GAC, and other Questions

[sl_underwood]

I just typed a long post and it dissapeared so hopefully this one will go through.

First, we have decided to plan our trip for the first week in April. We will be taking dd 14 who has no health issues, dd 11, who has aplastic anemia and might require a wheelchair or stroller at times, and soon to be adopted foster son, age 4 (will turn 5 while we are there) who is severly developmentally delayed, has aspergers, and a few other issues.

Any suggestions for the wheelchair? It may not be necessary but I would like for her to know its available if she needs it. She is fairly small, only about 70 lbs and has used the twin strollers at the zoo here when she gets tired. Would she be able to do the same at Disney or will she have to have a wheelchair?

For DS, any tips or tricks would be helpful. He has sensory Integration Disorder and Aspergers. He gets very excited and is very social but not always appropriate. He doesnt transistion well either and he can throw some pretty terrible tantrums. Any advice you have will be appreciated.

Also, how exactly does the GAC work? What types of services does it provide. Thanks

 

[SueM in MN]

Any suggestions for the wheelchair? It may not be necessary but I would like for her to know its available if she needs it. She is fairly small, only about 70 lbs and has used the twin strollers at the zoo here when she gets tired. Would she be able to do the same at Disney or will she have to have a wheelchair?

The parks rent adult size wheelchairs, which would be too big for most 70 pound kids.
You can rent a WDW stroller for her and get a GAC that allows you to use a stroller as a wheelchair. That means that if you need to use it in lines, it would be treated the same as if it were a wheelchair.
Here is a picture of the single stroller from the allearsnet.com website:

They are large enough for a small 12 yr old.

If you look in the disABILITIES FAQs thread, you will also find links for places to rent special needs strollers (sort of like large umbrella strollers for older children or small adults.
The disABILITIES FAQs thread also has a section about GACs (Guest Assistance Cards) that should be able to answer most of your questions about how to request a GAC and what it can provide.
The most important for your situation may be to use a stroller as a wheelchair - actually for both the 11 yr old and the 4 yr old. For her, it would be for stamina. For him, it would be a 'safe haven'.

 

[sl_underwood]

Thanks for answering my questions. I am not sure a GAC would be helpful for us. My main issues will be lines which may cause my son to have a meltdown but I will have to navigate that one on my own. My older child should fit in the stroller and both kids can take turns using it. That will help alot.

 

[SueM in MN]

In the FAQs thread, there are also a few links in post 3 that might be helpful - one is specifically touring with autism.
Having a stroller in line might be helpful to the 4 yr old. It would give him a buffer between him and other people. A GAC could also give him a quieter place to wait. There are also some recent threads about touring with autism if you look on the active pages of this board.
Using Fastpass would also be very helpful to you because when you return to the Fastpass return line, your wait will only be about 10 minutes or less.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

You might want to consider getting 2 wheelchairs / strollers, so you have one for each of your kids with health issues. That way they can each use them as much as they need to, without feeling their depriving their sibling or not getting their turn. I can foresee you having problems with only one set of wheels, especially at the end of the day when fatigue and tiredness will be aggravating both of their conditions.

Also, your daughter may feel happier in a small wheelchair than in a stroller, but that'd be something you'd need to discuss with her. Are you flying? If so, your 11 year old daughter might need a wheelchair around the airport. You can borrow one from your airline if you need. It might be a bit big for her, but it shouldn't be for too long, so hopefully won't matter too much. Alternatively, you could look at renting a kid's wheelchair from a local rental company and taking it with you. You can gate-check the chair, so she can use it right up until the point you get onto the plane, and straight after you get off it.

Remember, just because you have wheelchairs / strollers, don't feel your children have to use the all the time. Think of them as tools that you use as and when you need to. One technique a lot of people use is to park the stroller or wheelchair in the parking areas, explore the land their in, then use the chair to get to the next land, park it and explore again.

Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[Figment1964]

I sent you a PM.