Autism and Disney

[maroo]

I have asked about food - and gotten some great responses...so now I am just looking for tips for traveling and doing the parks with a 13 year old with autism.


He is non-verbal, a runner, not terribly attached to a schedule (he will take his shower exactly at 9PM, but that is about the only schedule he adheres to).

He is highly intelligent. He is able to play three different games on three different phones at the same time, if that gives you an idea of how fast his mind works - simply amazing.

He is sometimes over stimulated by noise, but sometimes likes things really loud (like the TV).

As far as I know, he has never been to an amusement park or seen live fireworks.

He was a victim of a severe tornado in April (2 months ago) that tore apart his house - so he is now really afraid of thunder. (And possibly trains?) They said it truly sounded like a train. The tornado was 3/4 of a MILE wide and tore up everything around them. So we need to avoid anything with thunder or something like that.



We are working on meals and I have gotten a lot of helpful advice on that!

He loves watching Disney videos and is completely obsessed with Mickey Mouse and Disney.

We know to obtain a GAC and how it works in the parks.


Is there any sort of ID that has worked for you guys? Evidently he won't wear a bandaid or anything that touches his skin (except soft clothes).

Any hints on preventing running? And what to do if he does run? Even out of sight (I just want them to be prepared).

What about autism awareness type of things? I have seen that some families wear awareness shirts? If so, where can we get some?

Any ideas for things we need to have with us that we may forget? We plan to bring an iPhone to entertain him (movies, etc) and ear plugs (although he may not wear them).


He is 120 pounds, so a stroller as a wheelchair won't work...do you guys have any other ideas for creating a "safe" place for him?

They are staying at the POP in a handicapped room (for the shower). Is there a way to try to keep the door so that it can't be opened by him in the middle of the night?


Is there anything else you can help us with?

 

[maroo]

I am replying to my own thread...so that I don't forget this tip I just read on another thread....

BELLS - put bells on the door of the room so we will be alerted if he tries to leave the room. Great idea that I never would have thought of apart from the DIS!

 

[clanmcculloch]

I don't have any answers to your specific questions, but I do want to make sure you know to avoid Stormstruck in Innoventions East in Epcot. They simulate being inside a house during a tornado.

 

[maroo]

I don't have any answers to your specific questions, but I do want to make sure you know to avoid Stormstruck in Innoventions East in Epcot. They simulate being inside a house during a tornado.

OH my gosh...that would be a disaster (no pun intended!)...thank you so much!

We are definitely planning to spend some time in Innoventions - we think he will like some of the hands on things in there - but we will stay away from Stormstruck. Is it something we can avoid seeing? Or do we need to avoid the area altogether?

 

[clanmcculloch]

I think that there may be some drawn pictures of tornados outside the waiting area. If I remember correctly, you can see this from the walkway as you pass by. It's located right by the doors closest to the center of Future World, right across from the Kim Possible Fast Pass spot. If you enter Innoventions East from the Test Track/Mission: Space side then you can easily miss it. When you get to Sum of all Thrills and the garbage game (can't remember the name but there are giant garbage trucks and impossible to miss, just stop and turn around and go back out the same way you came in. You won't see Stormstruck until you get around the bend past SOAT. If you want to do KP missions you can get the FP either in Innoventions West or on the bridge crossing over to World Showcase.

 

[maroo]

I think that there may be some drawn pictures of tornados outside the waiting area. If I remember correctly, you can see this from the walkway as you pass by. It's located right by the doors closest to the center of Future World, right across from the Kim Possible Fast Pass spot. If you enter Innoventions East from the Test Track/Mission: Space side then you can easily miss it. When you get to Sum of all Thrills and the garbage game (can't remember the name but there are giant garbage trucks and impossible to miss, just stop and turn around and go back out the same way you came in. You won't see Stormstruck until you get around the bend past SOAT. If you want to do KP missions you can get the FP either in Innoventions West or on the bridge crossing over to World Showcase.

Thank you so much! This is a huge tip and meltdown prevention!

 

[ratlenhum]

http://www.mypreciouskid.com/ID-shoes-tags.html

We use those for our son. I have a friend who just writes her cell number on her son's upper arm with a sharpie each morning.

Running out the door but will re-read your post and try to help with more suggestions later.

 

[ratlenhum]

As far as running, you can rent a special needs stroller. They do make them big enough for a 13 year old. The Macclaren Major has a weight limit of 130 lbs. My son is luckily out of the running stage but being in a stroller keeps him close. He also skips and flaps his arms a bit and doesn't see the people around him. He'll walk or run into people like they're not there. Being in a stroller keeps him still and calm.


As far as awareness, will he wear a button on his shirt? I know one mom who made her own button that says "I have autism, please be patient with me."

You can also go to Cafe Press to get a few ideas for sayings, buy a few different colored Tshirts and make him a shirt for each day.
Ex: "Autism: Been there doing that" "My Autism makes me special" or anything like that. My favorite is "I have autism what's your excuse" but I wouldn't put that on my kid at Disney. I try to spread the magic and the love and not start out on the defensive

Make sure you carry a small bag of a favorite snack, or even a forbidden food. My son doesn't get a lot of candy but when we travel I get him GFCF M&M's and keep a small bag with us. If things get really bad, oh boy do they provide a good distraction. I pop one in his mouth and it gets his attention and then I give him a handful to keep him distracted while we leave whatever attraction or area we have to leave. We haven't had to do that in ages but I still carry them just in case. Another thing that works well for my son is Fruitabu roll ups. Small fidgit toys work well too. If the iPhone will keep him busy that's great but I'd have something new and interesting (and small) stashed in my bag somewhere. In the past I've carried a tiny koosh ball, a individual pack of model magic, stuff like that.

Bells on the door wouldn't not wake me up out of a dead tired Disney sleep. We use this door stop alarm. You put it behind the door. If anyone pushes from the outside, it stops the door and sets the alarm off. If anyone opens from the inside, it'll do the same thing. Even if you move it once it's set, it'll go off. DOOR STOP ALARM

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

I think Living With the Land boat ride also has thunder-it's not very loud but does simulate a mild thunderstorm.

The 4D shows are very sensory-and can be hard for kids with sensitivities.

Also, Figment ride has a large burst of air at the end that terrifies dd.

The Great Movie Ride also can be scary for kids that are afraid of guns or aliens.

 

[clanmcculloch]

The mention of the 4D shows reminds me that in Philharmagic there's a scene where Donald gets sucked into what looks like a tornado from the inside.

 

[bookwormde]

You can also hear the thunder at Garden Grill so you might want to avoid that also.

bookwormde

 

[Schmeck]

When are they going? There are times of the year in Orlando where there is a thunderstorm every single afternoon - they'd better avoid the summer and early fall!

 

[maroo]

IF we can raise the money in time (and we are close!), then they are going over Labor Day weekend.

We are not so worried about the daily thunderstorms in real life - we get those here about every day - I just don't want to artificially scare him, if that makes sense. Really the whole family probably doesn't need any of that.

For the daily thunderstorms, I will have my iPhone with me at all times and am pretty good at checking the weather often - so we can be inside during any potential storm. I deally we will be in the room when those happen anyway, for a midday break.

Garden Grille - for example - I need to talk to his Mom about that. I think that is one that they are very much looking forward to - but the thunder issue may keep them from wanting to do that.

THank you so much for all of the help!

 

[pilgrimr]

We also use a MacClarren Major for our son who is about 100 lbs. You might check it out to see if you can rent it. He can walk but it gives him his space and helps me not to worry about him running off. In the morning when he is ready to go to the park he straps himself in.

If he is really good w/ smart phones I did a photo gallery of the attractions in the parks and added them to my son's itouch. That way we share what we could communicate about the rides we were going to do. Here is the link if you want to download them. http://www.wdwautism.com/image-galleries-and-smart-phonesitouches They were very helpful for him to let me know what he wanted to do.

Have a good time.

 

[Schmeck]

At Garden Grille, maybe they could do a walk-around inside the restaurant to show him where the thunder sound is coming from?

 

[AJKMOM]

When DS was younger, I used a diaper pin and a 3x5 card to identify him. Name, resort, our names and numbers.

Then, I pinned it to the back of his shirt where he couldn't reach it even if he knew it was there. Also, we got a "hand holder" that velcroed around his wrist.

I also have plenty of autism awareness shirts and I wear them every day that I think we might have a problem.

 

[maroo]

Thank you all so much! These are so helpful!

I am definitely going to check into the stroller idea.

I am just not at all sure how he is going to react to a stroller in general? I wish there was a way to rent one here or something and take him somewhere in it? It would be really good to have so that he doesn't run off and would maybe have a safe place where he can retreat to.

Thank you all so much!!

 

[ElizabethG]

I don't remember hearing anything in the Garden Grill. It is one of my kids favorites. They like that the restaurant is a ride (it rotates throught he Land pavillion). I think it is one of the quieter character meals. It is the only reason my son (ASD) has agreed to go back to Epcot this year. You can take that as a warning about the 4D shows. On our first trip to Epcot, we went to Nemo, followed by Honey I Shrunk the Kids. We were only in there for a few minutes when my son started screaming and we had to leave. We didn't go on anything (except Nemo) the rest of the day. At the beginning they would announce "This ride has some loud noises that may frighten some children". My son would say, "Loud noises! I don't want to go." That was the first day of our trip. He wouldn't go on any "black box" rides (rides inside a building where you can't see what is going to happen). I finally convinced him to go on small world and he loved it! That ride litterally saved our trip. Anyway, he now thinks Epcot is scary and doesn't want to go there. We are going for half a day on our next trip and will be eating at Garden Grill.

For running: There is a new therapy device called the ConnectorRX. It looks like the devices you use for small kids. It was developed by a group called PACE in Oregon. We love them. We have done there week long program in Oregon (we live in MN) and have attended many of their workshops in our area. MN is a place they visit frequently as they have many clients there. They have been working with kids on the spectrum for more than 25 years. I call Eric the Autism Whisperer.

This is a quote from the son of a friend of mine. He is 17, very verbal, and is on the spectrum:
"When I'm on the Connector Rx. I feel very comfortable and relaxed; I feel that I have a better connection with my surroundings because one of my parents, who I trust, is with me. When I'm not hooked up, I get distracted and don't get social cues very well. I like having it on because, it makes me respond more, and I'm more attentive in my social interactions."

I keeps kids more engaged and they don't want to run. As a parent, you actually get to enjoy some shared experiences with your child. The child feels safe and can enjoy what is going on around them more. For example, my son was afraid of animals (dogs or larger). Going to the zoo was filled with anxiety. He did not like it at all. I took him there while 'connected' and he wasn't afraid. He started having so much fun with his sister while looking at the polar bear underwater, that I disconnected him. When we were leaving the exhibit, he told me that we had to connect again. Now he loves the zoo.

I've talked enough. You can check it out if you want.
http://paceplaceinc.com/
http://www.connectorrx.com/connectorrx/howitworks.asp

Best wishes.

 

[Schmeck]

Question about the Connector Rx - Why is the cord between the two belts knotted in 3 places?

 

[SueM in MN]

We know to obtain a GAC and how it works in the parks.

Don’t have time for a long reply, but my suggestion would be to have them look at TourGuide Mike or Ridemax.
A lot of people who have children with autism have found those touring services work better for them than a GAC because they help you to be in the quietest part of the quietest park. Many people have posted that they did use GACs in the past, but found that it was much better with TourGuide Mike and they never waited more than 10 minutes for anything in the regular lines, even during busy times of year.

Any hints on preventing running? And what to do if he does run? Even out of sight (I just want them to be prepared).

Orland Stroller rental rents out Big Leap GPS Locators which may be helpful for peace of mind if he does run.

He is 120 pounds, so a stroller as a wheelchair won't work...do you guys have any other ideas for creating a "safe" place for him?

SInce he is that big, I would suggest a wheelchair or transport chair.

They are staying at the POP in a handicapped room (for the shower). Is there a way to try to keep the door so that it can't be opened by him in the middle of the night?


Is there anything else you can help us with?

[URL="http://www.mypreciouskid.com/wireless-door-alarm.html”]Some people have used door alarms like on this page.[/URL] Instead of attaching with the foam tape (which is hard to get off), use a removable product like 3M Command Adhesive. There is also one on this page that is a door jam that sits on the floor.