Hi everyone! I am going to jump on in here with my two cents, and hopefully won't get flamed for anything...mainly the length of this post
My husband is blind. I have Multiple Sclerosis. Different disabilities, with needs for different accommodations. Disney has NEVER been a problem for either one of us to deal with. Let me go through our experiences with his blindness.
First off, my husband never took his guide dog to Disney, or any amusement park for that matter because he feels 1. the pavement could be too hot for puppy feet (we live in Pittsburgh, not exactly a warm climate) 2. making a dog get on a ride that is clearly atypical movement for the dog is cruel, and 3. he doesn't want to have someone the dog is unfamiliar with be responsible for HIS dog while he decided to go on rides. I understand that not every blind person has the option of leaving their "eyes" behind, so I must admit, that Disney may need to have more "potty spaces" for the dogs, as we didn't see very many areas for the dogs to relieve themselves, but I also openly admit we weren't actively looking for one, although there are places for them to go. They aren't always in a convenient location. And as for the lawsuit stating that the characters discriminate because of guide dogs, I can't really comment on that because we never took the dog, and we don't typically wait in line for character photos.
I never noticed Disney having Braille maps...stationary or paper, but again, we didn't really think to look for them. We have gone to DisneyWorld so often that we don't need them anymore. We pretty much know where everything is in every park. But, I can see Disney keeping Braille maps in Guest Services, because they are much bigger because of the Braille and paper quality has to be better. So, if Disney doesn't have these then they should be required to have them, but I think keeping them at Guest Services, where you get a Guest Assistance Card would be more than acceptable.
Braille menus have ALWAYS been offered to my husband at every sit-down restaurant. He doesn't use them because he doesn't read Braille very well. (He uses mostly electronic devises for all his needs, although he can use/read Braille in emergency situations). I don't know if counter service restaurants have Braille menus or not because I can read the menus to the hubby...although I am inclined to believe that there is probably a braille menu behind the counter if someone would ask to see it. That's the way most counter service restaurants handle it.
The lawsuit also states that Disney doesn't offer park schedules in electronic format. Ummmm....Disney releases these things usually 6 months prior on the website, that point is moot.
For the parades and shows issue the lawsuit takes issue with, I know Disney used to offer headphones to describe rides and shows. I am assuming they still use these things, although my husband likes the way I describe things better to him, so he hasn't used the headphone things in YEARS...Plus he never was a parade person even when he could see.
The lawsuit states that Disney does not supply sighted companions, or offer discounted admission for sighted companions. Why should they offer lower admission for another PERSON sighted or not to get into the park? And as for supplying a sighted companion, I imagine if you make per-arrangements Disney will accommodate the request.
I think the issue here is that people have to make prior arrangements and not just assume that these things will be there waiting for them. These things will be waiting if arrangements are made. People have to take responsibility every now and then, handicapped or not. Just my two cents.
