British attractions have made significant progress with accessibility, but are facing operational challenges with increasing demand from guests,” BALPPA chief executive Paul Kelly said.
“We support Nimbus’s continued efforts… Their input will be invaluable as we continue to evolve our approach.”