Doctor REFUSES to write note for my disability!

[KSoda]

I have read many good articles on guests with mobility issues, such as I have with broken screws in my neck and herniated disks in my low back, affecting me greatly if I stand a/o walk long. One article I read was from the Unofficial Guide to WDW 2007, BY Bob Sehlinger and Len Testa which gave some advise about getting a physicians letter briefly explaining the condition. So far I haven't found anything on this in the DISboards, maybe I'm looking in the wrong place.

As far as it is with myself, it's recommended that I have more surgery in both area's of my spine, which is very risky to say the least and I have already cancelled two WDW vacations on my poor kids over the past few years as I underwent five surgeries and neck fusions.

We are due to travel 6/27 to 7/9 because I am not going to break another promise to my girls again, and, once I have surgery again, I will not be able to travel for a long time, if it is successful at all.

So, in the articles I've read (and knowing how Disney bends over backwards for the disabled), it said that there is a guest assistance card, it doesn't allow us to bypass other guests who are waiting patiently, I in NO way would want to do that, but rather, it's designed to provide a more convienient entrance into attractions, thats all it said.

Disney Guest relations even mentioned this. So, today I called my surgeon's office, explained what I needed and why, I was "very" specific, stating to his nurse it was not for riding wild attractions.

Her immediate response to me was "the doctor's not going to write your letter!" "Besides, you can't go on rides!" I said "I know that, this is NOT the reason for the letter and I'm not going to endanger my body by doing something stupid by going on a ride, especially when I have my three children and grandson there."

She then asked in a snotty tone "so you want to cut ahead of everyone else?" I said, "you don't understand what I'm asking for, can I speak with the doctor when he gets time?" "Plus you're not being very nice to me and I take great offense to that, I've been a loyal patient here for 6 years." She said "he's not going to write it for you." I even explained how a Disney cast member will direct us a different way, possibly to be able to sit down while waiting.

I'll tell you, I was furious! Hurt! And felt degraded! But I remained polite, even though she was a snot. I even offered to pay for an office visit to better explain it.

I even looked on the Disney website for a better explaination of what this is, but couldn't locate specific info on this card.

Any advise and information as to the specifics of this card and what to ask for? I can understand the liability behind a letter, but again, I did not ask for a free pass to go on Big Thunder Railroad or the Tower of Terror. I was thinking more on the lines of the Disney train, a mild boat ride and such.

I feel like an idiot and degraded, I can't believe how she treated me, and the Doctor refused to talk or call me. Great doctor/patient relations!

 

[Michigan]

You don't have to have a note from your doctor. Disney can't look at a letter from your doctor if they do they are violating the ADA (American's with Disabilities Act). If you feel you need a GAC you explain what you need to the CM and they will do it according to your needs. If you are using a wheelchair you don't need a GAC since most lines are wheelchair accessible and if they aren't the CM will direct you to the right place.

 

[KSoda]

OK, I just found the DISboards area on this issue, I'll read the posts and find out more.

 

[KSoda]

You don't have to have a note from your doctor. Disney can't look at a letter from your doctor if they do they are violating the ADA (American's with Disabilities Act). If you feel you need a GAC you explain what you need to the CM and they will do it according to your needs. If you are using a wheelchair you don't need a GAC since most lines are wheelchair accessible and if they aren't the CM will direct you to the right place.

WOW, you are fast, lol. Thanks for the information. Plus, I just remembered that one or two of my medications I take are not good for me to be in direct sunlight. I found this out last week when reading the spec sheets for the meds. You have been very helpful! Thanks again.

 

[KSoda]

You don't have to have a note from your doctor. Disney can't look at a letter from your doctor if they do they are violating the ADA (American's with Disabilities Act). If you feel you need a GAC you explain what you need to the CM and they will do it according to your needs. If you are using a wheelchair you don't need a GAC since most lines are wheelchair accessible and if they aren't the CM will direct you to the right place.

You are right, I just checked with Disney Guest Relations, we don't have to have a doctors note, he said it just makes it helpful. His advise was to bring some documentation about my back and med and discuss it with our resort front desk for further directions for each park.

I'll bring my medical report for the heck of it, I think I'll need some documentation anyway for airport security because of broken pedicle screws in my spine.

It just really got to me how my doctors office just treated me today on this.

 

[Chesh58]

I have read that although you don't need a doctors note to get a GAC it is sometimes useful. I also read somewhere that there was a general form out there for you to either give to your doctor or just to follow to have him write a note. Does anyone know where this form is? Thanks for any help you can give

 

[Daydreamer64]

His advise was to bring some documentation about my back and med and discuss it with our resort front desk for further directions for each park.

If he asked you directly to bring the info in to be reviewed, and/or he asked you to bring in your medications for the CM's to prove your disability,- WOW- then he is really breaking the ADA laws. You may offer your information and meds, he may say if you want to share them -it's alright -but no one can make you share medical information. Also, the CM's are not medical people, they need to know what you need to be able to tour the parks with equal access. Naming specifics will not help- screws hurt some people when they sit, others need to sit because the same condition can hurt them to stand-

I have several conditions that require a bit of reworking to allow me to tour the parks in comfort- even though I have been getting GAC for over 4 years now, I had a hard time with a CM in AK last April because he insisted that the accomidations on my old card were not the correct ones- I asked to speak to another CM and she said that he was incorrect and that I had exactly what I needed for my situation.

I felt the same way that you did because all of a sudden, it felt like the CM was giving me the third degree like he thought that I was trying to work the system. The funny thing was, that WDW GS were the ones to contact me about the card origionally because of a question that I asked before our first trip about my needs- I didn't even know that there was a card. Go figure-

no cards give front of the line access except for GKTW / MAW trips and even some of them have to wait on rides-

Also, the resort front desk has nothing to do with the GAC- my understanding is that you may only obtain a GAC at Guest Services located in the park that you visit, they will fill in the dates of your visit so you don't have to get a new card each day.

Be ready for them to suggest that you rent a chair. I am not a medical professional , however, I know that there are many rides/shows that you can enjoy with your health issues. HTH

 

[Cheshire Figment]

First of all, you cannot be required to have a note. Some of the Guest Services CMs may not even want to raed a note.

Some people have written their own note so they are not flustered.

What you have to described is your needs, not your diagnosis. If anything, a note should say something to the effect of "Due to a disability, the following accomodations are needed to assist X in being able to enjoy the trip as a person without disabilities: (and then list the needs).

Note that totally bypassing lines is normally not an acceptable request. The purpose of the GAC is to all a person with disabilities the same access as a person without disabilities.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have merged the thread Doctors Note For GAC by Chesh58 into this one, as they are both current and very related

 

[LindaBabe]

KSoda, I wonder if the "nurse" or whatever she was that took your original call even told the doctor you called. These new 'gatekeepers' seem to think they are god.

Next time you have an appointment with your doctor, you might mention the call and the attitude. You're the customer - you have a right to be treated with respect.

 

[djblu883]

just guessing after reading your post....i can almost bet the dostor has no clue that a call was even made to him about your needs...the nurses field so many calls every day trying to save stpes for the doc that they tend to get hardened and don't really hear half of what you are trying to tell them....blame hundreds of drug seekers and those trying to beat the system to avoid working ....just an FYI (i work with docs and hear so many of those stories and see a lot of the same to boot! )AGood to know you don't need a script for that card...but maybe you will keep this filed in your brain for future reference!

I have read many good articles on guests with mobility issues, such as I have with broken screws in my neck and herniated disks in my low back, affecting me greatly if I stand a/o walk long. One article I read was from the Unofficial Guide to WDW 2007, BY Bob Sehlinger and Len Testa which gave some advise about getting a physicians letter briefly explaining the condition. So far I haven't found anything on this in the DISboards, maybe I'm looking in the wrong place.

As far as it is with myself, it's recommended that I have more surgery in both area's of my spine, which is very risky to say the least and I have already cancelled two WDW vacations on my poor kids over the past few years as I underwent five surgeries and neck fusions.

We are due to travel 6/27 to 7/9 because I am not going to break another promise to my girls again, and, once I have surgery again, I will not be able to travel for a long time, if it is successful at all.

So, in the articles I've read (and knowing how Disney bends over backwards for the disabled), it said that there is a guest assistance card, it doesn't allow us to bypass other guests who are waiting patiently, I in NO way would want to do that, but rather, it's designed to provide a more convienient entrance into attractions, thats all it said.

Disney Guest relations even mentioned this. So, today I called my surgeon's office, explained what I needed and why, I was "very" specific, stating to his nurse it was not for riding wild attractions.

Her immediate response to me was "the doctor's not going to write your letter!" "Besides, you can't go on rides!" I said "I know that, this is NOT the reason for the letter and I'm not going to endanger my body by doing something stupid by going on a ride, especially when I have my three children and grandson there."

She then asked in a snotty tone "so you want to cut ahead of everyone else?" I said, "you don't understand what I'm asking for, can I speak with the doctor when he gets time?" "Plus you're not being very nice to me and I take great offense to that, I've been a loyal patient here for 6 years." She said "he's not going to write it for you." I even explained how a Disney cast member will direct us a different way, possibly to be able to sit down while waiting.

I'll tell you, I was furious! Hurt! And felt degraded! But I remained polite, even though she was a snot. I even offered to pay for an office visit to better explain it.

I even looked on the Disney website for a better explaination of what this is, but couldn't locate specific info on this card.

Any advise and information as to the specifics of this card and what to ask for? I can understand the liability behind a letter, but again, I did not ask for a free pass to go on Big Thunder Railroad or the Tower of Terror. I was thinking more on the lines of the Disney train, a mild boat ride and such.

I feel like an idiot and degraded, I can't believe how she treated me, and the Doctor refused to talk or call me. Great doctor/patient relations!

 

[SueM in MN]

You are right, I just checked with Disney Guest Relations, we don't have to have a doctors note, he said it just makes it helpful. His advise was to bring some documentation about my back and med and discuss it with our resort front desk for further directions for each park.

The person you checked with in Guest Relations is correct about not needing a doctor's note, but the rest of what he said was not correct.
As other people mentioned, if you want to bring a note, that's OK, but many of the notes people bring from doctors are not that helpful because they are often just a list of diagnosis of documentation about what diagnosis you have. The important part is being able to explain what your needs are, as Cheshire Figment mentioned.

He was also not correct about discussing your documentatiion with the resort front desk. GACs are requested from Guest Relations in the parks.. No one else can issue them, so it is not going to be useful to talk with the resort CMs about them.

I have read that although you don't need a doctors note to get a GAC it is sometimes useful. I also read somewhere that there was a general form out there for you to either give to your doctor or just to follow to have him write a note. Does anyone know where this form is? Thanks for any help you can give

As was already mentioned, there is no general form or note to have your doctor fill out since there is no need for a note.

If you haven't already checked it out, look in the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board. There is a section in there about GACs.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

If you are unable to stand for long periods of time, have you considered renting a wheelchair or ECV (an electric scooter)? Some sort of assistance like this, might really help you to get about, and not be in agony for what should be a magical trip. The FAQ has loads of information on outside rental companies, using mobility devices in the buses etc. Sorry if this has been mentioned already, I've not read all the posts in detail.

Good luck and have a wonderful trip!

 

[KSoda]

In some defence to the Cast Member, I must say that he was nothing short of understanding and tried to be as helpful as he could be, but he really knew nothing on this issue at all, possibly a new cast member?

What he did was instead of transfering me to Guest Relations, he would put me on hold, check with G. Relations, then come back on the line and tell me what they said. H e should have just transfered me.

Second, he "never said I had to have" a note from my physician, he thought though that one might be helpful.

After all of the phone conversations during the last six months with Disney Reservations, and several time making it known of my condition, not one ever mentioned this GAC or disability fact sheet, nor did I get anything with my confirmation, other than that there's a note of "special needs" in the request area.

They have however offered me several contact phone numbers for ECV's, I'm still contemplating this as I really don't want to have to shuttle this back and forth for two weeks. If I get that worn out or in pain, I'll have to just rest. But, I haven't counted an ECV out just yet.

As far as my physician goes, I've had a run in with her in the past six months when she stopped me from filling out my medical information form as I was listing my medications, she took the clip board from me and said that she would finish it. I had told her there were many things I wanted to note, she said not to worry about it. As she came to the medication list, she asked which meds I took, tow of the meds have the generic first name, but with letter codes indicating the type and dosage, she looked at me like I was nuts, asked with a smirk "WHAT?? What are you talking about??"

NOT a nice lady, very pushy, arrogant and snotty. I never said anything to the doctor because my mind was elsewhere on the broken screws for the second time. But, I'm scheduled to see him June 16th before our trip and I'm going to give him an earfull on her attitude and p-- poor patient relation skills.

The doc is really a nice guy and understanding, so I'm wondering if you're right about her ever asking him in the first place or if she told him in the right context.

Being the customer service field all of my life, I know all to well how one little word in a document can have so much liability. I can understand why he wouldn't want to place himself in such a position, then have me do something stupid, go on an attraction and come out with spinal cord injuries. But, I think you are all right here, she probably never mentioned it to him, or, she didn't say it the right way. But again, I was very specific in my request. Oh well.

And as far as these GAC's go and the misuse of ECV's, wheel chairs and handicap parking plaques, how true, there are so many people who take advantage of this. Many Americans have bad backs and never see a doctor for it and a wheel chair would come in handy for them, but, still, for those who truely need these modes of transportation and need an EVC or wheelchair, only to be told the park has no more left. If they're being used to merely seek firsat priority, that is just sick.

 

[SueM in MN]

In some defence to the Cast Member, I must say that he was nothing short of understanding and tried to be as helpful as he could be, but he really knew nothing on this issue at all, possibly a new cast member?

What he did was instead of transfering me to Guest Relations, he would put me on hold, check with G. Relations, then come back on the line and tell me what they said. H e should have just transfered me............
After all of the phone conversations during the last six months with Disney Reservations, and several time making it known of my condition, not one ever mentioned this GAC or disability fact sheet, nor did I get anything with my confirmation, other than that there's a note of "special needs" in the request area.

The person you talked to and even the person in Guest Relations that he was checking with are not park people, so they may or may not know a little about Guest Assistance Cards, but that is not part of their responsibility or even necessarily information that they have access to. (Which is why they didn't give you correct information).
There is a link in the disABILITIES FAQs thread to the WDW website's Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities. GACs are not mentioned in it; it just says to contact Guest Relations in the parks if you have additional needs.
The Guidebook does recommend a wheelchair or ECV for people who have concerns about their stamina or ability to stand in lines because the length of time a guest will be in line is just a portion of the time and distance spent in the park in a day. That makes sense when you think of how big the parks are - just to go around World Showcas in Epcot is about 1.3 miles and it's probably an equal distance to get from the entrance to World Showcase.
There are estimates that the average guest walks between 3 and 6 miles during a day in the parks (many walk more).
Having a GAC would not help at all with the distance, so having a wheelchair or ECV would be more helpful than a GAC for people with mobility or stamina concerns.

 

[Vemnox]

You don't have to have a note from your doctor. Disney can't look at a letter from your doctor if they do they are violating the ADA (American's with Disabilities Act).

This is not correct at all. The CM *can* see the letter if it is offered to them. They cannot REQUEST one.

 

[KSoda]

Well, the best thing I can do right now is keep walking to build stamina and strength. Our local high school 2/10th's of a mile away has a new track, so the kids and I are getting in a couple miles a day in both walking, and bonding time. So far I've done OK but have to take breaks every now and then when the pain travels through my hips for some reason.

Surprisingly enough though, my neck doesn't cause a lot of pain, just heaviness and numbness. We'll be in WDW for 2 weeks, so we'll have plenty of time, to take our time to just relax. It'll be a bit tough with my daughter's 1year old boy because all he wants to do is crawl around exploring his gigantic world around him.

Yesterday though, I took my daughter and her son to a State agency for a health plan for her, it was a little tough trying to hold onto him all that time. He's a very good baby and can just sit for long periods of time with us being occupied with a set of keys or his bottle, but, with any child, there's only so much sitting they can do before they want to move around.

I don't want my daughter lifting and holding a twenty or thirty pound baby being pregnant, so I try to hold him when I can, being careful of my neck especially. But, at Disney World, we'll have my ten and fifteen year old along to help out. I just hope the baby doesn't become over stimulated, again, we'll take frequent breaks to just chill out away from all the noise.

My daughter will be 18 months pregnant when we travel, but she's feeling great now, and she had a good pregnancy on her first child. I'm too young to be a grandfather, lol, I'm only 47. But he is the love of my life, along with my three daughters.

I've been shopping around for a good set of walking sneakers which would be benificial to my spine and feet, but we haven't found the perfect shoe just yet. I looked at a set of canvas KEDS sneakers that looked comfortable, but I'm looking for Rockport sneaks and haven't found them.

As far as the GAC and ECV's go, I'm not going to worry about it, I'll take my medical report along in case it COULD be helpful in any given circumstance, but I think it will be most helpful when going through airport security in case I set off the alarm with my spinal hardware. I'll reserve an EVC from one of the outside companies, and if I feel I'll need it, at least it'll be available to me, plus we're staying at the Grand Floridian which is on the monorail, so if I'm at the Magic Kingdom or EPCOT, I'll just hop on the monorail and go get it, not a big deal.

I've been through metal detectors with the surgical hardwear in my neck before and the titanium never set off any alarms, so that too I don't see any problems with.

I appreciate all the feedback to my post, you've all been very helpful, so thank you!

 

[SueM in MN]

My daughter will be 18 months pregnant when we travel, but she's feeling great now, and she had a good pregnancy on her first child.

LOL
I know you are a man and all, but I hope she's not 18 months pregnant!!
Anyway, I'm assuming it's a typo for 8 months pregnant. She n eeds to check with her doctor if she's that close to the end of pregnancy because he/she may not want your daughter traveling that far away from home and by air. Even if the doctor says OK now, that may change as she gets closer to the date, depending on what is happening to her body in terms of signs that it is getting reay for labor.

As far as the GAC and ECV's go, I'm not going to worry about it, I'll take my medical report along in case it COULD be helpful in any given circumstance, but I think it will be most helpful when going through airport security in case I set off the alarm with my spinal hardware.
I've been through metal detectors with the surgical hardwear in my neck before and the titanium never set off any alarms, so that too I don't see any problems with.

I forgot to mention the airport. That would be a place where the documentation would be handy.
If it's more than a few paragraphs and has a lot of technical words in it, it won't be helpful for the CMs at WDW (they are, after all, lay people and the more technical words in the report, the more likely it is to tell about your diagnosis and the procedures you have had done, not needs).

 

[tacomaranch]

Sue has given us all super information to assist is having magical trips to Disney.

When we go to get our GAC, I have a very generic letter from our Dr. that says our DS has autism and please offer him any services that may help him enjoy his trip, or something to that effect. I found it on this site.

They have never read the note but have just asked me what limitations does DS have. I just let them know what we need to make the trip a bit better for DS. Having his stroller as a wheelchair helps keep him confined and not running a muck. Just let them know your needs and they will help you out at Guest relations.

All the best, April

 

[KSoda]

LOL
I know you are a man and all, but I hope she's not 18 months pregnant!!
Anyway, I'm assuming it's a typo for 8 months pregnant. She n eeds to check with her doctor if she's that close to the end of pregnancy because he/she may not want your daughter traveling that far away from home and by air. Even if the doctor says OK now, that may change as she gets closer to the date, depending on what is happening to her body in terms of signs that it is getting reay for labor.

OK, OK, yes, I'm a typical man, she'll be 18 WEEKS, NOT months LOL. Sorry 'bout that, don't know where my head was at, but it must have been in my backside, lol..