Accident on DCA TSM today.

[onlyoneash]

How can you fall onto the tracks unless you were distracted or not paying attention?!?

I've got MS. I haven't felt my feet in AGES. I don't do well in heat (it's an MS thing). I've had to CRAWL to a cold place--in the freakin' middle of the parks--because my legs stopped working. I also have bad depth perception as well. So anything that is "obviously" a change in elevation (a step, a ramp) isn't so obvious to me if there isn't a significant color change.

I promise, I'm paying attention. I'm paying so much attention that I've stopped rides trying not to fall, knowing that no matter what I do, my foot is going to hit the edge of ride vehicle. If I'm lucky, Hubs will be there to catch me. If I'm not, I'm ending up on my bad arm, my bad knees, or my rear, depending on what angle I go, if I don't manage to catch myself. (Now I know about the alternative loading areas, thankfully.)

Not all disabilities are visible. Unless you were there--unless you were a part of her party!--you have NO IDEA why she fell, and to blame it on her being distracted, not paying attention, or texting is just plain offensive to those of us trying to enjoy the parks regardless of our physical issues!

My grandma has MS and she has very similar symptoms. People would judge her for not looking "disabled" but trust me, it was harder for her to spend a day in Disneyland than even my son with a broken leg.

 

[kverdon]

I don't know how she managed to get disorientated and wind up in that position to fall, she definitely was not on her phone. My wife commented she looked a bit disoriented in line but there are numerous things that can cause that, low blood sugar, lack of sleep, migraine headache, etc. Having gone back to the ride it is a odd place to fall but at the same time if you did wind up between the cars, all it takes is a slight misstep and down you go. . We were not able to see how bad she was hurt as they cleared the queue pronto. She was at least sitting up in the track pit and talking to her friend by the time we left so that was encouraging.