HOH DD-would a GAC help her?

[Val]

Our family will be going to WDW the second week of July. My youngest DD8 is hard of hearing- she has moderate hearing loss, wears bilateral aids and is completley oral. She signs some, but is really considered an oral kid. Noisy situations are hard for her to navigate and hear in- crowds, auditoriums, etc....she uses an FM unit at school with her aids, but background noise makes it hard for her to hear clearly.

Two years ago when we went to WDW, before she got her aids, we tried the FM units. They were okay, but not great- either too loud or not clear enough in many shows, and unreliable connections at many shows. We didn't get the GAC- as we thought the FM unit would be suffcient. Now, with the aids, she prefers to be seated NEAR a speaker or the play/show so she can lip read (she is a good lip reader- explains why we caught her hearing loss at age 6!).

My question. She CAN stand in line, she CAN stand at a show, she doesn't need very many special accomodations. Can't imagine WHY she might need accomodations on Space Mountain, etc. We don't need anything more than a close seat at some shows. We have real issues with getting more than we need (there are just too many people that DO need more accomodations that we consider it stealing to take more than we need). Would a GAC help her get front row seating/close seating at shows- and can you get a GAC that just allows that? We don't want to take advantage of things we don't need- but she would LOVE to sit close at shows like Beauty and the Beast or Little Mermaid so she can see to help her hear! Would a close seat help at shows like Fantasmic? Other advice?

 

[ducklite]

I've got a friend who I've been to WDW with who has glaucoma, and like your daughter does well when seated in the front row--my friend still has some limited vision, but it's far better when up front.

My friend gets a GAC that allows him to sit up front. Basically he gets to enter first to get the seat that will work best for him and his service dog.

Anne

 

[Cheshire Figment]

A GAC is like an insurance policy. It should only be used if it is needed. If you are going on Space Mountain stay in line. If you are going to a show where she needs special location, then use the GAC.

I have a niece who gets a GAC for one of her children and will only use it when there really is a need for it and not as a general bypass.

 

[taximomfor4]

The only problem I can see is that many of the shows, there are no lips to read. Face characters are often not facing forward, since they are wearing the portable cordless mikes, and many characters are in full costumes with masks or hoods. Oh, there are even puppets...once again, with no lips to read. I don't know what the best solution for your situation might be. There is vision-impaired seating, because low-vision individuals cannot see the scenery or costumes, etc when farther away. My dd needs that, when it is not already full. (In that case, we return later and re-work our schedule.) There is also reflective captioning available in most (all?) shows. I am not sure if that requires a GAC or not, the family I saw using it did NOT have a GAC...they just told the CM at the entrance to the show that they needed it.

GOod luck, I am sure someone will be along soon with more ideas for you.

Beth

 

[Talking Hands]

You can get a GAC that will fit your needs. Just go to guest services to request it. The ALDs are still available and still have the same problems. There are scripts and a handheld captioning device but her reading would need to be sufficent. I would also get the schedule for the interpreters if she knows some sign language. They are very clear.

 

[Val]

Again, thanks for the suggestions. We will probably get the GAC for better seating only. It's hard to figure out what she can and can not hear. We went to see Cars yesterday- and they were all out of FM units. She is usualy okay- but the audience was full of squirmy and noisy kids, and she actually missed quite a bit (we were offered the chance to come back to another show-but we were there with the whole family for father's day and decided to chance it). We will just go see it again, but we won't have that chance at WDW......we are still learning to navigate this new world for us. Only three more weeks to go till we leave for WDW and I am still trying to figure everything out.

Thank goodness my daughter is a real trooper. She leaves for her second year at Lion's camp on Sunday- much to my sadness (it's hard for me to let her go). She had SO much fun last year- and came home excited and happy to find out that there were other kids JUST like her, as she is the only HOH kid in her whole school. Made lots of email friends and came home knowing SO much more sign. Filthy dirty, too- which shows me she had a GREAT time! Thank goodness for the Lion's club and all who help out at that camp.

Thanks again! This board is a God-send!

 

[LisaBi]

Just note that many of the shows are surround sound - it doesn't matter where you sit for the audio. DS is near deaf in one ear and has a hard time localizing sound and can't hear if there in noise between him and the sound source. I can't think of any shows except Beauty & the Beast that the sound seemed to come from the front.

LisaB

 

[Val]

Boy, I didn't think of the surround sound issue. I wonder if that was part of the problem at the movies on Sunday, too! With the little ones moving around and "whispering" and crying it was quite hard for her to hear (BTW none of the kids were being "bad"- there were just LOTS of little ones seeing the movies with Dad on Father's day and it made it hard to hear. It was MOST appropriate for kids to be at Cars!!!). Bet outdoor-type shows might be hard then...

..I wish I could spend the day hearing like my DD does so I could figure out the best situations for her- or that she could communicate her needs to me a little better. Each week we seem to get a better handle on it- and then it seems like I overlooked some significant area. Glad she's patient with me

 

[taximomfor4]

If she doesn't need any captioning devices, or an interpreter, I wonder if she'd be best off in the BACK row. Especially in 3D shows, the seats in front are terrible. ANd in the back, there is nobody behind you so you don't hear *whisper*whisper*. Or the middle area, because she'd get equal sound from all speakers. I haven't ever noticed mumbling or whispering in the shows, but I am not HOH. I am, however, very sensitive to noise-- very distractible. The shows are sooooooooooo loud (2 of my kids listen with hands over their ears, which makes it "just right.") I bet you won't know what works best for her to hear until you get there.

BTW, I can completely understand you wanting to hear with her ears for a day!! I have said the same about dd8. She is vision-impaired. I have NO idea what her vision shows her.