Autism question

[LJM1949]

I have read the threads, but I still have questions. I understand that we should take my grandson in to the Guest Service office to see what they can do for him. This is the issue, he just turned 14 years old and he knows that he takes tons of meds every day, but he is not aware that he is Autistic. He is very high functioning but he does have all of the over stimulated issues, etc. As a matter of fact, it seems to be getting worse lately. He appears to be normal (due to taking $1200 in medication a month). His mother does not want to enable him by giving him excuses to act a certain way or not do his homework, etc. This is why she has not fully explained to him his condition. He did tell me that he thinks he has ADHD (and he does) and I asked him why he thought that. He said, well, we studied it in health and I did some research. He also asked me if he was retarded and I asked him he wanted to know that. He did not give me a straight answer (I think someone at school may have called him retard or something). I said, of course not....you have a perfectly normal IQ, so you are not retarded. He still believes in Santa Claus and even the tooth fairy.

There will be 8 of us in our group, 4 adults and 4 children. I guess I am trying to find out, exactly what needs to be said in Guest Services and can my daughter go in there first and then call one of us on the phone and we can send in my grandson a few minutes later? She will have a note from his Psychiatrist stating that he is on the Autism spectrum or something like that.

Sorry, I am not sure what I am asking except for possibly some advice or an answer from someone who has recently gone to Disney World who has the same type issues.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to both DisBoards and disABILITIES!

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information. Post #6 deals extensively wuth the GAC.

Or, if you want an easier route to the FAQs, click on the link in my signature.

A few quick summary points.

A note with a diagnoses has no validity, especially as autism is a spectrum. A note for specific needs may be presented, but it does not have to be from a medical professional. A request to allow bypassing of lines will be ignored.

The disabled person must be present at the time, although most of the Guest Services will allow if the Guest is in the room and not necessarily at the counter.

The key item is that the needs must be able to be explained.

 

[livndisney]

I have read the threads, but I still have questions. I understand that we should take my grandson in to the Guest Service office to see what they can do for him. This is the issue, he just turned 14 years old and he knows that he takes tons of meds every day, but he is not aware that he is Autistic. He is very high functioning but he does have all of the over stimulated issues, etc. As a matter of fact, it seems to be getting worse lately. He appears to be normal (due to taking $1200 in medication a month). His mother does not want to enable him by giving him excuses to act a certain way or not do his homework, etc. This is why she has not fully explained to him his condition. He did tell me that he thinks he has ADHD (and he does) and I asked him why he thought that. He said, well, we studied it in health and I did some research. He also asked me if he was retarded and I asked him he wanted to know that. He did not give me a straight answer (I think someone at school may have called him retard or something). I said, of course not....you have a perfectly normal IQ, so you are not retarded. He still believes in Santa Claus and even the tooth fairy.

There will be 8 of us in our group, 4 adults and 4 children. I guess I am trying to find out, exactly what needs to be said in Guest Services and can my daughter go in there first and then call one of us on the phone and we can send in my grandson a few minutes later? She will have a note from his Psychiatrist stating that he is on the Autism spectrum or something like that.

Sorry, I am not sure what I am asking except for possibly some advice or an answer from someone who has recently gone to Disney World who has the same type issues.

What do you want Disney to do for him? What assistance does he need? Assistance is not based on diagnoses, but on need.

 

[bookwormde]

Sounds like he is HFA/Apsergers. Just let the cms at guest services know what limitations he has an they will make the GAC with the accomidations which best fit his needs.

For there not to have been an open and honest discussion with the child can create real challenges for him, I would hope that the parents are considering discussion his gifts and challenges with him.

IF you want to understand him better, get a copy of Tony Attwood's "the complete guide to Aspergers" which is availabe on Amazon for about $17.

There is no reason he should be on $1200/month of medication because of having Autism genetics, it sounds like they are getting poor clinical advice.

My DS 10 Aspergers sometimes has a hard time wiht the standard lines so the GAC helps there by providing alternate waiting areas on some rides and attractions.

 

[LJM1949]

I think what we need for him is a way to get him away from all the "activity" occasionally. He gets where he tends to melt down. It is not a violent type thing, but he cannot handle too much after a while. EX: Sometimes in the car, he will just look at me and say, Grandma, can we just ride and be quiet and not talk or listen to the radio? We are taking his ear plugs with him. At home, he often choses to stay home rather than go with his family shopping or even out to dinner. This is one of the issues that has gotten worse lately and therefore the worry about him that I have.

He is on ADHD medicine, an antidepressant, something called something like Focolin (to help him focus better), fish oil, an a stool softener...

When he was going into 4th grade he could not read (at all). He has been to many doctors, psychiatrists, psycologists, he has been tested in 2 different school districts, he has been treated in the Texas Medical Center, etc. The reason he doesn't know EXACTLY what he has, is because my daughter didn't want him to feel like he had any excuses. The teachers and schools want to just give him the minimum requirements. My daughter and her husband have made many scarafices (their cars are 14 years old, not bought new) so that he could have language therapy (4 days a week, 50 weeks a year, for 2 1/2 years) and learn how to read, because the schools could not get it done. In 7th grade he went into Pre AP English and reads at grade level or maybe above.

His short term memory is not good, and recent testing (a couple of weeks ago), now show my daughter and his teachers that he is not being lazy or not listening when he forgets or says he forgets. I have a friend who has 2 sons with Autism and they both tell her, I can't learn how to do that, I am Autistic. That is what she is trying to avoid. He wants to learn to drive a car (in 2 years) and he wants to go to college. He wants to be in the military. She hates to tell him all of this and cancel a large number of his dreams. He has been given every opportunity to try to find things that he is good at (t-ball, soccer, flag football, roller hockey, etc, he is not good at sports). She put him in Boy Scouts because that was something he could do and he has done very well. He has also taken horse back riding lessons (last year) and is currently taking golf lessons each week.

He knows everyone is different and everyone is good at different things. He has been told that all of his of his life. He also knows that he learns in a different way than most of the kids in his school. He is in all regular classes (except for one with a spec ed teacher). He used to be in special ed more than half the day, but he has made such great progress

So, I think she has done a really great job. If she had done what the schools said, he would be on SSI disability insurance and not have a college fund. She has been teaching him how to do his own laundry for the last 2 years. She laughs and says she will get a new washer and dryer when he grows up and (hopefully) leaves home....because he will be taking them with him, because that is the one he knows how to work!

 

[bookwormde]

He sounds like he is very smart, it is not that our kids can not learn it is just that they need to learn and remember differently (non-linear vs linear).

TCM does not a an Aspergers group as far as I can find out and if you search their site they have only the most minimal publications on Aspergers, They do has a center (APA) but it seems to have an CBT nad ADHD focus. Check and see if he has had an auditory processing evaluation done, if he has not it is a good tool and a strong indication that his clinical group lacks competency. It sound like your family has worked very hard to support his needs, I have seen to often where this is not enough when the clinicains are not "up to date". It sound like you grandson is very gifted so getting him the best support can reap amazing benefits.

bookwormde