DAS and too much information?

[biloo]

Hi all, I'm hoping somebody could give me some advice and/or a little guidance.

Later this month my partner and I will taking our nephew (age 7) to Disney World as a special treat for 3 weeks.

After lots of research, I plan to request a DAS card for my nephew. I understand that I should explain his "needs" and not his diagnosis but this is where I feel I may be going overboard.

DN has Autism, and although high functioning (to a degree) he does still have his little "unique" ways that could impact on his visit. In addition, DN is adopted and unfortunately due to the treatment he received as a very young child he now has a few bladder and bowl conditions that we need to plan for.

To save him any embarrassment (his become very self aware lately) I've written his needs down, however, I feel I may have gone over the top and listed a little too much.

I don't want to overload the CM on the day with too much information but I've bulleted each "need" and it takes up nearly 1 side of A4.

Would anyone know if that's a little over the top? Should I restrict it to just a few needs rather than listing them all? Don't want the information to get lost in my ramblings and as a result miss any vital points.

Any help you can give will be very much appreciated, Thank you in advance

 

[2tinkerbell]

Hi all, I'm hoping somebody could give me some advice and/or a little guidance.

Later this month my partner and I will taking our nephew (age 7) to Disney World as a special treat for 3 weeks.

After lots of research, I plan to request a DAS card for my nephew. I understand that I should explain his "needs" and not his diagnosis but this is where I feel I may be going overboard.

DN has Autism, and although high functioning (to a degree) he does still have his little "unique" ways that could impact on his visit. In addition, DN is adopted and unfortunately due to the treatment he received as a very young child he now has a few bladder and bowl conditions that we need to plan for.

To save him any embarrassment (his become very self aware lately) I've written his needs down, however, I feel I may have gone over the top and listed a little too much.

I don't want to overload the CM on the day with too much information but I've bulleted each "need" and it takes up nearly 1 side of A4.

Would anyone know if that's a little over the top? Should I restrict it to just a few needs rather than listing them all? Don't want the information to get lost in my ramblings and as a result miss any vital points.

Any help you can give will be very much appreciated, Thank you in advance

I think that you should just talk about the needs as they relate to standing in line. For example, my DD explained how she "gets frustrated and overwhelmed when other people get in her space." She stated that "an alternative place to wait would be perfect for her." Nothing embarrassing, nothing in great detail, etc. just a general discussion. There is a point of it being too much information that really isn't necessary. I wouldn't worry about it. You could have this conversation in front of your DN and he could add something to it like how excited he is to be at WDW and the CM will get the gist that he needs a DAS card.

My DD has other issues, but, we manage them and the CM's don't need to know the nitty gritty about our everyday life and the challenges she has. The alternative place to wait and the return time would solve those issues as we can work within that framework.

Just wanted to add an unrelated experience that my DD had that proves my point. My DD likes to pre-board on the airplane. She gets too stressed, and frustrated when lined up in the narrow aisle to get to her seat. We were flying Southwest and she asked the person at the podium for the blue pre boarding sleeve. The agent looked at her and asked, "What does pre-boarding do for you?" or something to that extent. My DD had not had anyone ask her a question before so she didn't know what to say. My DD got what we call the "blank stare" and left to come back to me. She explained what happened and needed me to come with her to explain. I went with her and we stood in line again. The person smiled, grabbed a blue pre-boarding sleeve, and brought it to my DD and apologized for confusing her. Yes, no question that once my DD opens her mouth and she doesn't need some accommodations.

 

[ttintagel]

IMO, too much information is better than too little. The CM can skim over anything he thinks is irrelevant.

If you're worried, maybe it would be worth highlighting a certain number of things on the list that you feel are the most important.

 

[biloo]

Thank you both for your suggestions. I will certainly highlight the most important things as suggested and I've just gone back and tweaked the needs.

I'm probably over worrying as he is my nephew and I'm not "mum" so over stressing a little.

I'm now in the "finer detail" phase of planning so will probably be back with more questions.

 

[Ellajoan]

I wrote a few things down on a note card. I handed the card to the CM ( to avoid "discussing" my daughter's Cognitive disability in front of my DD), but the CM told me she couldn't look at it. She needed me to explain DD's needs verbally to her. I just read her the card (softly so DD didn't hear her), and all was fine.

The DAS card was a wonderful way for my DD to experience the rides she really wanted to go on.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

If you opt to go with writing stuff down, I'd still be prepared to explain things. If I were a CM I'd be cautious with someone that had a written list only because I'd wonder if someone just copied it from someone else who had received a DAS. Absolutely still do it, and I'd say keep it as concise and relative as possible (Cannot tolerate crowded areas vs Due to XYZ standing in a crowd makes me a little skitzy and stuff).

If I understand it correctly (and anyone please correct me if I'm wrong), your nephew will need to be present when you request the DAS but if you need to get into explaining things he might be embarrassed about he could step away and stand with another family member.

 

[ratlenhum]

My son stands further back with my husband while I talk to the CM. When they need him to take his picture, he comes over. This way we avoid talking about him in front of him.

 

[emeraldmom]

I was last at WDW this past Dec 2013. We got both of my boys DAS cards at MK. I had typed up a short, bulleted list. Which has been recommended many times here. The CM refused to look at it. I told her it was a list I had typed up of their needs, thinking maybe she thought it was a doctor's note. Nope, she would not look at it, period. I read it to her, and that was fine. You may want to be prepared that, depending on the CM, they may or may not look at your list.

Both of my boys are aware of their issues, and are not upset by them. If you think it might be upsetting to your nephew to hear you have to say things out loud, he could wait a little ways from the desk with your partner. He has to be there, and get his picture taken, he does not have to be right up with you at the counter while you explain.

As far as too much info, I agree with the other posters, you need to explain the issues that will be a problem for him as related to waiting in line. I would start with the biggest issues first, you may only get through 2 or 3 and not need to go further.

Have a magical time!

 

[biloo]

Thank you all again for the information and guidance. I can understand how just providing a list could be viewed as suspicious without any further explanation. I'm happy to expand further if needed and read out the list if they won't look at it (again I can understand why they may not).

Once again I really appreciate the comments and advice.

 

[bookwormde]

Even though mentioning a diagnosis is not always helpful, Autism is one that along with your description of his individual needs is helpful since the CM have had training on Autism

 

[ttintagel]

Even though mentioning a diagnosis is not always helpful, Autism is one that along with your description of his individual needs is helpful since the CM have had training on Autism

Indeed - I've even heard reports of some individual CM's simply asking, "Does he/she have Autism?" and giving the DAS without even asking for or listening to any information about their specific needs.

You should still be prepared to articulate your nephew's needs, of course; I'm just repeating what I've read about individual cases on other threads on this board.