Any advice for ride measurements with an autistic child?

[Cajun_country]

So we have brought our son to a few doctors. The last one we went to labeled him as autistic and stated it was mild. (I hate the term autistic, but I guess there has to be a term for it) When searching the Disney website, I read that I could go to Guest Services with a disability and they don't ask for a doctor's note and you get a card. Anyways, my child hates to be measured, and doesn't seem to like anyone doing certain things to his head. He will not stand still or straight to get his height taken at the doctor's office, etc. We have a measuring stick that we try to practice with at his grandma's house. I am pretty positive he is 38 inches. When we went to Dollywood last year, they had a system that allowed for children to be measured and for their height they would get a certain band, so they didn't have to be measured each time. I have read elsewhere, that Disney used to do this but people abused it, so they stopped. Dollywood, would not put a band on him because he would not stand up straight for him, so therefore we had to get measured at each and every ride just as I imagine, will happen at Disney World for us. He loves amusement rides, and is always pointing to things he is way to small to go onto. We have fast passes for the 7 Dwarf's roller coaster. I'm just worried he is going to freak out when they go to measure him, and we won't be able to get on the ride and it will be a wasted FP or another meltdown. He is very obsessed with Mickey Mouse and Cinderella's castle and want's to ride a roller coaster. This whole vacation is mainly for him.

 

[Alesia]

If they need to measure him and he refuses, he will not be allowed to ride. You might want to consider skipping rides that have a height requirement if you think it's going to be a problem. The good news is that most rides don't have a height requirement.

If it were me, I would just play it by ear. Give it a try and if it goes well, great. And if you end up wasting a fastpass, so be it. A fastpass for a ride is not worth making your son miserable over.

 

[lanejudy]

You are correct that WDW will require him to be measured at each ride if he is of questionable height, possibly even measured twice (when you enter the line and shortly before boarding). The best you can do is practice, practice, practice. Measure him at home. Tell him he needs to stand up tall and try to touch the bar with the top of his head. Many kids actually shy away and end up not measuring tall enough; if there is any space between the head and the bar, they will not allow him to ride. But really, if it's going to be an issue, I'd skip anything that he isn't obviously tall enough to do and avoid the measuring.

As with probably most everything you do -- set realistic expectations. Check out the height restrictions, and plan ahead those rides that he definitely is not tall enough; and be careful about those that he "might" be tall enough to do. As mentioned, they may measure him twice so even if he passes the first measurement he could be turned away at the second.

FP+ may be able to be rescheduled to a different ride if need be.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[sharonabe]

Could you make it a game? Would he see it as a fun challenge to see if he can make his head hit the stick? Tell him he has to keep his feet flat on the floor and do whatever else he can to make his head touch your hand or whatever you want to use.

 

[purple figment]

You might want to go over to the disABILITIES board where there is a sticky explaining the DAS card at DW:
http://www.disboards.com/forums/disabilities.20/

 

[nat8199]

At 38 inches the only rides he would need to be measured to go on are Barnstormer, 7 Dwarves, and Kali River Rapids (unless I am forgetting one). All the rest that have height requirements are at least 40 inches. You could just skip those three and enjoy the other rides, or go through the hassle of being measured for those three.

Maybe start explaining to him today, and repeat it every day until the trip, that if he wants to go on the ride he needs to get measured. It might not work completely, but it could help.

 

[bumbershoot]

Expectations. Practice. Knowledge that he has to be measured or he cannot ride.

Alas, when you're close to the mark, standing straight and tall and working to get the top of the head hit that top bar is necessary. Or be tall enough that if you stand next to it your head is obviously above it. He would need to be close to the bar though. And will very likely need to touch his head to press hair down if he's close.

It's all for his safety. He has to do it.

 

[bumbershoot]

At 38 inches the only rides he would need to be measured to go on are Barnstormer, 7 Dwarves, and Kali River Rapids (unless I am forgetting one). All the rest that have height requirements are at least 40 inches. You could just skip those three and enjoy the other rides, or go through the hassle of being measured for those three.

He very likely need to be measured for the others. It's not going to be as intense as for the rides where he's right at the mark, but they still might very well have him stand at the stick.

 

[nat8199]

He very likely need to be measured for the others. It's not going to be as intense as for the rides where he's right at the mark, but they still might very well have him stand at the stick.

I meant that he isn't tall enough for the other rides, so there isn't a point in measuring him. There are only three that measure that he is even able to go on.

 

[mrsksomeday]

Has anyone talked to you about social stories before? I would write out a social story explaining the experience. "To ride _______ I have to get measured. I have to stand up tall so they can see if I am able to ride the ride. I will get measured more than once but it only takes a minute then if I am tall enough (standing straight and tall) I will be able to ride the ride I want." Something to that affect.

 

[ttintagel]

They are very strict about height for safety reasons. Lots of good advice above for practsing and the social stories, but if you absolutely can't get him used to the idea by the time your trip rolls around, I would just skip anything that has a height requirement.

You may be eligible for the Child Swap - if you have a child in your party who's not eligible to ride something because of height (and if he's not able to be measured he'd be considered ineligible to ride), the rest of the family can ride while one adult waits with the non-riding child, and then the waiting adult gets a pass to go through the FP line once the rest of the family is back to watch the non-riding child.

 

[KEVD]

Has anyone talked to you about social stories before? I would write out a social story explaining the experience. "To ride _______ I have to get measured. I have to stand up tall so they can see if I am able to ride the ride. I will get measured more than once but it only takes a minute then if I am tall enough (standing straight and tall) I will be able to ride the ride I want." Something to that affect.

To the OP:
I also have a son who is mildly autistic (PDD NOS). He's 9 y/o. He gets certain phobias which produces anxiety about certain things (for example- dogs barking, music playing at restaurants). We find that social stories and preparation work pretty well for him on a majority of occasions. I don't know your son and I realize that every child on the spectrum is very different. But what we've done in the past to address phobias is work with him starting at least a week in advance to draw a picture-story of what the situation will look like. For your son maybe something to the effect of: "At Disney World I will stand under a line and then I will get to ride a roller coaster. It will be so much fun!" Then draw a picture of him standing under the line with the CM "measuring" him. You can also incorporate a small reward to give him... it can be something as simple as getting a sticker or a piece of candy after he gets measured. And you can add that to the story... something like: "After I stand under the line, Mom will give me a sticker". Success here will probably depend on how severe his phobia/anxiety is about being measured but it's worth a try I would think.
Another suggestion is to contact an "ABA" therapsit. They specialize in address situations like this.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

 

[Sleepy425]

If he is only 38 inches, I assume he is around the age of 3/4. At that age some kids can be hard to explain things to if they don't want it done. I'm imagining with an autistic child it can be even harder. I would aim to get him on Barnstormer and skip the Mine Train. barnstormer is only 35 inches, so if he is anywhere near the measuring stick they will be able to tell he is inches over it. This way he gets on a roller coaster, without the stress of measuring perfectly.

 

[bumbershoot]

I meant that he isn't tall enough for the other rides, so there isn't a point in measuring him. There are only three that measure that he is even able to go on.

Thank you. Apparently I got lost in my head while answering LOL.

 

[mshanson3121]

So we have brought our son to a few doctors. The last one we went to labeled him as autistic and stated it was mild.

Sorry, as a parent to two special needs children, including ASD, this is a huge pet peeve - your child was not labeled. He's not a jar of food. He was DIAGNOSED with a disorder. There's huge difference. You'll soon learn that the term "label" can be offensive to many ASD parents

As for your son's sensory issue - pretty well what other's said. I get it it, my son and daughter are the same way about anything to do with their head. My son loses it if you even remotely brush his head. I would just practice every day , use ABA techniques (positive reinforcement for allowing you to measure him). Also, social stories would be excellent. How is he with hats? I'm wondering if he might be okay being measured if he had a hat on, something to act as a barrier between him and the stick (etc...) that would be touching his head. Also, sometimes some deep proprioceptive input, especially on the head, just prior to something that's unpleasant, can really help. So you could try deep pressure therapy just before he has to be measured to help calm him, and then provide a reward once he has been measured.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

he will not be able to be measured with a hat as that will add to his height. he will be asked to remove hat before measuring because if a piece of paper fir between his head and bar he will not be able to ride and yes they can do this if it is close

 

[disnut8]

he will not be able to be measured with a hat as that will add to his height. he will be asked to remove hat before measuring because if a piece of paper fir between his head and bar he will not be able to ride and yes they can do this if it is close

But maybe he can be measured at home with a hat on to get used to the routine. Once used to that, maybe remove the hat and try with a piece of paper. After that, no paper. Make it a fun event with something he likes and then take that fun time thing along for the measurement.

 

[Figment4EVA]

I am Autistic, so I may have a different perspective. It sounds like he has a serious sensory issue with people touching his head? Is it just when he is measured, or does he hate all forms of head touching (in the bath, etc?). Perhaps he only dislikes big objects like yardsticks over his head? See if you can pinpoint down exactly what sensation he cannot stand. Sensory issues are very real and need to be respected, but sometimes a person can choose to put up with uncomfortable stimuli in order to get something they want, like a ride. Sometimes no matter how much a person wants something, the sensory pain is too unbearable to cope with.

I would suggest what others have in terms of telling him in words he can understand, that in order to ride rides, the people need to measure him. See if you can find pictures online of the cast members with their measuring sticks. A social story might help. Disney also puts out a PDF guide to the parks which they say is for people with "cognitive disabilities", but it might be suitable for Autistic people without cognitive disabilities as well.

Make sure he is given the choice to either be measured, and ride the ride, or not be measured, and not ride the ride. His choice! Don't cajole him into doing something he doesn't want to so (be measured) but give him the choice.
Also if he chooses to be measured you could tell the cast member ahead of time that your son has sensory issues and hates to have his head touched and if they can do it as quickly or gently as possible that would help. Yo can even warn them that he might squirm or scream or whatever. You can disclose his diagnosis if you feel comfortable doing so, but please be mindful of what you say in front of him if you haven't told him yet! (And I do suggest you begin talking to him about being Autistic as soon as possible so that the first things he hears about autism are positive or neutral things from people he loves and not all the horrible things out out by the media and some mainstream autism organizations.

Third, your sentiment of hating the label of "autistic" is a very common one, but it comes from a place of fear and misinformation. Labels are just adjectives. You label this person your son and yourself "mom". I imagine you label yourself a woman, perhaps a wife. Perhaps you identify with a religion or ethnic group or are a fan of something. Maybe your son is funny or smart or kind. These are all labels! Autistic is just like that. It's only negative if you think of autism as a bad thing. Your kid is awesome, I'm sure! He's also Autistic! And there's nothing wrong with that.

In fact, a lot of autistic people strongly prefer identity-first language (I am Autistic) instead of person-first language (I have autism). I don't have autism any more than I have femaleness or kindness or smartness. I am autistic, and female and kind.

I know it can take a while to get to a place of acceptance and treasuring diversity, because there are so many bad things said about autism and disability in our culture, including by doctors. But your kid is a whole and amazing (and yes, Autistic!) person and I'm sure you already know that. I hope your trip is incredible and that your boy gets to do everything he wants. I personally find disney world to be a sensory-friendly place because they pay so much attention to atmosphere and sounds in the environment.

You may want to read this:
http://autisticadvocacy.org/identity-first-language/

And might enjoy a blog like this:
https://adiaryofamom.wordpress.com

 

[tjmw2727]

Honestly - if he is about 38 inches IIRC there are only two (maybe 3?) rides he would be eligible to ride that would require measuring him. Especially if he is young I would probably just plan to skip them and focus on making this a great vacation for everyone by enjoying the many rides he can ride without being measured. You can use rider swap for the height restricted rides if there are others in the party that want to ride.

He can't miss what he doesn't know about - and why risk the day/trip over something you know upsets him?

 

[ah1126]

Do you think he would lay down and let you trace him or mark his head and foot? When my kids were babies, at the doctors office they would mark their head and foot on the paper on the table, then measure that. If you could get a measurement of him at home, then you would know which rides he might be able to ride, then you could go from there.