applying for gac for autistic child

[jenhclec]

Hi everyone,

My son is 4 and is moderately autistic. I am applying for the GAC for him. He gets very anxious when surrounded by people, even standing in line. When he starts screaming, it is very disruptive to other people. Do I need a doctor's note for GAC? Does it make it easier to get one if I have it?

TIA!

 

[Michigan]

It is a violation of the ADA law for them to read a letter from your doctor, so no you don't need one and it won't help.

Basically, you will explain your son's situation and they will determine the GAC that is appropriate for him.

 

[SueM in MN]

If you haven't looked at the disABILITIES FAQs thread, I think it would be helpful for you to read it.
You can follow the link in my signature to that thread or find it near the top of this board. Post 6 is about GACs.

Basically, you explain your child's needs related to his disability to Guest Relations and they will tell you what accommodations they have for those needs.

You can bring a letter from the doctor along if it makes you feel more confident asking for a GAC, but as Michigan mentioned, the Cast Members re not supposed to look at letters, the important point is that you be able to explain your child's needs.

 

[DisMom1981]

Hi everyone,

My son is 4 and is moderately autistic. I am applying for the GAC for him. He gets very anxious when surrounded by people, even standing in line. When he starts screaming, it is very disruptive to other people. Do I need a doctor's note for GAC? Does it make it easier to get one if I have it?

TIA!

I just got back- also similar 4 year old. We had a great touring plan the first day. Rope drop helped us be able to do a lot in MK. The afternoon was ROUGH- we left early for a mid day break and evening was tough too- heat and crowds. So on day 2 I explained the problems of day 1 and without hesitation was given a GAC- we didn't use it once though. We took lots of breaks, had an iPod touch which helped TREMENDOUSLY and mostly tried to just go with the flow.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Betty Rohrer]

even with GAC your son can be inline with people near him. some rides the the wait there can be longer than normal wait and just as crowded in the space there. it is not front of the line, most times we were sent in the fastpass line. this is esp true if you use stroller as wheelchair

 

[lanejudy]

I recommend that you plan some strategies to help distract him while in line. As PP indicated, even an "alternative wait area" is going to have other people in line with you. And it could be a longer wait. Do you have enough other people in your party to create a bit of a "buffer zone" around him in line? I'm thinking DH is first, DS in the middle, and you can hang back a bit giving a couple extra feet of space so he doesn't feel crowded? Can you use toys or electronics to distract him while waiting so he's not noticing the time or the others around him? Or would noise-canceling headphones help to block out the other people?

Hopefully your trip is coming up this fall which historically has been a less-crowded time of year. That can help tremendously. Also, using a touring plan to avoid the most crowded park and the more crowded areas of each park can be a big help. And be prepared to through plans to the wind and follow his lead -- if he needs time away from the park, go hang out at the pool, or stop for a snack break, ride the train or the monorail endlessly. It might not be your idea of fun but it could be the most exciting part of the vacation for him.

 

[Stitch76]

Hi everyone,

My son is 4 and is moderately autistic. I am applying for the GAC for him. He gets very anxious when surrounded by people, even standing in line. When he starts screaming, it is very disruptive to other people. Do I need a doctor's note for GAC? Does it make it easier to get one if I have it?

TIA!

Have you considered using a stroller for him? My son is also autistic, and we found the best way to help him in the crowd was to use a stroller. We got a tag for it that allowed us to take it into lines (stroller as wheelchair tag) when we got his GAC.
It helped shield him from being so crowded, and gave him a little bubble he could retreat to if he felt overwhelmed.

 

[ppony]

Have you considered using a stroller for him? My son is also autistic, and we found the best way to help him in the crowd was to use a stroller. We got a tag for it that allowed us to take it into lines (stroller as wheelchair tag) when we got his GAC.
It helped shield him from being so crowded, and gave him a little bubble he could retreat to if he felt overwhelmed.

This is us too. He's got incredibly low muscle tone too and he's a small peanut, so it's needed, but it's been a God-send it keeping his distances from others. He can and does still reach out to hit or scratch people, but it's a good buffer anyway. He'll be 7 on our next trip and I'm sure we'll still use it. Even when he's 7, unless somethig major happens within a year, he'll still look like he's 4 or 5...which should satisfy some judgey people.

 

[tlpbupu]

This is us too. He's got incredibly low muscle tone too and he's a small peanut, so it's needed, but it's been a God-send it keeping his distances from others. He can and does still reach out to hit or scratch people, but it's a good buffer anyway. He'll be 7 on our next trip and I'm sure we'll still use it. Even when he's 7, unless somethig major happens within a year, he'll still look like he's 4 or 5...which should satisfy some judgey people.

We are going next month. My dd is 7 and has high functioning Autism. She speaks clearly and is very articulate, which makes people assume I am a liar about her needs. She will also be in a stroller at times when she needs it. My 7 yr old also looks like she is 9-10 so imagine the looks I got. But unless they are pushing her it doesn't affect them so they can glare and make comments while I pass them on our way to Splash Mountain (her favorite!)

 

[bookwormde]

Just to clarify, it is not against ADA for CMs or any other businesses staff to read a physicians letter offered without request or enticement. Many businesses have made if a policy not to take them to remove any liability that they may have been asked for or other wise made to feel that they are needed which would be a violation

 

[foxxxy83]

My son is nearly 7, Autistic but looks like a 10 yr old. He has sensory issues, doesn't understand about emotions, has no sense of personal space and if anything happens (esp high pitched noises) that distress him, it's like the scene from Rainman where Dustin Hoffman's character (Raymond) hears the fire alarm and gets really distressed. This can happen anytime without notice and is very distressing for others to see as well as distressing for him. To conquer this, I tend to hold him and show him anything I can (a bird perched on a bench or the way my watch shines or ANYTHING). It keeps him calm and soothed and other people are often empathetic when I explain to them. I think it relief all round to be honest. We don't get as many funny looks as we used to (or at least I don't notice as much these days as it's the norm for us). I know it will be a prob on the plane at take off/landing but thankfully we're in a 2-3-2 formation so I have booked an aisle seat for myself and a window seat for him so it should be fine. I'm going to apply for the GAC just in case we NEED it but we won't use it unnecessarily. Hope you have a great trip whatever you decide to do and just remember that you're not the only one with a GAC... I hear LOADS of people get them. The rules are changing slightly on Oct 9th but Guest Relations will be able to give you all the assistance you need!

 

[SueM in MN]

If your entire trip is before October 9, the information in post 6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread is still current.

GACs are changing on October 9, so if any part of your trip is after October 9, the new Disability Access System will be in place. There is some information in a thread stuck to the top of this board. Disney had released a general outline, but not a lot of specifics.
Requesting it should be the same - you go to a park Guest Relations any explain your needs.
How it works will be a bit different. If you are not accessing the ride using Fastpass or the regular line, you will get a return time to come to the attraction.

 

[sonofanarchy]

This news has devastated my family. We have relied on the GAC for many years. WDW has been our vacation choice every year for as long as I can remember. When I became aware of my panic disorder and shortly thereafter, my back issues, the GAC saved our vacations. This new plan will simply not work or make it worth the expense of a WDW vacation. Sadly, I am in the process of now cancelling a January and July trip.

 

[SueM in MN]

I am going to close this thread because we are not ready for discussion about the new program - GAC chSnging to DAS (Disability Assistance Program).