Children with autism at parks

[Kellykins1218]

ummm..yes, it did.

It was so badly misused and abused the whole system had to be changed.
Why do you think so many people are complaining about the changes?

Ummmm...no, it didn't

 

[twinboysmom]

I don't have a child with autism but will say I do not like any sort of special treatment for them or anybody else. Sorry if that offends anybody with children of special needs or who themselves are special needs. At some point a line must be drawn at how accommodating a company like Disney needs to be.

Sorry but we ALL have issues with waiting, standing, heat, etc and we all want to go on the rides now but some get special treatment and others do not.

And we wonder why people were abusing the system.

Wow. Ok, I will bite. First of all, you do not have a child with autism or with other special needs so you have no clue what it is like navigating the parks with a disabled individual. So we parents with a child or in my case children with ASD get to play the "A"card for a few days and get some special treatment. I would give it up in a heartbeat so my children could enjoy wdw as "normal" kids. I would take the lines and all. Heck, I would never go back to wdw again if I could take away their disability.

So those few extra rides we don't have to wait quite as long for are causing an issue with your trip because YOU didn't enjoy waiting either? I would love to be able to wait in the line and just complain about my tired feet, how hot it is, and why is it taking so long. Unfortunately for those children who have a neurological disorder such as ASD it isn't always so easy. I would love to go to wdw and worry about what character meal we are eating what day and which morning works better for my boys to go get dressed up as a pirate at the pirate league. Nope, they can't handle doing those things because of their condition. We can't do fireworks, fantasmic, or wait and see a parade. Heck, we can't even watch a parade. But tell me again how those few extra rides we wait a little less are affecting you?

Children with ASD and other special needs are just kids. They enjoy many of the same things other kids enjoy, disneyworld being one of them. Sometimes they just need a quieter place to wait or a shorter line. I doubt too many others want to wait in line with a child with ASD having a meltdown (since you obviously aren't familiar with ASD it is not the same as a tantrum). So offering up a few accommodations for those with special needs isn't warranted in your opinion (despite it being the law). Just remember Karma has an ugly way of rearing her head when you least expect it.

 

[Gracie09]

Current statistics show 1 in 66 children are autistic. If 1 in every 66 families going through FP are going through because of an unseen disability -- so what?

It SUCKS to go to Guest a Relations and have to explain how my son is different. I cry EVERY time I go there. It hurts to have to ask for help.

To those of you that do not have a special needs child, you should be forever grateful for what you do have rather than judging me for a little bit extra our family gets. Try walking a mile in my shoes before you judge me.

I would be THRILLED if we could stand in lines as a family.

There are on average 140,000 to wdw a day. The actual new stats for autism (or children I the spectrum) are 1 in 66. Assuming and average family of four that is 35000 families a day. And if 1 in 66 has at least one member with autism that's over 525 families or 2100 people using a gac card. That is just one disability. Add in the cerebral palsy (which my child has), the seizure disorders, the mobility issues, the Down's syndrome etc etc etc. the system became unworkable. There was an article that came out around the time of the change over that showed gs at Disneyland were giving out enough gacS that one in ten people in the park had access to a gac. That is not counting those with annual passes that didn't need to stop in and get one. Fast pass lines were slow and crowded, stand at lines on some rides were at a virtual stand still. How many families with disabled children is reasonable to let basically go to the front of the line before it is too many?

You still had to go and explain why you needed the gac, so that hasn't changed. What has changed is now it's not an unlimited fast pass. You have to plan your days, much like others without the gac had to do all along. You may have an added layer but many families have other things they have to plan around whether it's a toddler'a nap schedule or an elderly relatives stamina issues.

Every child is special to their parent, disability or not. Every parent wants their child to have a magical experience. But no one child is more special than another.

As a parent of a special needs child I have had to make changes to how we vacation. My child can't stand the beach. Melts down from the time we arrive to the time we leave. It triggers her sensory issues. I grew up a mile from the ocean beaches. Spent my entire childhood there and as an adult would vacation there frequently. It's my happy place. We no longer go to the beach. If I'm lucky I get one day a year there with my parents watching my girls. It's just the way our lives are now. I can't change the sand on the beach and we can't change that there are lines at Disney. Until I figure out a way to accommodate my daughter at the beach we don't go.

 

[Burnedout]

I can't speak for anyone but myself but I found the initial post judgmental and dripping with unrecognized privilege. It's certainly just my perspective but that is the way you initially came off (the kicker being the idea that people on the spectrum just shouldn't go to WDW if it's too hard for them as if you have a thorough knowledge of what works for all people with autism--especially since there isn't anything that will work for all people with autism).



Really? No unrecognized privilege here. And I did not say people with autism shouldn't got to WDW. I actually have read about and attended conferences, workshops and webinars regarding autism and the broad spectrum of children diagnosed with it. ( I encounter many children as an early childhood educator ). No, I never claimed to have knowledge of what works for all people with autism, as you stated, every child is unique and experiences the world differently, My experience is that if a child has meltdowns waiting in lines, you do not make them wait in lines. Autistic or not.

You don't make all those children you encounter as en early childhood educator wait in any lines if they have difficulty with it? Really?

Lol attending conferences is all about the hypothetical. I could go to a conference where they gave alternative to physical restraint but the fact was if a kid was running towards the street they were going to be caught and restrained.

It is easy peasy to tell others what they should do.

 

[WindyCityDisney]

1 in 88
...
As a parent of a special needs child I have had to make changes to how we vacation. My child can't stand the beach. Melts down from the time we arrive to the time we leave. It triggers her sensory issues. I grew up a mile from the ocean beaches. Spent my entire childhood there and as an adult would vacation there frequently. It's my happy place. We no longer go to the beach. If I'm lucky I get one day a year there with my parents watching my girls. It's just the way our lives are now. I can't change the sand on the beach and we can't change that there are lines at Disney. Until I figure out a way to accommodate my daughter at the beach we don't go.

I hope you find a way to go to the beach soon as a family. My DS also cannot handle the sensory challenge of a beach. I spent the day in the pool with him while DH and DD were on the beach. It was a bummer.

Not sure why you neededto point out the error in my statistics, but I was slightly low. According to 2014 research, it's now estimated that 1 in 68 have autism. My apologies for misspeaking when I said 1 in 66. Your correction of 1 in 88 was incorrect. Here's a quote to the CDC:
http://www.cdc.gov/features/dsautismdata/.

 

[Burnedout]

I don't have a child with autism but will say I do not like any sort of special treatment for them or anybody else. Sorry if that offends anybody with children of special needs or who themselves are special needs. At some point a line must be drawn at how accommodating a company like Disney needs to be.

Sorry but we ALL have issues with waiting, standing, heat, etc and we all want to go on the rides now but some get special treatment and others do not.

And we wonder why people were abusing the system.

So disney shouldn't be accommodating to disabilities because some people are jerks and will abuse the system?

That would go for all the nice things disney does right? You or your fam ever get special attention or treat? Mine have lots of times. They've driven the monorail, opened exhibits, been given pins etc. Fun fun stuff. But in your world disney shouldn't ale anyone feel special. I'm glad disney doesn't operate in your world.

The dad was a jerk if he actually was being as the op described him. You can't stop jerk a by changing rules or systems. Jerks are jerks by nature.

I don't have a child with a disability. I have a mom who has been sent through the short line on a few rides due to mobility issues. She has also waited far longer for the same reasons.

 

[WindyCityDisney]

Wow. Ok, I will bite. First of all, you do not have a child with autism or with other special needs so you have no clue what it is like navigating the parks with a disabled individual. So we parents with a child or in my case children with ASD get to play the "A"card for a few days and get some special treatment. I would give it up in a heartbeat so my children could enjoy wdw as "normal" kids. I would take the lines and all. Heck, I would never go back to wdw again if I could take away their disability.

So those few extra rides we don't have to wait quite as long for are causing an issue with your trip because YOU didn't enjoy waiting either? I would love to be able to wait in the line and just complain about my tired feet, how hot it is, and why is it taking so long. Unfortunately for those children who have a neurological disorder such as ASD it isn't always so easy. I would love to go to wdw and worry about what character meal we are eating what day and which morning works better for my boys to go get dressed up as a pirate at the pirate league. Nope, they can't handle doing those things because of their condition. We can't do fireworks, fantasmic, or wait and see a parade. Heck, we can't even watch a parade. But tell me again how those few extra rides we wait a little less are affecting you?

Children with ASD and other special needs are just kids. They enjoy many of the same things other kids enjoy, disneyworld being one of them. Sometimes they just need a quieter place to wait or a shorter line. I doubt too many others want to wait in line with a child with ASD having a meltdown (since you obviously aren't familiar with ASD it is not the same as a tantrum). So offering up a few accommodations for those with special needs isn't warranted in your opinion (despite it being the law). Just remember Karma has an ugly way of rearing her head when you least expect it.

You captured my thoughts much more eloquently. Great job!

 

[Gracie09]

I hope you find a way to go to the beach soon as a family. My DS also cannot handle the sensory challenge of a beach. I spent the day in the pool with him while DH and DD were on the beach. It was a bummer.

Not sure why you neededto point out the error in my statistics, but I was slightly low. According to 2014 research, it's now estimated that 1 in 68 have autism. My apologies for misspeaking when I said 1 in 66. Your correction of 1 in 88 was incorrect. Here's a quote to the CDC:
http://www.cdc.gov/features/dsautismdata/.

Actually if you look I did edit my stats because I realize I pulled the old stat from my head. But if anything it makes my argument stronger. If over 2000 people are given a virtual front of the line pass for just one type of disability, when you add in the other hundreds of disabilities and thousands of people a day that your Disney with a disability, the system quickly becomes unworkable because of over use.

 

[WindyCityDisney]

Actually if you look I did edit my stats because I realize I pulled the old stat from my head. But if anything it makes my argument stronger. If over 2000 people are given a virtual front of the line pass for just one type of disability, when you add in the other hundreds of disabilities and thousands of people a day that your Disney with a disability, the system quickly becomes unworkable because of over use.

We typically can ride maybe 3 or 4 rides before DS gets overwhelmed and asks to leave. The rest of the day, one of us goes back to the room with DS and the other remains with DD. So for those few rides, we can experience them together. The rest of the time, DD and one of us wait in the lines. I hardly think that's overuse.

The policy was changed because of low-lifes that abused it. Not because the system was overwhelmed.

 

[disneyguyla]

Wow. Ok, I will bite. First of all, you do not have a child with autism or with other special needs so you have no clue what it is like navigating the parks with a disabled individual. So we parents with a child or in my case children with ASD get to play the "A"card for a few days and get some special treatment. I would give it up in a heartbeat so my children could enjoy wdw as "normal" kids. I would take the lines and all. Heck, I would never go back to wdw again if I could take away their disability. So those few extra rides we don't have to wait quite as long for are causing an issue with your trip because YOU didn't enjoy waiting either? I would love to be able to wait in the line and just complain about my tired feet, how hot it is, and why is it taking so long. Unfortunately for those children who have a neurological disorder such as ASD it isn't always so easy. I would love to go to wdw and worry about what character meal we are eating what day and which morning works better for my boys to go get dressed up as a pirate at the pirate league. Nope, they can't handle doing those things because of their condition. We can't do fireworks, fantasmic, or wait and see a parade. Heck, we can't even watch a parade. But tell me again how those few extra rides we wait a little less are affecting you? Children with ASD and other special needs are just kids. They enjoy many of the same things other kids enjoy, disneyworld being one of them. Sometimes they just need a quieter place to wait or a shorter line. I doubt too many others want to wait in line with a child with ASD having a meltdown (since you obviously aren't familiar with ASD it is not the same as a tantrum). So offering up a few accommodations for those with special needs isn't warranted in your opinion (despite it being the law). Just remember Karma has an ugly way of rearing her head when you least expect it.

It's not Disney fault ....... Sorry but you put that upon your child by bringing him into that environment ... Period.

 

[disneyguyla]

We typically can ride maybe 3 or 4 rides before DS gets overwhelmed and asks to leave. The rest of the day, one of us goes back to the room with DS and the other remains with DD. So for those few rides, we can experience them together. The rest of the time, DD and one of us wait in the lines. I hardly think that's overuse. The policy was changed because of low-lifes that abused it. Not because the system was overwhelmed.

Correction not only low life's like you said but Parents who though Disney World should stop because I have a disabled child . When they should have though about the child in the first place knowing that this could happen. I am sorry but I would never put my child through anything that would upset him so much . But they the parent decided to do this because ?

 

[Gracie09]

We typically can ride maybe 3 or 4 rides before DS gets overwhelmed and asks to leave. The rest of the day, one of us goes back to the room with DS and the other remains with DD. So for those few rides, we can experience them together. The rest of the time, DD and one of us wait in the lines. I hardly think that's overuse.

The policy was changed because of low-lifes that abused it. Not because the system was overwhelmed.

Many people with disabled family members or not have to do the same thing. If you have toddler and older kids or an elderly relative or younger kids. My husband use to leave after a few hours before his surgery because it's all his body could tolerate. I don't demand the beaches remove the sand because my dd can't tolerate it. Lines are part of amusement parks. For years parents would say we don't need front of the line access just to be able to wait elsewhere until it's our turn. Disney has done that. Provided you (the collective you) with the entire park to wait in. Now that argument has changed to well what we meant was we need to go to the front of the line forget what I said before.

 

[twinboysmom]

It's not Disney fault ....... Sorry but you put that upon your child by bringing him into that environment ... Period.

I have no issues with Disney and he accommodations they provide. I would suggest you look at what the federal laws dictate wdw does and does not need to provide. I personally feel they are in compliance. Since you do not have a disabled child, you have no idea what you would or would not do with them. None. Like all children, they need to be exposed to many different situations that occur in life. Places like Disney and other theme parks offer many learning expletives for not only disabled children but all children.

But continue to troll away. You are not only showing your lack of compassion but your ignorance to federal law as well.

 

[disneyguyla]

I have no issues with Disney and he accommodations they provide. I would suggest you look at what the federal laws dictate wdw does and does not need to provide. I personally feel they are in compliance. Since you do not have a disabled child, you have no idea what you would or would not do with them. None. Like all children, they need to be exposed to many different situations that occur in life. Places like Disney and other theme parks offer many learning expletives for not only disabled children but all children. But continue to troll away. You are not only showing your lack of compassion but your ignorance to federal law as well.

First you do not know me , so to call me a troll is out of line , but that's what happen when the truth hits you in the face you name call. As for the federal law you need to look it up , it says access to a place , not special treatment. By the way we do have a disabled child , but we love him and would not put him into any thing that would upset him so much to create a "meltdown ." Not the word I would use. Good luck , because Disney has changed for the best of all people with the DAS card and fast pass + to help all have a great vacation.

 

[MDDisneyNewbies]

First you do not know me , so to call me a troll is out of line , but that's what happen when the truth hits you in the face you name call. As for the federal law you need to look it up , it says access to a place , not special treatment. By the way we do have a disabled child , but we do not cry over it.. Good luck , because you going to need it, because Disney has changed for the better and the Country is changing for the better with midterm elections coming.

Back to the truth thing again: your version of the truth does not equal it being true. I don't know why that is so hard to understand but it's pretty condescending to continually imply that you're somehow telling everyone the "truth."

Also, you made it seem like there was simply a disabled child in your family but I don't recall you saying it was actually your child. At any rate, disabilities are incredibly complex and there is no "one treatment/accommodation fits all" for all people living with disabilities.

Lastly, I am not sure what you're attempting to imply with the midterm elections but I can assure you, if I am assuming correctly, the country is not shifting in the way you seem to think we are. (I'll even give you a hint: we're NOT becoming more right leaning but are shifting more and more center! I'm, for one, incredibly happy as that's where is should be in a country of over 300 million people with different experiences versus solidly left or right.)

I'd also like to think we have a bit more compassion, as a nation, than what has been shown by some on this thread but I certainly could be wrong.

 

[twinboysmom]

First you do not know me , so to call me a troll is out of line , but that's what happen when the truth hits you in the face you name call. As for the federal law you need to look it up , it says access to a place , not special treatment. By the way we do have a disabled child , but we do not cry over it.. We love him and do not put him into any thing that would upset him so much to create a meltdown .Good luck , because you going to need it, because Disney has changed for the best of all people and the Country also will be changing for the best of all people with midterm elections coming.

Oh good gravy, yep, I was exactly spot on.

 

[disneyguyla]

Back to the truth thing again: your version of the truth does not equal it being true. I don't know why that is so hard to understand but it's pretty condescending to continually imply that you're somehow telling everyone the "truth." Also, you made it seem like there was simply a disabled child in your family but I don't recall you saying it was actually your child. At any rate, disabilities are incredibly complex and there is no "one treatment/accommodation fits all" for all people living with disabilities. Lastly, I am not sure what you're attempting to imply with the midterm elections but I can assure you, if I am assuming correctly, the country is not shifting in the way you seem to think we are. (I'll even give you a hint: we're NOT becoming more right leaning but are shifting more and more center! I'm, for one, incredibly happy as that's where is should be in a country of over 300 million people with different experiences versus solidly left or right.) I'd also like to think we have a bit more compassion, as a nation, than what has been shown by some on this thread but I certainly could be wrong.

What you and I have seen on this thread is that most on here have had enough of the ones who think they deserve more because they have a disabled child. The OP that started this thread was there in line having to hear a dad complain because he did not get his way it was no way going against the child, Disney now has the DAS card and fast pass + and that is it and I think it is more than fair for all. As for the other you will just have to wait and see for yourself if we will be going in the center. From what I just read on these threads and see what's going on in this country I doubt it. Have a good day.

 

[disneyguyla]

Oh good gravy, yep, I was exactly spot on.

Hmmmm gravy you just gave me idea for tonight 7 steaks smothered in gravy. Thank you.

 

[twinboysmom]

What you and I have seen on this thread is that most on here have had enough of the ones who think they deserve more because they have a disabled child. The OP that started this thread was there in line having to hear a dad complain because he did not get his way it was no way going against the child, Disney now has the DAS card and fast pass + and that is it and I think it is more than fair for all. As for the other you will just have to wait and see for yourself if we will be going in the center. From what I just read on these threads and see what's going on in this country I doubt it. Have a good day.

What makes you think that you can pick up on people's political views on a thread about autism? Please keep posting. It just gets more entertaining.

 

[disneyguyla]

What makes you think that you can pick up on people's political views on a thread about autism? Please keep posting. It just gets more entertaining.

Threads..... Plural, there is also one where you are trying to sell your membership, now that is entertaining.