SueM in MN
combining the teacups with a roller coaster
- Joined
- Aug 23, 1999
- Messages
- 36,350
I'm going to close this thread with a point.
Contrary to what some might believe, some of the people who have given the advice of using touring plans have given that advice out of their experience with children with severe autism.
The reason they gave that advice is that by experience, they found using a touring plan gave them a much more predictable experience and they found waits of less than 10 minutes consistently. Many of the people giving advice are long time posters who have children very similar to the new posters who apparently don't think anyone understands or takes them seriously.
My own youngest DD does not have autism; her primary disability is cerebral palsy, so is physical. But, she does have significant other issues, including obsessive compulsive disorder and is non- verbal, so she can't tell us what she wants/needs/feels. She does understand well, but is sometimes past the point of listening. She does throw things, does hit, does pinch and scratch hard enough to draw blood.
She pulls off her own fingernails down past the quick and scratches her own arms until they bleed.
Up until a poster on page 2 disagreed with previous advice (quite vehimently), posters were giving advice to the OP, who stated her son had moderate autism.
Contrary to what some recent posters thought, no one gave the advice to just 'muddle through'.
No one said not to get a GAC.
No one said to feel guilty about using a GAC.
No one said guests with children with autism did not have disabilities or needs.
It was suggested that the OP look at post 6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread ( which has a LOT of information about Guest Assistance Cards and I would suggest reading). Using a stroller as a wheelchair was also suggested to provide a safe haven and separation.
The thing that several posters starting on page 2 did not agree with was that IF the OP did not know how the child would do, it was perfectly fine to try things out and SEE what happened or what the issues were. ( and the OP had indicated things might go just fine).
Multiple posters with children with autism (many who have been posting here for years) agreed this could be helpful. No one suggested just trying things out in a 90 minute line with a child who might totally melt down or sticking with going into long lines with that child ( or even going into long lines at all - that is where touring plans come in. Maybe not to follow exactl, but at least to know where and when to go for the shortest waits AND least number of people just being in the area).
So, maybe some of the information given was not applicable to children with severe autism. But, that is not who the information was being written for.
Contrary to what some might believe, some of the people who have given the advice of using touring plans have given that advice out of their experience with children with severe autism.
The reason they gave that advice is that by experience, they found using a touring plan gave them a much more predictable experience and they found waits of less than 10 minutes consistently. Many of the people giving advice are long time posters who have children very similar to the new posters who apparently don't think anyone understands or takes them seriously.
My own youngest DD does not have autism; her primary disability is cerebral palsy, so is physical. But, she does have significant other issues, including obsessive compulsive disorder and is non- verbal, so she can't tell us what she wants/needs/feels. She does understand well, but is sometimes past the point of listening. She does throw things, does hit, does pinch and scratch hard enough to draw blood.
She pulls off her own fingernails down past the quick and scratches her own arms until they bleed.
Up until a poster on page 2 disagreed with previous advice (quite vehimently), posters were giving advice to the OP, who stated her son had moderate autism.
Contrary to what some recent posters thought, no one gave the advice to just 'muddle through'.
No one said not to get a GAC.
No one said to feel guilty about using a GAC.
No one said guests with children with autism did not have disabilities or needs.
It was suggested that the OP look at post 6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread ( which has a LOT of information about Guest Assistance Cards and I would suggest reading). Using a stroller as a wheelchair was also suggested to provide a safe haven and separation.
The thing that several posters starting on page 2 did not agree with was that IF the OP did not know how the child would do, it was perfectly fine to try things out and SEE what happened or what the issues were. ( and the OP had indicated things might go just fine).
Multiple posters with children with autism (many who have been posting here for years) agreed this could be helpful. No one suggested just trying things out in a 90 minute line with a child who might totally melt down or sticking with going into long lines with that child ( or even going into long lines at all - that is where touring plans come in. Maybe not to follow exactl, but at least to know where and when to go for the shortest waits AND least number of people just being in the area).
So, maybe some of the information given was not applicable to children with severe autism. But, that is not who the information was being written for.
