Front of the line?

[TinkOhio]

I'm hoping that some savvy folks on this board can suggest some interventions for a 5 year old boy who ONLY wants to be the first one in line. I am actually his student teacher, and I know that some experienced people frequent this board. He has an ASD and absolutely flips out if he doesn't get his way. It can definitely disruptive to the rest of the class. He even gets upset when his bus isn't the first bus!

Can anyone suggest some interventions that might work at school, outside of the home, and--to keep this on topic-- at WDW?

TIA for any help!

 

[MSSANDRA]

Being the "caboose" is a VERY important job because he has to make sure that no one gets left behind.

 

[jmartinez1895]

I would try to come up with a game or something special for him for waiting his turn. I recall a boy in one of my childs classes that was like that and he had the job of counting every one that left teh room and he got a sticker once he was done. He would place them on a special board and once he reached a goal he got to make a trip t the class treasure box.

 

[KPeveler]

Does he do well with people giving special attention? for example, if a "special CM" explained rules when he got there...

maybe he could also watch youtube videos to start getting used to the idea of lines

also, practicing at home, where they can get used to the idea can help sometimes..

 

[OneLittleSpark]

As he's 5, you won't be looking at any of the rollercoasters, so that takes some of the worst queues out of the equation. For the popular non-thrill-rides, such as Buzz Lightyear, you may need to get Fastpasses.

I know that a lot of people find that getting a Guest Assistance Card (GAC) for 'stroller as wheelchair' helps a lot of people with ASD kids. This means that the stroller can be taken into lines, so gives a sheltered 'safe place' away from the rest of the crowd. You can also have the stroller stocked with things to keep him busy, such as a Pal Mickey, a gameboy, a few small toys or some colouring sheets.

A lot of the lines have lots of things to look at, so if it were proposed to him as a walk through the fun line, rather than a queue, this might keep him happier. This would only work on the reasonably fast moving lines, as the slower ones would very much feel like a line. Some kind of spotting or counting game could be good (how many animals can you see? How many circles are painted on these walls? What do all the tombstones in the Haunted Mansion graveyard say? etc), or ISpy if the line is really slow. Alphabets of things is another good one to do - make a list of something starting with 'A', then 'B' etc. Foods, animals and colours are all good ones to try.

As others said, I think that practicing this in a safe and familiar environment might also be helpful. If you explain to him beforehand exactly why he has to wait (that it's not a punishment; that the other people were there first; that he will get on soon, if he's patient and quiet), and then build up the wait times slowly, he might find it easier to cope when in WDW. Start with something really small, like a five or ten second wait, then work up in gradual increments. You could maybe get some toys to be in the line too, so it makes it more of a game.

Hope this helps!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Does he do well with people giving special attention? for example, if a "special CM" explained rules when he got there...

I can't imagine myself, or any other CM, saying something other than: "I'm sorry, you will have to wait in line just as everyone else" and if that triggers a meltdown it is not my fault or my problem.

 

[kaffinito]

Being the "caboose" is a VERY important job because he has to make sure that no one gets left behind.

I would try to come up with a game or something special for him for waiting his turn. I recall a boy in one of my childs classes that was like that and he had the job of counting every one that left teh room and he got a sticker once he was done. He would place them on a special board and once he reached a goal he got to make a trip t the class treasure box.

These two worked for oldest DS (now 17) when he was younger. We also practiced a lot at home too. When he was 14 he was still having problems with this at school, but one trip to WDW cured him of having to be first in line.

Once he learned how to wait for his turn to be first, and that eventually he would be first as others got in line behind him, he was a lot better at it. If there is a way to practice this with the child at your school, it might work for him too. Maybe there is a line at the cafeteria you could practice this?

 

[kampfirekim]

To TinkOhio, I have a 5 year old with Autism. I have just discovered over the past couple of years that you can go to City Hall in the MK and request a Guest Assistance Card. You can also ask for a stroller tag to allow you to use your stroller as a wheelchair. This will allow you to keep your little darling in the stroller while waiting in line. This info has been an answered prayer for us! Hope it helps you!!!

 

[livndisney]

To TinkOhio, I have a 5 year old with Autism. I have just discovered over the past couple of years that you can go to City Hall in the MK and request a Guest Assistance Card. You can also ask for a stroller tag to allow you to use your stroller as a wheelchair. This will allow you to keep your little darling in the stroller while waiting in line. This info has been an answered prayer for us! Hope it helps you!!!

The GAC is not intended to shorten wait time and says so right on the front.
In some cases it will increase wait time(if you need to wait for special vehicle).

Info on GAC can be found in the stickys located at the top of this thread.

 

[kittycat9]

To TinkOhio, I have a 5 year old with Autism. I have just discovered over the past couple of years that you can go to City Hall in the MK and request a Guest Assistance Card. You can also ask for a stroller tag to allow you to use your stroller as a wheelchair. This will allow you to keep your little darling in the stroller while waiting in line. This info has been an answered prayer for us! Hope it helps you!!!

You also need a drs note, and must be the designated caregiver of the child in order to request this pass. There are different levels, and depending on what is written by the dr (and from what I've heard) and the interpretation of the staff that day - your pass could vary.

I think what is important to keep in mind is that Disney is very accommodating to families with disabilities. It has to be difficult to have so many special procedures in place, and still keep things running smoothly for other guests. It might not always be perfect, but in our experience - it makes visiting Disney possible.

 

[livndisney]

You also need a drs note, and must be the designated caregiver of the child in order to request this pass. There are different levels, and depending on what is written by the dr (and from what I've heard) and the interpretation of the staff that day - your pass could vary.

I think what is important to keep in mind is that Disney is very accommodating to families with disabilities. It has to be difficult to have so many special procedures in place, and still keep things running smoothly for other guests. It might not always be perfect, but in our experience - it makes visiting Disney possible.

A doctors note is not needed and most often will not be looked at as the CM issuing the GAC is not a Dr. It is not a "pass". It is a way to alert attraction CM's to the fact that the person listed on the card has a need not "visible".

The card is issued to meet various needs.

 

[KPeveler]

I can't imagine myself, or any other CM, saying something other than: "I'm sorry, you will have to wait in line just as everyone else" and if that triggers a meltdown it is not my fault or my problem.

I know that some children respond well to certain figures of authority, but not their parents (i.e. someone in uniform). What I meant was a CM having a conversation with the child, not telling him off...

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I'm confused.

I read the original post as -- this child struggles with waiting in line at school and at community, and his teacher wants ideas on how to help him in those settings. If that's true a GAC is not going to help (I know we don't honor them in my school anyway).

Tink, can you clarify whether you're having problems at school or at WDW?

 

[Traveliz]

I'm confused.

I read the original post as -- this child struggles with waiting in line at school and at community, and his teacher wants ideas on how to help him in those settings. If that's true a GAC is not going to help (I know we don't honor them in my school anyway).

Tink, can you clarify whether you're having problems at school or at WDW?

I read it the same way -- to keep it on topic she was saying that perhaps whatever ideas work at school and in the community would in turn also work at WDW.

We have had a few first in line always kids before but we just have the deal where we pull a name out of a hat and that child is first and we go through everyone and then start over.

Liz

 

[TinkOhio]

I read it the same way -- to keep it on topic she was saying that perhaps whatever ideas work at school and in the community would in turn also work at WDW.

We have had a few first in line always kids before but we just have the deal where we pull a name out of a hat and that child is first and we go through everyone and then start over.

Liz

You are both understanding what I am trying to say.

I am trying to find ways that might entice or convince a child without the same reasoning capacity as "typical" children to accept the fact that there are many times that he will not be able to be first in line, and that not being first is okay. This child will be transitioning to kindergarten next year, and his usual reaction would make him stick out like a sore thumb to his peers. It could also be very disruptive to the class and teacher. Academically, this child is far superior to his "typical" peers, so he does need to learn how to behave in a regular academic setting. His social/emotional developmental level, however, has him functioning more along the lines of a two year old.

I am just trying to see if people with experience with children like this little guy have any tips and strategies to share. Thanks so much to all for helping!

 

[Piper]

I write every child's name on a popsicle stick (doesn't tear up) put it in a bag and pull a name every day. That person is the helper for the day. Leads the line, holds doors, picks up things I drop (almost a full time job lately ) and generally "helps" me throughout the day.

At first, a few kids complained about not being first (and, yes, there were a few tears,) but now the kids actually clap for whoever is chosen because they know they will get a turn and it is a fair way to do things!

If you are giving in and letting the child be first every day at school, you are teaching him that to melt down gets him whatever he wants......ultimately not fair to him or any of the others in the class! (and I have taught many children in varying places on the spectrum--I know what those melt downs can be)

 

[TinkOhio]

Thanks for that idea, Piper. Sounds like one we might try. We don't give in to him. He just doesn't seem to undertand that his response is unacceptable, (or why.) After all of this time so far this year, he still reacts to not being first.

 

[kampfirekim]

You also need a drs note, and must be the designated caregiver of the child in order to request this pass. There are different levels, and depending on what is written by the dr (and from what I've heard) and the interpretation of the staff that day - your pass could vary.

I think what is important to keep in mind is that Disney is very accommodating to families with disabilities. It has to be difficult to have so many special procedures in place, and still keep things running smoothly for other guests. It might not always be perfect, but in our experience - it makes visiting Disney possible.

I have never needed a Drs. note in the past (unless something has changed since last summer). I even asked CM at MK if one was needed. She just smiled and said it wasn't necessary and to have a Magical Day. You are right that Disney is VERY accommodating to families with disabilities. We have only been treated with kindness and compassion.

 

[kampfirekim]

The GAC is not intended to shorten wait time and says so right on the front.
In some cases it will increase wait time(if you need to wait for special vehicle).

Info on GAC can be found in the stickys located at the top of this thread.

I understand that the GAC is not intended to shorten wait times, however, when you have a child with ASD who could potentially go into a full blown meltdown at any time, just being able to keep him or her "cocooned" in a stroller tagged as a wheelchair is a Godsend. It has saved us and those around us from experiencing DS5 in a sensory overload. The times it does shorten the wait is an added bonus and is also a great help in managing DS. I certainly never meant to imply that the GAC was a free pass. In most cases children with ASD's can be transferred and do not need special vehicles. At least that is true for us. I have found that it has rarely increased our wait, with the exception of Toy Story Mania. It significantly increased our wait time for that attraction verses a regular fast pass.

 

[ireland_nicole]

I understand that the GAC is not intended to shorten wait times, however, when you have a child with ASD who could potentially go into a full blown meltdown at any time, just being able to keep him or her "cocooned" in a stroller tagged as a wheelchair is a Godsend. It has saved us and those around us from experiencing DS5 in a sensory overload. The times it does shorten the wait is an added bonus and is also a great help in managing DS. I certainly never meant to imply that the GAC was a free pass. In most cases children with ASD's can be transferred and do not need special vehicles. At least that is true for us. I have found that it has rarely increased our wait, with the exception of Toy Story Mania. It significantly increased our wait time for that attraction verses a regular fast pass.

If you're using the stroller as w/c accomodation, you will be directed to w/c accessible vehicles in other rides as well, and the h/c accessible entrance to rides w/ stairs. Depending on the cycle, this can certainly increase wait times. Although we use this accomodation, and it's a lifesaver, I find the most important tool for us is to use an excellent touring plan (usually a mix of TGM,Ridemax and touring plans). It's not just about a given ride queue; it's about being in the right park, in the right place, at the right time. I also employ every behavior mod I can, and make sure my kids have their tool kits handy w/ items to help themselves when they start into sensory overload.