Advice on mild disabilities

[Hollytigs]

My DD5 has a brain disorder which means she has some disabilities including visual problems, learning difficulties, mobility problems and speech problems. The thing is that they are all quite mild, and improving all the time

Currently they are at this kind of stage:

Mobility - can walk some distances (for a couple of hours) but does get tired easily due to poor muscles and can't climb stairs, run, jump, hop without assitance and has poor balance. (she couldn't climb into a car without help for example).

Speech - baby talk 'Me want drink' etc

Learning difficulties - she is nearly 6 but has learning level of about 3-4 years.

Visual problems - I forget what its called, but her eyes are constantly flicking so she has trouble focusing, especially long distance (i.e. in a show she would have trouble picking out characters on a stage)

Sensitivity - very sensitive to noise and other things like being touched or splashed.

Last year when we went to Disneyland Paris, I got her a disabled pass, but then she couldn't walk very far at all. We aren't going until next year, so who knows what she will be like then, but as she has been 'signed off' by all her Doctors (she only sees physiotherapists, speech therapists etc now), should I get her some kind of pass, or should I just tell the CMs at shows 'she needs to sit near the front', or with characters 'she doesn't like to be touched'.

Sorry for the long post, but I would appreciate advice and to hear about other people's experiences.

 

[SueM in MN]

If you check out the disABILITIES FAQs thread, there is some information that will be helpful to you. That thread is near the top of this board (or you can follow the link in my signature directly to that thread).

Specifically, in post #6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread, there is information about the Guest Assistance Card (GAC).
The GAC is similar to the card you got in Disneyland Paris. Because much of DL Paris is not handicapped accessible, you need the card there to use the accessible entrance. The Studio at DL Paris is much more accessible, so you may not have needed the card there as much.
WDW is much more accessible than Paris is, so in most cases, people with wheelchairs will be in the 'regular' line.

Mobility - can walk some distances (for a couple of hours) but does get tired easily due to poor muscles and can't climb stairs, run, jump, hop without assitance and has poor balance. (she couldn't climb into a car without help for example).

Since she has difficulty with tiring, stairs, balance and will need help with boarding, I'd suggest you ask for a GAC (or sticker) that allows you to use a stroller as a wheelchair. That would allow the stroller to be brought into lines and treated just like a wheelchair. Besides 'tiredness' , she would avoid any areas with stairs in the queue and would board at the exit for those attractions with moving walkways (people with wheelchairs usually wait in line until almost at the 'regular' boarding area and are then pulled out of line to board at the exit. This allows the moving walkway to be slowed or stopped (NOTE: Peter Pan can't be stopped and you need to board quickly).
There is more information about 'moving walkway' attractions in post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

You could use the park strollers, but if you need to rent a large size stroller for her, there is information in post #2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

Visual problems - I forget what its called, but her eyes are constantly flicking so she has trouble focusing, especially long distance (i.e. in a show she would have trouble picking out characters on a stage)

There are a couple of links to threads about touring with visual disabilities in post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. One is about planning a trip with a visually impaired 4 yr old.

Speech - baby talk 'Me want drink' etc

Learning difficulties - she is nearly 6 but has learning level of about 3-4 years.

Sensitivity - very sensitive to noise and other things like being touched or splashed.

You may want to look at some of the links about autism in post #3 of the FAQs because many people with autism have similar sensitivity to noise and/or touch. There are some suggestions in those threads about dealing with characters. Basically, the easiest is just to tell the handler and character that she is fearful and doesn't like being touched. You don't need to go into detail. Many kids without special needs are a bit tentative about the characters since they are so large. Character meals are a good place to see characters without as much stress. Also, she may want to just stand back and watch for a while rather than actually going up to the characters.

For splashing, there are not that many places that have any splashing, so you will be able to avoid them if you know which they are.

The speech and learning won't make much difference for attractions, you might want to look at attractions that younger children enjoyed because she would likely enjoy those too. But, I don't see much other than that for those issues.

 

[Hollytigs]

Thanks for the advice.

I think we probably will go ahead and ask for a GAC, but we may not need it all of the time depending on how you get on / get off a ride. I will definately go and look at the posts in the FAQ (probably should have looked there first ) especially about the big strollers (she is a large girl as part of her condition and also due to her lack of movement until recently).

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for the advice.

I think we probably will go ahead and ask for a GAC, but we may not need it all of the time depending on how you get on / get off a ride. I will definately go and look at the posts in the FAQ (probably should have looked there first ) especially about the big strollers (she is a large girl as part of her condition and also due to her lack of movement until recently).

It would be helpful for the rides with moving walkways, but many rides come to a complete stop for boarding and you would not need to board at another spot.
This thread has information about rides with moving walkways. If you lose the link, it is in post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread.