DAS changes coming WDW May 20/ DL June 18, 2024

[Jrb1979]

We don't get Autism "cards," no, but we do have diagnostic paperwork from doctors/psychiatrists with an NPI that will show we have a genuine diagnosis. That would be easy enough to provide if they ever went the route of accepting (not requiring!) "proof."

I don't think they will ever ask for proof as DAS is no longer diagnosis based. It's based on needs.

 

[lanejudy]

we do have diagnostic paperwork from doctors/psychiatrists with an NPI that will show we have a genuine diagnosis.

Again the US has no system in place to verify a document is legit. Scammers can easily replicate such a document, “online” doctors may have very low scruples, and due to privacy many HCPs won’t even confirm a legitimate document originated with them.

 

[Grim Grinning Ghostie]

I don't think they will ever ask for proof as DAS is no longer diagnosis based. It's based on needs.

It won't be in lieu of the interviews, but it could help to at least slightly curb the number of people who will fake Autism now that it's seen as being the golden ticket to getting DAS, and may likewise encourage CMs to stop implying people are faking/exaggerating because they "look" fine (the way many, many anecdotes have stated).

That being said, they, of course, will never allow paperwork to be shown. Way too much of a liability for them to make themselves responsible for PHI.

 

[KrzyKtty101]

We don't get Autism "cards," no, but we do have diagnostic paperwork from doctors/psychiatrists with an NPI that will show we have a genuine diagnosis. That would be easy enough to provide if they ever went the route of accepting (not requiring!) "proof."

I see suggestions a lot like this on other platforms as well, but I honestly don't think it would help in this situation. Their overall goal seemed to be reducing the number of people using DAS in general. I don't think proof would have changed a whole lot here.

 

[KrzyKtty101]

I also do not think that their main concern was fakers, And I'm not sure it's really as big of a problem as people think. All I have is the ancedotal evidence of how disney reacted, But their new policy specifically sought to reduce the number of people using DAS across a broad spectrum. If they were really concerned about fakers and fakers only, they would have gone a different route. My opinion is how disney reacted shows that fakers wasn't there only concern.

 

[lanejudy]

Their overall goal seemed to be reducing the number of people using DAS in general. I don't think proof would have changed a whole lot here.

Yes. This is exactly the situation with US Disney parks.

 

[Grim Grinning Ghostie]

I see suggestions a lot like this on other platforms as well, but I honestly don't think it would help in this situation. Their overall goal seemed to be reducing the number of people using DAS in general. I don't think proof would have changed a whole lot here.

I'm not suggesting it. Disney would never go for it. I'm simply stating that yes, we do actually have paperwork that says we're Autistic. The unscrupulous behavior of others doesn't render that fact untrue.

 

[Grim Grinning Ghostie]

I also do not think that their main concern was fakers, And I'm not sure it's really as big of a problem as people think. All I have is the ancedotal evidence of how disney reacted, But their new policy specifically sought to reduce the number of people using DAS across a broad spectrum. If they were really concerned about fakers and fakers only, they would have gone a different route. My opinion is how disney reacted shows that fakers wasn't there only concern.

Many disabled people who have been receiving the DAS likewise did not truly need it. People don't want to hear that, but, if you can be accommodated by a more appropriate, tailored-to-you solution, that is all you are entitled to receive. Someone with a broken leg won't best be helped by DAS, they'll best be helped with an ECV or wheelchair - giving everyone DAS as a blanket accommodation was making the parks a worse experience for disabled and abled people alike.

Disney is already ADA compliant and doesn't need to do DAS at all, so I'm grateful they are just cutting back instead of getting rid of it altogether...

 

[Grim Grinning Ghostie]

Again the US has no system in place to verify a document is legit. Scammers can easily replicate such a document, “online” doctors may have very low scruples, and due to privacy many HCPs won’t even confirm a legitimate document originated with them.

That's a shame! My psychiatrist was happy to confirm my letter was legitimate when I got my work accommodations (permanent WFH). My current psychiatrist works for a private, self-pay-only practice, though, so they have more flexibility, and I am fully aware how privileged we are to be able to access that at all. I apologize for speaking from a place of ignorance on that front.

I wish the healthcare system in this country weren't so darn broken.

 

[lanejudy]

My psychiatrist was happy to confirm my letter was legitimate when I got my work accommodations (permanent WFH).

Work accommodations are a different matter. Proof can be required and presumably you may have even signed documentation allowing your doctor to speak with employer (or HR) regarding accommodations. A random amusement park is not the same situation.

 

[Ollivier]

I don't think they will ever ask for proof as DAS is no longer diagnosis based. It's based on needs.

“Guests who, due to a developmental disability like autism are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time.”

Disney chooses to use “disability like autism”. It is easy to fake the need, especially with the ai tools available.

 

[KrzyKtty101]

“Guests who, due to a developmental disability like autism are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time.”

Disney chooses to use “disability like autism”. It is easy to fake the need, especially with the ai tools available.

I think they used that venacular because for better or worse, that Is something that most people have some general knowledge of.

 

[OurBigTrip]

“Guests who, due to a developmental disability like autism are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time.”

Disney chooses to use “disability like autism”. It is easy to fake the need, especially with the ai tools available.

My assumption is that Disney specifically mentioned autism because of the 2014-2022/2023 lawsuit that they won regarding DAS v GAC.

 

[Jrb1979]

“Guests who, due to a developmental disability like autism are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time.”

Disney chooses to use “disability like autism”. It is easy to fake the need, especially with the ai tools available.

It's never been about stopping fakers and liars. The reason for the change is too many people were using DAS and it was disrupting the LL queues.

 

[Disneylover99]

It won't be in lieu of the interviews, but it could help to at least slightly curb the number of people who will fake Autism now that it's seen as being the golden ticket to getting DAS, and may likewise encourage CMs to stop implying people are faking/exaggerating because they "look" fine (the way many, many anecdotes have stated).

I wouldn’t call autism the golden ticket to getting DAS.
There are reports of autistic people not receiving DAS.

I know it’s been said again and again. DAS is needs based, not diagnosis based. And we’re legit seeing that in first hand reports.

 

[Ollivier]

It's never been about stopping fakers and liars. The reason for the change is too many people were using DAS and it was disrupting the LL queues.

So if it is not about stopping fakers, then they choose to deny people that really need it in favor of selling more ILL and genie +

 

[KrzyKtty101]

So if it is not about stopping fakers, then they choose to deny people that really need it in favor of selling more ILL and genie +

No, they are specifically denying people they feel do not need it and can benefit from one of their other accommodations just as well.

 

[oynk]

I also do not think that their main concern was fakers, And I'm not sure it's really as big of a problem as people think. All I have is the ancedotal evidence of how disney reacted, But their new policy specifically sought to reduce the number of people using DAS across a broad spectrum. If they were really concerned about fakers and fakers only, they would have gone a different route. My opinion is how disney reacted shows that fakers wasn't there only concern.

I agree that the number of "fakers" probably was not super high. ("Pretending' to be disabled when one isn't comes with some pretty bad karma).

The more likely, associated problem is "exaggerators." It's hard to discuss this without offending someone, and I am well aware that there are hidden disabilities, so I'm not accusing anyone either....but I know people who would fall into this category.

What I've seen (in the past) is someone who has, let's say, a mobility disability and thinks, "I'm disabled, (true) I should be able to get a DAS (not true). They would get denied and be shocked and then someone would tell them, "Oh, you need to also tell them that you...(fill in the blank)". The person would think, "that kind of applies to me..." and it would work.

To put it another way, it's like if Disney stated they would give DAS to people who couldn't stand in line because they turned purple if they were in a line for more than 45 minutes. I have enough faith in humanity to believe that very few people, who never turned purple, would lie. But I do believe there would be plenty of people who would say, "I turn kinda pinkish; that's close enough," or "I turn purple after 2 hours, but I "could" turn purple in 45 minutes."

I think that is a big piece, right or wrong, of who Disney is trying to weed out. Unfortunately, they are painting with a very broad brush.

I do think they are going to see some repercussions, though. I know several groups of people who used to go to Disney every week with a member who had a DAS (definitely not a faker). They already have changed plans. I don't know if Disney fully understands their reputation as a disability friendly place. A good number of people who rarely went anywhere on vacation because of the severity of their disability (or a family members') came to WDW because it was so disability friendly.

We joke about the fact that whenever my daughter needed a new wheelchair we would go wheelchair shopping at Disney. It's the only place that I've ever seen so any people in wheelchairs. We would stop people and ask about their brand and if they like it. People also would stop us.

Even though we had a good experience under the new system without DAS (and I don't consider us to be fakers or exaggerators), it was very stressful. My daughter is already suggesting that we should go to Universal more and Disney less because of the stress factor.

 

[KrzyKtty101]

No, they are specifically denying people they feel do not need it and can benefit from one of their other accommodations just as well.

Clarifying to this post, everybody with a disability would benefit from DAS, but not everybody actually needs it. There is a difference.

 

[Ollivier]

Clarifying to this post, everybody with a disability would benefit from DAS, but not everybody actually needs it. There is a difference.

This is correct.
I speak specifically about autism.
I read several reports of people with autism that are convinced of the need being denied.