DAS Approval/Denial with New DAS Guidelines START 5/20 WDW & 6/18 DL

[Philsfan77]

I have to respectfully disagree with you on this. Maybe some schools are lax with 504s but not all schools. Where I work there is only a handful of students with 504s and they are warranted. Most are for T1 diabetes and food allergies. They aren't getting any crazy accommodations. Accommodations for the SAT and ACT are actually difficult to get. I'm sure some schools are more lenient but we develop plans based on their needs, not whatever the parent wants.

I think the key here as it relates to Disney is whether they are warranted as it relates to DAS. Someone being allergic to peanuts, doesn't mean they need DAS for instance. Agree with you on the ACT being tough to get, but I've found the SAT's fairly easy (just time consuming) so long as you provide the proper documentation of needing testing accommodations normally with your current 504/IEP. I'm not going to get into whether the original commentators situation warrants DAS, as I don't know them or their child at all. However, someone saying they get movement breaks during testing is a fairly standard accommodation (I'd guess of the roughly 22% of our student body who qualify for an IEP or 504 plan...more than half receive this accommodation and Im probably underestimating that number). I'm also not sure how being granted the ability to take a movement break from the queue to regather oneself and then be able to re-enter the queue at a later time to ride the ride wouldn't be the same as being given a movement break in the school setting to regather oneself when necessary during a testing situation.

 

[Greenlawler]

I have registered my son several times for DAS, it always makes me a little nervous because I read about other folks getting denied. Today he was approved again, but it was so much faster. We were on a video chat within 5 minutes, and the CM was kind and approved with zero hesitation. I am curious if people are not applying to get the DAS because so many people are now being denied?

 

[Jdavidm]

Neurodivergent adult at DLR, we called today to get everything handled ahead of my DAS expiring later this month since our next planned trip wasn’t until after expiration. I was approved/re-registered. Good for a year since we have magic keys.

Video call only took about 5-10 minutes and focused on how DAS was working/helping me. Partner was able to complete the call on my behalf again, CM only requiring my presence after approval for an updated photo.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Signed on tonight around 7:20 to do approval #2 since the changes, and I'm grateful that DD was approved again. Whole process from chat through approval was 10 mins, maybe less - no wait at all.

There are 5 of us this time, grandparents are coming, so this time we're going to have to navigate the added complexity that brings (won't be a big deal for thrill rides as grandma doesn't ride those anyway, but will be more of an issue for rides like Jingle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, Remy, Soarin'. I hope wait times are low for the week we are there.

 

[Claudia1]

Our adult DGD received her pass today but it wasn't clear cut. She has easily qualified for it for nearly a decade. We always say the same things (which are 100% truthful). The CM today listened then said, "I see you spoke with a mental health professional last time but you must have told her something different than you are telling me because she doesn't qualify".

What?!?!?! I won't share her particular limitations but they are significant, specific, and closely aligned with austism. Doing crowded queues without a pass promotes an attack. (Yes, I know WDW is crowded but we make adaptations that work for her like being outdoors most of the time, having her walk between DH and I to avoid crowding, etc... We know what works.)

She has limited executive function and I'm her legal guardian so I usually do most of the talking. When she responds, it is obvious to a professional that she has limitations. But the CM today didn't believe me and wanted my DGD to speak up for herself. As the conversation went on, I believe she saw the limitations and granted the pass. But she kept saying that my DGD needs to advocate for herself and she was proud that she advocated for herself. I didn't say it but if she was capable of advocating for herself with a stranger, she wouldn't necessarily need a legal guardian. Just because she is adult-aged doesn't mean she has a functioning adult brain.

I wonder how it would have gone if she were younger and not been able to articulate how she reacts.

On a different note, we are also visiting Universal this trip so I applied online for theirs. I had a doctor's statement and DGD meet all of the criteria without chatting with anyone.