Disney with Disabilities Tip for the Day: No kids on the ECV!!!

[KPeveler]

So almost every scooter I see at Disneyland has an adult driving it with a child (or two) on their lap. Usually this child is past the "normal" scooter age (generally age 8 or over), and I imagine that it is a lot of fun and sometimes a little easier to have a child ride with you.

It is also incredibly dangerous and NOT protected by the ADA, even if you use your own scooter! The ADA allows the person with the disability to use whatever mobility device they deem necessary - this I understand. It does NOT protect the right to passengers - in fact it even says a mobility device is designed to be used by just one person.

Here is my latest story of why kids on ECVs are bad. I was waiting for the wheelchair boat at Jungle Cruise, and a woman with a child got on, the woman climbed into ECV and the child, around age 6-8 climbed onto her lap. It was not a rental scooter, so I assume that they did this a lot.

The mother was settling something in her bag when the kid started hitting the controls (I think accidentally). They almost went BACKWARDS off the DOCK into the WATER!!!!

The woman managed to grab the controls in time, but because the child was between her and the controls, had a very hard time doing it.

So this was my latest tip of the day: Find a way to tour the parks that does not put a child between you and the controls of your wheelchair!

 

[aubriee]

Last Dec we stayed at CSR. It seemed every morning we ran into the same family. They were a mom, dad, grandmother on an ECV, then a little girl about five years old sitting on grandma's lap driving, while 8 y/o brother stood on the back of the ECV with his arms around grandma's upper chest and his feet spread, placed forward and standing on the plastic area just below the seat, sort of over where the wheels are. I was really surprised he didn't break it. We ran into them a few times in the parks too riding like that. I was surprised a CM didn't say something to them. The ECV was a Walker's rental.

 

[pampam]

So very dangerous. However, I'm thinking if something was said to them, they may stop till out of sight and then do it again.

 

[jackbnimble]

I saw a guy at MK on his personal scooter. He had built a platform on the back for his wife to ride on and she was probably 80! you cant fix stupid!

 

[KPeveler]

I saw a guy at MK on his personal scooter. He had built a platform on the back for his wife to ride on and she was probably 80! you cant fix stupid!

Please be careful to avoid words that are judgemental like calling people stupid. My wife and I have discussed getting a ride-along platform for my powerchair for her. She has invisible disabilities which mean she could be fine one moment, and non-weight bearing on a limb the next.

The reason children on an ECV are not safe is that they are between you and the controls.

 

[hildarumpole]

Excellent tip. I get really nervous when I see kids riding on the ECVs with a parent or grandparent. At MK this year, we saw an elderly woman letting a young girl (5 or 6 yrs. old) who was seated on her lap operate the controls and steer. She ran it straight into a curb on Main St. and fell off. The woman looked mortified. Fortunately, the litte girl's injuries appeared to be nothing worse than a scraped arm and knee. I'm sure it put a damper on their day, and hopefully taught them and anyone who witnessed the accident, a lesson.

 

[Eeyore5]

I just got back today from a 5 day trip and was shocked at how many people were letting kids ride on their ECV. My 4 year old nephew learned very quickly to ask me if it was off before climbing on my lap. He was only allowed on when it was off and I usually took the key out.

 

[ILoveMyGirls]

i have a 6 and 8 year old and in no way would i let them ride on my lap on our trip last Sept. i really thought the CM's would say something as it is a rule isn't it?

 

[KPeveler]

I have had a child on my lap in my manual chair when someone else was pushing me, and I was holding onto the child, but that is a manual chair that I was not controlling.

I really do understand why it is difficult - I use a manual or powerchair in daily life and when my wife and I have children, I will be the daily care-giver. My sister has already said she is going to machine me a stroller (with proper belts - she will tear apart a pre-made jogging stroller) that will attach to my wheelchair, as well as one of those baby-backpack carriers which will sit on my lap and be attached to my chair AND to me! That way I can carry a small child (I am thinking through toddler age - obviously once a child can walk we will be working out something else), and have it be safe.

I will never be having a child just "hang out" on my lap in my powerchair when it is moving, and I cannot drive my manual with a kid on my lap anyway.

I truly understand the difficulties when raising a child as a parent with a disability - I don't even have a child yet and my wife and sister (who is an engineer) are already figuring out how to make things work. But most of the kids I see on ECVs are old enough to walk (like 8+ years old), and if for whatever reason they cannot walk all day, then people need to figure something else out. I know it is difficult and unfair, but safety is the most important thing!

 

[pampam]

i have a 6 and 8 year old and in no way would i let them ride on my lap on our trip last Sept. i really thought the CM's would say something as it is a rule isn't it?

Like I said in post number 3, perhaps the cm does say something to them. It may stop momentarily, but it will not make an ureasonable person now reasonable. As soon as the CM's back is turned, if they are not thinking of safety, they may put the child back up on their lap.

 

[Danibelle]

I was at the world this week and observed a grandchild (?) on a grandparent's lap in a manual w/c. I think the GP was not used to being in the w/c as the small child actually fell out of the w/c and the GP nearly fell out herself. It was awkward to watch as there was nothing we could do. The child's parents finally came back and rescued the two before someone got hurt. The child appeared to be about 5 yrs. old.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

If it is a park rented ECV, CMs are trained to ask any children riding on the ECV to get off. Refusal to do so may result in loss of the ECV as you sign an agreement not to let anybody under a certain age sit on or operate it. (I forget the age). At least when I was there, I was not given instructions on personal ECVs or those rented from out of park dealers. I would normally ask them to get off if I saw them.