DCL with Special Needs

[Doingitagain]

I posted this on the DCL boards, and someone had a great suggestion to post it here.

I have been talking so much about how we love DCL that my boss picked up on it. She is a high level executive and has a special needs brother who is turning 50 in 2013 and she is considering taking him to Alaska. He has a lower IQ and is deaf.

Their party would be all adults. My boss is not a Disney fan, but thinks her brother would enjoy the familiarity of Disney, the characters and the shows.

I have not focused on special needs traveling before, can anyone help me out? Is DCL the way to go? Are there special accomodations for special needs?

TIA!

 

[lanejudy]

Hi, I think I responded to you on the Cruise forum but will post here as well.

DCL can definitely accommodate a special needs adult. I suggest your boss review this link to the DCL webpage for Guests with Disabilities. http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/ships-activities/ships/services/guests-with-disabilities/
They'll want to decide if the brother needs stateroom accommodations - fully accessible (probably not if not in a w/c) and/or a Communications package. They should also call DCL to discuss his needs, and when/what level of assistance he'll need with regarding to his hearing loss. If he signs, they can provide ASL translators, or captioning, or an assistive listening device. I strongly suggest they call in addition to filing the requested form, that way they can be assured DCL understands the needs.

As an adult, he will not be allowed into the children's clubs even if that's his "cognitive" age, but there are plenty of family activities outside the clubs that he'd enjoy as well as any character greetings open to all guests.