Autism-GAC

[LvsTnk]

Friend who has a child who is Autistic needs to know what to tell her pediatrician to put in her letter to explain why he would need a GAC. I think they are worried about how it is worded. He needs to wait in an alternate area because of the crowds. Thanks for any help!!

 

[LWQuestie]

She doesn't need a letter from a pediatrician to get a GAC. She just needs to be able to explain to the Cast Members why she needs it so they can write her needs on it.

 

[teri]

That is correct. I always used to take a short note anyway, just as a prop. Now I just carry the business cards of my son's psychiatry team. The CMs who give out the GAC are not trained to make any kind of judgement about someone's disorder. Their concern is safety and exactly what kind of assistance your family will need.

For more information about the GAC, click on the link in my signature below, and look at the Guest Assistance Card section of the FAQ. You might also take a look at the section about sensitive kids. Feel free to ask any questions!

 

[SueM in MN]

Welcome from me also.
I'm just adding to what the others had to say. We have not brought any note or anything and have had no problem the last 3 years with getting a GAC. The CMs at Guest Services don't have medical training, so they really can't interpret a letter from a doctor. And you probably know that one child with a particular diagnosis will have the same needs as another child with the same diagnosis. Just tell your friend to be able to explain what problems her child will have with waiting in line and what they think will help.

 

[LvsTnk]

I have printed out alot of info for her from the links, sooo Thank You Thank You !

 

[D L and K's Mom]

The past 3 trips we have brought a note from the DR. for DS's GAC. We had him write that DS had trouble with crowds and noise and because of medication he needs shade. We also had him put a note that DS needed his Convaid Stroller as a wheelchair (a lot of people think he is just a big kid sitting in a stroller) The CM read the note and as she read she took out 3 rubber stampers and stamped something about ,"has to have a shady area to wait, wheelchair, and can use exit line as an entrance". We only used the exit line once in the Kali River Rapids since the line was in the hot sun. I really think it was quicker to have the note. I didn't have to explain about DS's special needs. If you can get a note from the Dr. I think it will save you time. Have a wonderful trip!!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

That's a good point about the doctor's note; it might be useful if you can get the doctor to write it in English, instead of Medicalese. Too often, the letters that people bring are full of medical diagnoses that don't tell anything about the child and what sorts of assistance they need. Some people also have said they brought their IEP, which most oftne won't help the CM out much. That's why CMs have told us that they don't read the letters at all and would just as well not have them.

Your friend can always get the letter and decide not to use it if it turns out to be un-enlightening.

 

[DBorges]

I have to start off saying that our first trip with our now four year old autistic son was trying.

We didn't get a card because we didn't know about them.

My husband had his hands full holding him in line. Alot of hitting and biting.

But we have become wiser!

Since we have gotten cards on three different trips without a problem.

The cast members have given us no problems at all.

You might want to bring a note form the doctor just in case, but I don't think you'll need it.

We have had more problems from other vacationers!

Because of his appearance, they don't think there are anything wrong with him and we have gotten quit a few snickers and comments.

But by now I have learned to overlook that.

I am getting to the point where I am going to print out business cards with the definition of autism and hand them out to those wonderful people.

Getting off topic, I'm not sure if anyone has a child on the gluten casein free diet, but the chef's at the restaurants have been fantastic in making foods he can eat.

I hope this note has been helpful.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[LvsTnk]

Well, they are back and had an awesome trip!! They already had gotten the letter when I told them they did not need it after all. They presented the letter so they did not have to go into detail to the CM in front of their children. They got the 2 stamps they needed on their card and said it was the best trip ever!! They did say that people actually yelled comments out to them and they were a little unprepared for that, they also had one CM make a rude remark at the Jungle Cruise, it was a women so it was not our own Safari Steve . All the other CM's were fantastic. Thanks Again!

 

[SueM in MN]

Glad they had a good trip.
Very sad to hear about the comments , but the comments come with the territory.