Guidance for DisKids w/Tourettes?

[lovesthemagic2001]

I am planning a trip with DS 12 and DS 9, both of whom live with degrees of Tourettes Syndrome and ADD. If anyone has had any experience and could share what worked/what didn't I would appreciate it!

Thanks!

 

[SueM in MN]

Hi and Welcome.
teri is on vacation, but if you search for one of her posts, you will find a link to FAQs that she compiled from the disABILTIES Board.
We have had a lot of posters with children with ADD. I don't recall if we have had any posters with Tourettes.

 

[Tiiiigergirl]

Yup, I have a son with TS and ADHD. We took him last year and are planning another trip for this fall. The biggest trap that we fell into was not being consistent with our rules. We fell into thinking that we were paying X amount for this vacation and by golly we were going to enjoy it. We made empty idle threats like stop doing that or we'll take you back to the hotel room. This year we are planning on a graduated time out schedule that we will rigidly follow. I don't care if we are almost to the entrance of the ride. He needs to know that we mean business even in a theme park.

We also made the choice to go during the off season even though we had to pull him out of school. His teacher was very understanding.

If you really want some interesting reading I posted our trip on the trip report board very recently. Our son had a Tourette storm right at the entrance to Epcot. He screamed at the top of his lungs, "I want a new family." Needless to say we did not have any takers for a trade. I would have even given them a 2 for 1 deal at the time. Really though as it said in my report, we brought it on ourselves by making him overtired, overstimulated and under-regulated. Live and learn. If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask.

 

[lovesthemagic2001]

I really appreciate your reply and I will be sure to visit the posting of your trip. I really want the boys to enjoy this vacation, and it didn't seem there were too many posting that could specifically relate.

Enjoy your Fall trip!

 

[SueM in MN]

We just got back from WDW and one of the things we noticed was the "empty threats from parents" and the kids who obviously knew an empty threat when they heard one.
While we were waiting for the Spectromagic parade to begin we saw one 4 year old who had complete comtrol of her mom. She wanted this, she wanted that... mom said no, kid cried, mom said no, kid whined, mom made empty threat, kid whined some more (You get the idea). By the time the parade started, the kid had a spinning light toy (which she traded twice for a different one), a Minnie Mouse headband, a light saber sword, a stuffed animal, a book. And, 5 minutes before the parade began, the mom ran off and got popcorn and pop. The girl complained because SHE wanted a hot dog.
I've always been of the opinion that you need to keep your normal rules as much as possible. My youngest DD has a number of disabilities, but if we let her get away with bad behavior, that will be the real handicap. And, trust me, her behavior can be pretty bad if she thinks she can get away with it.