handicapped accessability and teen club

[sumfun]

my ds 14 was in a pretty bad accident in May that had kept him in a wheel chair until very recently. he is currently in therapy and able to use a walker, however he most likely will have to use a cane for the rest of his life. he also has quite a few scars including one from brain surgery that goes from ear to ear and across his forehead. he was left blind in one eye, but neurologically he is intact, still as smart and funny as before. he is not ready to travel yet but i am taking his 2 younger sisters on the 4 day wonder Jan 30. i am considering rebooking while onboard. do you think he will be able to participate in the club and their activities? the scars are quite obvious and something he will have to learn to live with i know, but i worry about the "reception" he might get.what do you all think should i rebook or maybe not? please don't flame me i just don't want to see him get hurt anymore. so many people just stare at him like, well you know. how would your teens feel about hanging out with him? honest answers please. thank you ,Tomi

 

[Dancind]

Tomi, that's a tough one. Wondering if anyone will have an answer for you. He would be able to get to the Stack, there's an elevator. And the counselors would surely be willing to help him out. As far as acceptance, teens are still teens on the cruise. It's going to be similar to school. Since your son has a great personality, he may be compensating by then in ways you wouldn't think of. But my feeling is he would have a better time if he has a friend that could travel with him.

Best of luck, sounds like you're hanging tough.

 

[mmouse37]

Dancind put it very well exactly what I was going to say....teens are teens and this is not a perfect world. I know my 16 year old is very accepting of everyone and personality is what matters most to her.

Hopefully your son's personality will outweigh all else and I do believe that many teens are welcoming and accepting. I don't want to write off all teens as uncaring jerks.

I would also address your concerns to the counselors as soon as you can...they are great at getting the teens to mingle and such.

MJ

 

[pfishgirl]

My thoughts exactly..Teens are still Teens... However my son's good friend stutters and has a twitch/tick in her eye and he says he doesn't notice it anymore when they are talking. I am so sorry that your son has to deal with all this at such an awarkward age..Best Wishes !! Oh and by the way to get to the "Aloft" which is the teen room, there are only stairs to go up to that room but you can get to the arcade by using the elevator. Plus, I am sure if you ask DCL they may even have a ramp that they can place over the stairs. so you never know...

 

[jweiss]

I've been struggling with a similar, yet different, situation. My daughter will be 14 in April and we are going on the 14 day re-po cruise in August. She has a neurological disability (no physical disability, but overall developmental delays). I can't see her functioning in the teen club, but I also can't see the two of us being together for 14 SOLID days!! I am at a loss as to what to do. This will be our 4th DCL August Magic cruise. She has never felt comfortable in the kids clubs. Even though I have always talked to the counselors about her the first day, I have never seen anyone go out of their way to help her fit in, or find a nitch. One year there was actually a big problem due to her not understanding the directions. One year she did make a good friend, and another year there was a CM (not in the clubs) who took her in. It always seems to work out, and we obviously love DCL, but this year I am worried. It is a very difficult age given the best of circumstances.
~~Jennifer, single adoptive parent to two very special girls with "special needs"

 

[sumfun]

i appreciate your honesty and thanks for all your replies. best wishes for a great cruise jennifer. this would be our fourth cruise as well but the last time we cruised my ds was in the lab and it was before his accident not sure if that makes it better or worse. still considering. wonder if a call to disney might help me decide. i guess i could rebook while onboard to get all the perks and be safe and if we eally feel he's not up to it can i cancel?

 

[ivanova]

I've been struggling with a similar, yet different, situation. My daughter will be 14 in April and we are going on the 14 day re-po cruise in August. She has a neurological disability (no physical disability, but overall developmental delays). I can't see her functioning in the teen club, but I also can't see the two of us being together for 14 SOLID days!! I am at a loss as to what to do. This will be our 4th DCL August Magic cruise. She has never felt comfortable in the kids clubs. Even though I have always talked to the counselors about her the first day, I have never seen anyone go out of their way to help her fit in, or find a nitch. One year there was actually a big problem due to her not understanding the directions. One year she did make a good friend, and another year there was a CM (not in the clubs) who took her in. It always seems to work out, and we obviously love DCL, but this year I am worried. It is a very difficult age given the best of circumstances.
~~Jennifer, single adoptive parent to two very special girls with "special needs"

Jennifer,

PM or email me. We have a group of 21 on the Aug repo cruise, including a 15 yo and two 13 yo girls. Can't make any promises but we can see if anything works out...