Autism Awareness at WDW: One Mom's View

[KristinU]

Thanks for raising awareness with a great post! Have a magical vacation! (Oh, and I'm an almost neighbor...on "the other side of the river" )

 

[MayMom]

I almost cried when I read your post. I just finished teaching the summer school program for autistic students last Friday. It was a three week program. I had six students and three aides plus myself. When people hear that I had so many adult helpers they always reply, "Well, that must make it much easier." I just smile and nod my head because they have no idea that I need every hand in that classroom. My aides and I work very hard to ensure that all the students are learning. Two of my six were non-verbal and only one was a little girl (of course). (The occurance of autism in boys is much higher than girls.) I also teach special needs students in a cross categorical classroom during the regular school year. A great number of people ask me why I teach the summer school program (I have 2 little kids at home). One woman went so far as to say, "I can't believe that you are spending your FREE time with those students instead of your own kids." But, it is because of my perfectly normal, beautiful children that I go to the school every day. I was given such a blessing with my kids. I feel like God always presents me with the opportunity to work with the autism classroom perhaps as a reminder to be aware of the differences in all His children.

I hope that you have a magical and blessed trip in July.....God bless!

 

[shopgirl72]

dreamsofdisney Hi! Beautiful post! I walk in your shoes also, my son is 24 with autism. He has paniced and ran before when we were waiting in lines & was missing 45 minutes!) We as a family separated many times with either myself or my husband staying in the room with him, while the other went with his siblings to enjoy the parks. We found out about the GAC here on the disabilities board, and have used it!! It lets us spend some vacation together as a family!! They let us do the "baby swap" only for an adult. It is very hard, because I know people see a 24 year old ("normal looking") male. But his world can be scary for him!! When you meet him you realize he is more like 5-6year old in a mans body!! But Matt has a wonderful personality!! Just different quirks than the rest of us!! But, all I wanted to say was you brought tears to my eyes!! I totally understand!! Have a great trip!!

 

[eeyore45]

Adding my applause - very well written, sometimes this world is just way to quick to judge, thank you for giving everyone a moment to pause -

Have a magical trip - and I do hope you will consider adding a trip report when you return!!

Wonderful post! This should be required reading for EVERY person who comes to the DIS. Or even before visiting Disney or Universal or anywhere else.

I'm deaf with a cochlear implant (isn't modern technology amazing??) and have the use of GAC card to get access to the open captioning when available. I get those looks too. I had one lady do a really rude look at me on our last trip to WDW. I just pulled my speech processor off my head (that was hidden under my hair), pretended to adjust the settings on it, and plopped it back on my head without bothering to refix my hair to cover it up. Having a magnet in my head is actually kinda fun sometimes. Unless you're going through airport security.



Needless to say, she looked very embarrassed after that. Especially after heaing my husband say to the CM, "my wife needs the use of the open captioning."

Yeah, I get a sick sense of satisfaction like that sometimes. Heh. But that's what you get when you go out of your way to make sure I see your rude stares & glares.
​

DreamsofDisney, have you ever had those autism awareness cards printed up? I hear those things can be useful sometimes.

I hope you guys have a very magical time in July!

Had to add - we dont get a gac for dh we just learned which had the reflective captioning - and then ask when we get to the CM - and are put in the Handicap section...

Well at Honey I shrunk - the CM didnt realize where the best seat for the captioning were (often times the wheelchair reserved seats are under the captioning!!) and I took dd and dh to the back but far side of the theatre, and entered and sat while the CM went to get the mira - well, you'd think I had commited a crime, or the ultimate sin... luckily dh couldnt hear her mutterings... I just smiled... I did try to explain, but it set her off - so then the CM gives dh the mirror...

at the end of the show, she reaches over to dh and says "I'm so embarrassed, I was so wrong - I'll never assume again"...

lets hope so, I still get a chuckle thinking of it!!

 

[SueM in MN]

Had to add - we dont get a gac for dh we just learned which had the reflective captioning - and then ask when we get to the CM - and are put in the Handicap section...

Well at Honey I shrunk - the CM didnt realize where the best seat for the captioning were (often times the wheelchair reserved seats are under the captioning!!)

For most of the theater shows, the wheelchair seating is at the rear of the theater - usually the very back row. It's usually a bunch of space with no seats with seats scattered in between the spaces so that at least one person can sit with each person using a wheelchair/ECV. For people with needs other (or besides) using a wheelchair, those wheelchair seats often won't meet their needs.

The projector for the reflective captioning is far enough above the ground that people's heads won't interfere with the captioning (which means it's not able to be used in the wheelchair area). For some live shows, there are a limited number of wheelchair seats in the front, but they try to save those for people with wheelchairs and needs to be up front (things like limited vision).

I also wanted to clarify about GACs, in case people wondered what they are. GACs are Guest Assistance Cards (I don't know if anyone at WDW or DL calls them that, but we were tired of typing it all out and started using the abbreviation quite a while ago).
There is more information about GACs in the disABILITIES FAQs thread, but the quick explanation is that they are a tool to let the CMs get an idea of what sorts of accomidations are needed by people with disabilities. They are most useful for invisible disabilities or people who have a combination of visible disabilities (like using a wheelchair or ECV) and invisible disabilities. It says right on the card that they are not meant to shorten or eliminate the wait in line, but to provide needed accomidation for disabilities.

 

[newman7501]

Thank you for your post, you seem like a real special mom and I hope you and your family have an awesome trip.

 

[jakensydsmom]

One of my best friends has a child with Asperger Syndrome - a form of autism. Her son is great kid too but he sometimes has difficulty coping and could not go to Disney without the special pass. It was actually a helpful CM at Disney who got them a pass on thier last trip when she (the CM) noticed my friend's son's behavior. The CM was so lovely in the way she approached my firend and offered the special needs pass. The story brought tears to my eyes. That's why I love Disney - they really try to make the park enjoyable for all families. Have a wonderful time!

 

[PaulaSue]

Have a Great time!!!

DH's 2nd Cousin has the same thing and the whole family misses out on so much because if it.

 

[lynninpa]

Have the time of your lifes! And for those who do not understand, do your best to ignore them-though I am sure that can be trying at times. Have a magical adventure!

 

[Dina]

As another mom of children with autism (who frequently travels to Disney), I thank you for your post!!

 

[tatooed goofy]

Very well written. Kudos to you! As a teacher, I have enjoyed all my children but this past year, my autistic child held a special place in my heart. Your son is very lucky to have such wonderful parents! Have a great trip.

 

[bonnick98]

very wonderful post! as a father of a 5 year old autistic son, I can certainly relate to may of the sentiments expressed by the other parents. this Nov, my wife & I will be making our 4th trip to WDW with our ds Ben and his Grandparents. each year has been a great time and I expect this one to be no less!!

 

[winniethepoohsmom]

I like what you've written, it was very well put I think you've spoken for many families in a similar situation. I to have a 13 year old autistic son. Without the GAC we would not be able to take a trip to Disney which is his favorite thing to do. He has just about every disney movie, lots of disney books, his toychest is filled with disney stuffed animals and toys and almost all his t-shirts are you guessed it disney shirts. We can't go to the mall without stopping at the disney store and at school as a reward for working he gets to look at his disney vacation pictures, those trips mean the world to him. I feel bad for the people waiting on long lines, but I would feel worse if my DS could not go. I hope you have a great trip we will be at the Pop aug. 23-29 so if you see a 13 yr old boy having a melt down in the food court or making funny noises in the pool it's probably us.

 

[MinnieGi]

Thank you for a well-written post.

We are traveling this July with several groups of friends. One of my friends daughters has Asperger's and she has gotten a special pass for her. Just as you describe her DD looks like a normal 7 yo, but really would not do well in crowded conditions. Without the pass I suspect her DD would just not ride anything.

Other friends of ours whom we routinely travel to Disney with in the winter have 2 boys on the Autistic Spectrum. Their boys do okay with mild waiting and as we go in the low season and do not have summer crowds to tend with, they do not get a special needs pass. But it is so nice knowing that when they have to start traveling in the summer or more peak times b/c of school issues that Disney is accomadating.

 

[Nancyg56]

A thank you from your neighbor in West Suffield. For those of us who do not live with the challenges that parents of children with special needs address every day, your well written informative post is a gentle reminder to think beyond what we can see. Everyone should be able to enjoy the magic of Disney without comments or stares from others.

 

[nsalz]

I am not a teacher, nor does anyone in my immediate family have autism,
but I am responsible for giving out handi-cap permits for vehicles in my city. I have done this for six years and have learned of many "invisable" disabilities. I am much more tolerant when I see someone park in a handi-cap spot who does not appear handi-capped. I have come to realize that there are so many disabilities that you can't see. So thank you for your reminder. I remind my two girls, 10 and 12 years old, when I can see the question in their eyes of "what is wrong with them?" when they can't visibly see it for themselves ....to be thankful that they are healthy young women who can walk and talk with out any difficulty.

Again....a hundred thanks....Have a wonderful vacation, we will be going July 7th throught the 17th.

 

[dreamsofdisney]

Again....a hundred thanks....Have a wonderful vacation, we will be going July 7th throught the 17th.

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to read my post!

nsalz--> We'll be at WDW July 7th-15th. Maybe you'll see us there! I'll have Lime Green Mickey Head tags/ribbons on our luggage and backpacks. My signature below lists our ages and I am 5'1" with curly, dark blonde hair and am a little "Pooh sized."

 

[dreamsofdisney]

How long does your son "last" in Disney. ANy trip beyond a few days greatly upsets my Joe.

Again, thanks to everyone for taking the time to read my post. I actually felt that I couldn't put into words what i really wanted to say, but I encourage people to visit www.autismspeaks.org for more information.

When my son was diagnosed with Autism 12 years ago - he was recently "re-diagnosed" with Asperger Syndrome - there was so little information available to families. Now there are so many resources out there! I encourage people to keep learning and to always be an advocate for your child.

My son's first trip to WDW was when he was 6 years old. I had to attend a conference in the area and we had a couple of extra days, so we just visited MK and MGM. After that, we were hooked! As a single Mom, I saved up to take him once a year, and we've had many magical moments over the years: He was picked to pull the Sword from the Stone one year, played Gaston in the Storytime with Belle play, skipped along with the other kids during the Family Magic Tour, joined in the fun in Festival of the Lion King, got up and danced with the CM performers during the MK parade, tried a new food for the first time (a BIG deal for him!), and even learned to swim in the pool at All Star Movies! Each year, we've stayed a little bit longer...last year we stayed for 11 days! This trip, unfortunately, will be a little shorter due to our summer school schedules. Although WDW is VERY stimulating, I've found that having more time is actually better for us than spending only a few days. We're able to relax a little more and not feel so rushed. My son likes to schedule every moment, and it's very hard for him not to be able to control things like unexpected ride closures or the weather! When we have a longer stay, it's not so traumatic for him if we have to miss Fantasmic because it was cancelled for high winds. He knows we can always go another night.

My DH is new to our family, and very supportive and loving. He doesn't quite "get" the DIS/WDW thing, but he knows how important it is to my son...and to me...to have the little break from reality. Things aren't perfect when we go there. My son still has meltdowns and angry tantrums. He still orders meals and then refuses to eat them because a pickle was placed on the plate near his bun-less burger. He still won't use a public bathroom and is horrified if he has to sit next to a stranger on the bus or ride. There will be daily "discussions" about why he has to wear shorts in the ninety-degree weather - as a teen, he's gotten stuck in a "pants only" routine. But...we will have many wonderful memories as a new family. And when we return home, those are what I remember. And I'll be back here on the DIS dreaming of our next trip...

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Thanks for posting and making so many aware. I have a 23 year old son with Asperger's syndrome so I know where you are coming from. Have a wonderful trip. We'll be in Disney July 12-23 and Universal July 23-27 maybe we'll run into you.

 

[brettgirl]

Thank you for writing. I just returned from WDW with a 5 DS who has the autistic spectrum disorder PDD (too early to tell if Asbergers). Having a son like mine and working in his special needs nursery school I have become so non judgemental to children and their families. You never know what shoes they are walking in. At POR I did get many looks when my son did not want to go into the quiet pool (but he wore his life jacket which was a milestone in itself!) but wanted to open and close the laundry room door and organize everybodies shoes around the pool. At the parks I think a man in line thought we were totally crazy when my son would keep looking at his shoes because they were not tied-I asked him to tie them and then my son still was not happy-they were not double knotted!!!

If people could only walk in our shoes and not be so judgemental towards us and our children!