How do you deal with people questioning your need for the GAC

[Disneydonnam]

I agree with you. There are times I try to be polite when explaining my disability and other times (esp at swimming pools) I wish people would just not comment. I understand a childs curiosity but 90 % of the time it's just an adult with a comment.

 

[KPeveler]

I usually answer children's questions, but i do not usually pay any attention to adults. Children are naturally curious, and probably have not had a chance to talk to a person in a wheelchair before. Adults have had plenty of time to learn both about disabilities AND manners.... so they can just bugger off!

 

[jrc-elpaso]

I think this is REALLY important to remember. People ask dumb questions about anything! But with few possible exceptions (as discussed earlier) we are not under any requirement to answer those questions. People may stare, people may comment and that is not something we can control. But we can control how we react to it. If they have no right to the answer, tell them so or ignore and walk away.
I know alot of times we want to "try" and educate, but there are times I was just want to be a "family in the park" and not someones lesson for the day. I know I like to go to WDW to try and forget, not have our differences brought to our attention in public.

To the OP if you do encounter a situation where you feel unsafe, alert a CM. Let them handle it. I will say on the upside, I have seen total strangers coming to the assistance of those with needs and telling the nasty people to "back off and leave them alone".

Also I don't think these people have a sense a right and wrong and that is the issue. They have a deep sense of "It's all about me" and why don't I get to do XXXX? If they did care about right and wrong they would research the laws and help advocate for more equal access.

I will close with my fave quote "You can't fix stupid". Go, enjoy your vacation and ignore the turkeys.

What ever happened to treating others as you would like to be treated? My parents (I'm 62, by the way) taught me not to ask personal questions - especially to people I didn't know. And I will be one of the ones who will tell someone to back off. And I agree - you can't fix stupid.

 

[SueM in MN]

My blonde sister and her dark brown haired husband have 3children with bright red hair. You could not believe the attention, or for that matter the dumb questions they get asked. You can imagine the sort of stuff.....What colour hair does the mail man have? etc etc. Everybody thinks they are the first to make some dumb joke about red hair.
Sometimes people just used to come up and stare at the kids and say "They have red hair". Ahhh yes, thanks for pointing that out. Or they would make jokes about red headed people having bad tempers etc etc.

Anyway my point is that there are lots of "dumb" questions and statements made on a regular basis so don't let it affect your vacation. Go and have fun and just remember if someone asks a dumb personal question you will not be their first of their last.

Cheers

I have a nephew with red hair who was tired of the red hair questions by the time he was about 3. He told people that when he got older he wanted "to be a blackhead" so people would stop asking him (by 3 yr old logic, if people with red hair are redheads, people with black hair would be blackheads).

As he got older, if people asked if he had a temper to match his hair color, he would say, "yes, I do. And what brings it out most is comments about my hair."

What ever happened to treating others as you would like to be treated? My parents (I'm 62, by the way) taught me not to ask personal questions - especially to people I didn't know. And I will be one of the ones who will tell someone to back off. And I agree - you can't fix stupid.

I agree with the other posters that children are asking because they are curious and don't have the experience to know it is rude. Adults should know better though.
The most truthful answer for adults who ask is probably, "That's a very personal question and not something I discuss with strangers."

 

[tinkslite]

was, at one time, a very sick little boy. His immune system is kind of wacky and he couldn't fight off infections. His respiratory system took the biggest hit, and breathing was difficult in the best of circumstances. When he was in a different climate, or during very blossomy seasons (Spring and Fall) he would have severe asthma attacks.
For these reasons, we used a wheelchair when we went to Disneyland (the extra walking, etc was not healthy, and the chair tended to afford a cushion where he got touched less by other guests- which was helpful in the new infections dpt.).
Well, we got more dirty looks than I care to remember. One time, a woman saw him stand up to get on a ride and said, loudly, "That kid doesn't need that chair at all!" Untrue, but it hit its mark.
Later that day I noticed that my 7 year old had his foot turned in at an unnatural angle in the chair. I questioned him about that being uncomfortable.
He responded, "I don't want people to be mad at me because they think it's not my legs that are sick."
It's no one elses business (except CM's who need to follow the rules). Other guests are OUT OF LINE for giving dirty looks, stupid remarks, or ASKING PERSONAL QUESTIONS! Your medical needs are NOT public information!
Ignore the Idiots.

 

[metime]

That is so sad about your son being made to feel that way.

I know one woman who wanted to get a tshirt with her x-ray on it because she kept getting comments. She had the same surgery I had. I have shown people my x-rays , I have since learned that people get really freaked out about the amount of stuff inside of me. If those who question my need for a resource could see they would be complaining that it is too disturbing to look at.

A big hump for me is just learning to deal with the fact that people need a strong visual cue to be understanding. I just don't have one to give them unless I lift up my shirt which I have had to do at the airport security.

 

[Chancedabowsa]

From the Statues link provided:
Whenever a law enforcement officer, a parking enforcement specialist, or the owner or lessee of the space finds a vehicle in violation of this subsection, that officer, owner, or lessor shall have the vehicle in violation removed to any lawful parking space or facility or require the operator or other person in charge of the vehicle immediately to remove the unauthorized vehicle from the parking space. Whenever any vehicle is removed under this section to a storage lot, garage, or other safe parking space, the cost of the removal and parking constitutes a lien against the vehicle.

Look all I'm sayin here is that No where is it written that the owner of the placard must answer questions. No one would find a "violation" if people did not answer questions. The biggest problem people have is that they waive der own rights. Citizens should not answer questions , consent to searches etc.

Now stop and think bout this...
How would anyone find a violation if the placard owner and family stand mute ? The parking enforcement or owner of that space can take a chance and tow the car or ask for a policeman to come ticket . Now if they do that they had better be prepared for some serious action back if they are wrong on such a challenge.

I think there are many that are over zealous in the parking patrol and it stresses out those such as the OP, to the point they got anxiety. THAT IS COMPLETELY UNNACEPTABLE. The stress / anxiety of the OP should not be what we as a society tell them to cope with in order to use the parking. The change has got to come from those that are causing the probs and should not be worried about potential issues that don't concern them. If they got a concern, then they should express those to their LEO's.

 

[iuki]

My issue is that my medical information is my business. I usually get, "Why do you have that?" and I do feel that I have a right to not to be asked a personal question like that from a complete stranger.

It is one thing to have some one who's job it is to enquire about my placard and make sure it is issued to me, and quite another to have some rude stanger demand I tell them why I need it.

I just think if it isn't your job to ask then don't.

Just because some people abuse food stamps doesn't mean everyone who uses that resource owes any person who asks an explination.

I think I might just pretend I didn't hear them and go on about my day. I am not one to thank people for their rude behavior.

You don't need to explain anything. Just tell the person, "Don't judge a book by its cover." Then smile and walk away.

iuki

 

[livndisney]

Look all I'm sayin here is that No where is it written that the owner of the placard must answer questions. No one would find a "violation" if people did not answer questions. The biggest problem people have is that they waive der own rights. Citizens should not answer questions , consent to searches etc.

Now stop and think bout this...
How would anyone find a violation if the placard owner and family stand mute ? The parking enforcement or owner of that space can take a chance and tow the car or ask for a policeman to come ticket . Now if they do that they had better be prepared for some serious action back if they are wrong on such a challenge.

I think there are many that are over zealous in the parking patrol and it stresses out those such as the OP, to the point they got anxiety. THAT IS COMPLETELY UNNACEPTABLE. The stress / anxiety of the OP should not be what we as a society tell them to cope with in order to use the parking. The change has got to come from those that are causing the probs and should not be worried about potential issues that don't concern them. If they got a concern, then they should express those to their LEO's.

I don't think anyone is arguing that you need to provide a medical history to the WDW CM. The point is that you can be asked for proof. You CAN be asked for ID and proof the tag was issued to someone in the car. "Standing mute" serves no purpose and may just land you in trouble.