Help with a unique family situation

[snoopy352]

Hi. we are a family if 3, my wife, myself, and my DD16. Taken individually, I don't believe any of us need DAS. My wife has knee issues but an ECV takes care of that. I can walk just fine within limits (half day parks) but can't stand still for long periods of time without having severe shin splint pain, which exponentially gets worse with each day. An ECV would resolve this issue but... my DD is on the autism spectrum with significant sensory and anxiety issues as well, and last year when I needed to twice sit on the ECV for what I hoped would be a one minute break (DW can't walk but can stand for very short durations), my DD couldn't handle seeing me on the ECV and it was never an option due to her responses. She gets very very upset and unconsolable when she sees me "needing" an ECV.

I'm looking for suggestions if u have any as well as advice on who needs to be interviewed? I'm guessing my DD needs to be there to explain her thoughts, and maybe both of us as well?

TIA

 

[mattburmeister]

What about DD's condition prevents her from waiting in line?

 

[CeCe0906]

If you can't get the DAS, would a walker with a seat provoke the same response. Your wife could carry on ECV and you could use it in lines that aren't moving well

 

[DisneyOma]

I don't think they will/should grant DAS because your daughter gets upset seeing you sitting on an ECV. That's something that you need to work on with her, and she can learn to handle it - she seems to handle your wife using an ECV?

DAS is for non-mobility issues. If your daughter can handle the queues without seeing you sit on an ECV, then she most likely will not be eligible for DAS either.

Perhaps look to her doctor, therapist, ABA specialist at school, etc, for help getting her over the anxiety of seeing you sit on an ECV?

 

[lanejudy]

Based on what you stated above, I don't really think anyone qualifies for DAS. If your mobility needs are such that an ECV or other mobility device would help you, it will be important to enlist your DD's service providers in helping her to accept that. "Seeing" you sitting on an ECV is not really a sensory issue, though I'm sure her anxiety is kicking into high gear. If she has any therapists, this is something to bring to their attention so they can work with her.

If any of you have other needs not related to the ECV, that would be what you/she discuss with Guest Relations in requesting a DAS.

 

[Narcoossee11]

Could you bring a helper for your daughter, : one of her friends, relative.

maybe tried sitting in a store ecv when out. Break her into that sight.

 

[Selket]

Hi. we are a family if 3, my wife, myself, and my DD16. Taken individually, I don't believe any of us need DAS. My wife has knee issues but an ECV takes care of that. I can walk just fine within limits (half day parks) but can't stand still for long periods of time without having severe shin splint pain, which exponentially gets worse with each day. An ECV would resolve this issue but... my DD is on the autism spectrum with significant sensory and anxiety issues as well, and last year when I needed to twice sit on the ECV for what I hoped would be a one minute break (DW can't walk but can stand for very short durations), my DD couldn't handle seeing me on the ECV and it was never an option due to her responses. She gets very very upset and unconsolable when she sees me "needing" an ECV.

I'm looking for suggestions if u have any as well as advice on who needs to be interviewed? I'm guessing my DD needs to be there to explain her thoughts, and maybe both of us as well?

TIA

Since your issue is more standing still than the walking part - I think the walker suggestion is also a good idea. Perhaps buying one in advance and use it at home (take walks with her and use it? use it at the mall?). They're relatively inexpensive - probably less or no more than renting an ECV for a week at Disney. Perhaps sell it as not just a place for you to sit but you can store stuff under the seat like a small cooler so you can bring some drinks and store stuff she buys, maybe decorate with some lights just so you can match your wife (decorate the ECV too). Just wondering if there was a way to get her involved with being a participant in some way with it would lessen her anxiety/upset.

 

[ttintagel]

Some people also use a manual wheelchair, pushing it when they don't need it and sitting down when they do.
On trips when I've chosen not to use an ECV and a line goes long enough without moving that my spine and legs start to bother me, I do stretches and pace back and forth. Might something like that help you?

 

[SueM in MN]

Even if you were able to get DAS, I don’t think it would help your situation as much as you think.
There are quite a few attractions where all guests will stand for a period of time unless they have a mobility device. The most common ones are shows, where guests walk into a waiting area snd stand until the next show.
Attractions with preshows (like Avatar Flight of Passage) are the same situation.

 

[Orange Fanatic]

As a parent of 2 children (one high functioning ASD), I use a double stroller as a wheelchair, which helps control their sensitivity/anxiety issues. Both parents also have issues with standing/walking all day. Our first few visits to WDW, we did not request DAS (our child was under evaluation and had not yet been diagnosed). Our most recent visits, we used DAS and I recommend that you try the online live chat to request DAS and explain your particular situation to the CM. DAS allows you to wait (the same amount of time that you would be in the conventional line) in an alternate setting. For example, if the line is 120 minutes, then instead of waiting for those 120 minutes in the queue, all three of you could wait sitting on a bench under a tree (in the park) or sitting in a restaurant chair. DAS made it a lot easier to avoid overstimulation and reduce anxiety in our child, by allowing us to wait in an alternate setting, which also reduced the strain on both parents. I do believe that your family will benefit from DAS allowing you to wait in a sitting position in a setting that does not upset your daughter. This will reduce (or eliminate) your pain and reduce overstimulation and anxiety in your daughter.

 

[OurBigTrip]

As a parent of 2 children (one high functioning ASD), I use a double stroller as a wheelchair, which helps control their sensitivity/anxiety issues. Both parents also have issues with standing/walking all day. Our first few visits to WDW, we did not request DAS (our child was under evaluation and had not yet been diagnosed). Our most recent visits, we used DAS and I recommend that you try the online live chat to request DAS and explain your particular situation to the CM. DAS allows you to wait (the same amount of time that you would be in the conventional line) in an alternate setting. For example, if the line is 120 minutes, then instead of waiting for those 120 minutes in the queue, all three of you could wait sitting on a bench under a tree (in the park) or sitting in a restaurant chair. DAS made it a lot easier to avoid overstimulation and reduce anxiety in our child, by allowing us to wait in an alternate setting, which also reduced the strain on both parents. I do believe that your family will benefit from DAS allowing you to wait in a sitting position in a setting that does not upset your daughter. This will reduce (or eliminate) your pain and reduce overstimulation and anxiety in your daughter.

The daughter being upset that he is sitting on an ECV is not a disability that prevents her from waiting in a standard queue. The OP was clear that none of them needs a DAS in order to enjoy the attractions.

While anyone is free to ask for a DAS, I would hope that the CM would deny it in this case, as it’s clear based on what the OP wrote that his issue could be resolved with an ECV.