This thread has some important things to think about.
Unfortunately, some of the things said here have caused some hurt feelings and I have had several thread/post reports based on this thread.
I'm very sad about that. This board is not usually home to hurtful comments, but they happen here too when people only see things from their own perspective (and some of those same kinds of things are why I wrote the Open Letter from SueM.)
I could go thru this thread and edit out anything that might have made someone feel bad or feel attached.
Or close the thread.
And add infractions to people who wrote them.
I'm not going to do any of those tonight though.
What I am going to do is ask each person who has posted on this thread to read their own post.
Read it as if you were seeing it for the first time. If you wrote something negative, think of how you would feel if someone else had written that about whatever condition/disability you or your loved ones have.
ASK YOURSELF
Would you think it was OK if it was written about you or a loved one?
Would you think it was OK if you were reading it and someone else had written it?
Would you say it to someone's face?
If the answer to any of these questions is "NO", please edit what you wrote.
Please keep these things in mind tonight in doing your editing and in the future in posting to these boards.
Some comments I have about some of the things already posted.
One problem with accepting a doctor's note is that it has been posted on these boards over and over again that someone has a doctor that volunteered to "write a note to get you to the front of the line", like the docs think they are all-powerful, line-cutting, note-writing gods.
Unfortunately, very true.
I have seen websites (which I WON'T LINK TO AND PLEASE NO ONE ELSE FIND AND LINK EITHER), where people suggested forging a doctor's note to get some 'special treatment'.
Don't forget though, that a GAC is not issued for the disability, but for the need for accessibility.
A very important point.
That awful, thats why a new policy should be brought in, disney is just to big to walk arround if you are in pain, it will take away from your enjoyment of the place. If some form of proof was required, then you would feel so much more at ease in the chair or
scooter you deserve. It may also lead to a situation that could mean disney would be much more able to have different passes to meet the differing needs of guests. I also feal that the money disney charges for chairs, scooters is far to high. Here in Uk these things are given out free at many places you just need to show a disability badge or social services letter and leave a deposit to get one, most towns, tourist places have them.
That is in the UK, but things are not the same in the US.
There is a law about accessibility (The Americans with Disabilities Act) that states people can NOT be forced to prove that they are disabled in order to get the accommodations/access that they need.
There are also very few things that people with disabilities get free in the US.
mackay - the reason why you need proof for disabled parking spaces is that they are limited, and provide more accommodation than the average guest gets (because they are closer, etc). A GAC is designed ONLY to allow disabled guests to enjoy the parks AS MUCH AS able-bodied guests. It is federal law that no one can require proof of disability, so long as you are asking for a "reasonable accommodation." Obviously things like federal disability assistance is MORE than the average person gets, so it must be proven.
Part of the reason why people are not allowed to require proof is that would suddenly require the gov't to define "disabled" for all kinds of situations. Too disabled to wait in line is different than too disbled to see the screen is different than too disabled to walk, etc. I have faith in my gov't, but that seems like a bureaucratic nightmare!
Also, some people cannot afford more drs (i have been there!) or drs do not believe them. For close to 10 years i was told my genetic defect and all the pain it causes was due to stress! Stress is not a disability, and my dr would NOT have written me a note to allow me to use a wheelchair or scooter in disney, even though i needed one. my condition was just so rare that no one had seen it before.
also, can you imagine having to prove disability to use the lift on a bus? or be allowed to sit in the lower seats in a theatre? most companies don't have the manpower to check such things, and i can print a dr's note and a "certified disabled card" right here on my computer. I think it is more important to allow people free access, even if it allows in some cheaters, rather than restrict the system for people who actually do need it.
Some systems are so resticted that I am going to have to take a YEAR of paperwork to get my new wheelchair, when my disability dictates i get it NOW. That is because so many people abused the system, i have to jump through a thousand hoops.
There is no right answer. All we can do is the best we can, and keep trying to make it better
RE the Busch Gardens incident: Totally disgusting. I am so sorry this happened to you. Part of me hopes that staff member was fired. I am glad your dd was "fine" but that in no way excuses the bs they put you through. And the "lady" they made you move for? NASTY! To then brag about abusing the system is beyond belief. All I can say is that rude people come in all shapes, sizes, abilities and disabilities. Sounds like she was not a "rude handicapped woman"...she was a RUDE!!! woman who just happened to have a handicap.
Something like that should not happen and does not happen often.
But, I agree that was not a rude handicapped woman. THAT was a rude woman who would have been rude with or without a handicap/disability.
KPeveler, I've seen that attitude even among the disabled here on the boards. It's very disheartening, and I'm starting to feel these boards have lost their usefulness to my family. I'm getting tired of people who expect and demand reasonable accommodations for themselves, yet decide the accommodations others need are not reasonable.
That is the sort of sad feeling that prompted me to write the Open Letter from SueM. There was a lot of "my disability is worse than yours" or "I don't see why someone with 'x' needs any accommodation."
I have always operated under the assumption that I want to give factual information so people know what to expect. Whatever is their problem, my goal is to help them. Although sometimes someone doesn't like the answer, the answers I give are based on being here on the DIS Boards since 1999, being a nurse for longer than that (but I don't want to give away my age) and many, many trips to WDW over the years with a variety of people with a variety of 'issues'.
I, too, am a believer in karma.
I do believe what goes around comes around.
Maybe not always quickly, but over the years I have seen enough posts from people that start out "I used to think everyone with wheelchairs or
ECVs ........., until I had to use one and saw how difficult it was. And I will never say that again."
Thanks, Karma.
As for the weight issue, my DD9 is rapidly gaining at a very alarming rate even though she DOESN'T EAT. We were just in Boston last week seeing a doctor who actually believes us when we say we don't stuff her face with food. This doctor says he's seen kids with metabolic disorders hospitalized and on 600 calorie per day diets and they STILL gain weight. He's sending us to a metabolic specialist in Cleveland because we can't get competent medical care here in Philadelphia. I relayed all this to a friend and she still tried to give me advice on what to feed my daughter. People just don't get it.
What people don't realize is that i am just fine being disabled! not that i would mind getting better, but as that is not going to happen (its a genetic defect, no treatment for that!) I have learned to accept and even embrace it. i refuse to feel defective or lesser or something simply because i need a wheelchair.
My youngest DD is disabled and has never known anything different because that is how she has always been.
We can treat some of her symptoms, but she is never going to be 'normal' (whatever that is anyway).
anyway, where this thread originally started is that people are dumb. people are dumb everywhere. and I can't make myself crazy because of other people's stupid. It's sad they are so ignorant and sheltered that they think i am faking my disability just cause i can stand up, but i honestly dont even notice anymore, and i just go on with my life and my vacation!
I've said this over and over (sorry, if you have read it before), but we have heard the "Look at that girl in the wheelchair. They are some of those fakers".
Just because someone is out of a wheelchair doesn't mean they don't need it. In my DD's case, she can't walk and although she could crawl when she was little, she can't anymore, so without her wheelchair, she can't move.
SO, just because someone can't see a problem doesn't mean that there is no problem.
KP-I just wanted to say I LOVE what you wrote here (Bold). Some days I do better with this than others. I often find myself repeating your signature Walt quote when meeting a challenge.
I too have encountered "the additude" both on the boards and at WDW. I have lived the "if I work harder I can hide/ignore it". I am not so successful at it anymore.
to everyone
) . I would perfer not to go on a ride if people are going to give you dirty looks for cutting in line. I can transfer but can not really walk. People may get mad at me for slowing down the ride. I will look for a tree to sit under if I get over heated. I even have a sterio system in my chair so sitting there looking on would not be so bad. 
)
