I need advice for traveling with deaf father

[disneywith6kids]

This will be my father's first vacation ever. He has never really gone to many places because of his disability. He doesn't know sign language. I really think he never had time to learn since he spent most of his life taking care of my ill mother and working fulltime. He delivers the mail and has somehow gotten by with reading lips(or at least he thinks he can) or short notes. Anyhow I really want this trip to DW to WOW him if you know what I mean. However I'm not quite sure how to handle him. He wears a hearing aid--mostly so some people won't think he is rude but it really doesn't work at all. Maybe in a very quiet room it works a little. Please lend me some advice here. I think you all would be so helpful Thanks

 

[Talking Hands]

There is a FAQ about deaf access at this site http://pixiedustinn.com/disabilitiesfaq/deafservices2.html

Refective captioning, Close captioning and Handheld captioning is available. For reflective captioning ask the castmember at the show. For CC and Handheld go to guest services and obtain the equipment. A deposit is required and can be put on your credit card. Handheld captioning is only available at the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT at this point.

Although your father doesn't sign the interpreted shows may still be nice for him. The interpreters will use a lot of words on the mouth and you are close enough for lipreading. This is especially true if you happen to be the only person there needing interpetation. If they get to know you they adjust to your communication mode.

If there is a show your father wants to see or a tour he wants to take, contact Mark Jones at Mark.Jones@disney.com He coordinates the interpreters and with notice can possibly provide an oral interpreter. I know he offered to provide one for me before he knew me on the assumption that since I am late deafened and oral that might be my preference. I actually prefer ASL and Mark didn't realize my background at that point.
(while I am hard of hearing and need interpretation for some activities, I am also an interpreter in training and working towards certification eventually)

Mark Jones is your best resource in working towards your father having a great experience as far as deafness is concerned. Other great resources is the interpreters themselves so if you do have a question ask them. If they can't answer they can get an answer. Absolutely great people.

Does your father consider himself disabled? I know I don't. I just communicate differently than other people do at times. I'm not disabled just differently-abled

 

[disneywith6kids]

Thank you so much for all the info. My father only considers himself disabled when I'm not around. Most people don't have the patience for him. In case we don't go to the specific shows with interpreters do we ask for certain seating so he can see the CC? Also do we ask for certain seating if we do go to the interpreted shows? Should I explain he doesn't sign but tries to read lips? Thanks for your insight!!!!!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

Just wanted to welcome you to disABILITIES.

You are in good hands with Lisa.

 

[Talking Hands]

At the first show you probably will not see the interpreters until the come out to do the show. They sometimes will peek but unless they know someone there they will not come out until they actually start interpreting the show. After the show you can go up to speak with them and explain your father"s communication needs. Then they can adjust accordingly.
When you enter the show just tell the castmember you need to be in the area for the interpreters. Mark Jones can send a schedule if you contact him at leat 2 weeks prior to your trip.
Has your Dad always been deaf or is he late deafened. Obviously he is oral. I will say that the shows are very visual and can be enjoyed without words but they are even better with them.

Closed captions are only on tvs in preshows. Reflective captioning is in some shows. The castmembers will know where to seat you and get it set up. Hnadhelds go around your nexk and is like a PDA. They know what ride you are on and you only have to read it. I suggest riding twice. Once for the words and once for the visuals.

Also available are scripts of each show. Just ask.

Indiana Jones btw is too far to lipread the interpeter. But most of that is just fingerspelling names of the volunteers and the castmembers. It is really visual.

If you have more questions just ask.

 

[disneywith6kids]

My father can speak very well because he slowly became deaf over the years. He started losing his hearing when he was 5. By the time he finished college he was wearing 2 hearing aids. He manage to teach high school for a few years. He had to give it up because the students took advantage of him. However, he's been delivering the mail for 34 years. At this point he is 99% deaf. Thanks for all the info. BTW is there some kind of universal sign that he could use or wear to let people know he is deaf. The only thing I know of is the hearing aid.

 

[Talking Hands]

The sign for deaf is the pointer finger of the right or dominate hand points at the mouth and then the ear. Deaf is easier to explain than hard of hearing.

 

[Mazzy]

Hi

Nothing really that I can add as to what is available for the deaf as Lisa has explained it all very well, but just wanted to mention my experiences.

I am from the UK, partially deaf, don't sign, but I find WDW the only place I can really enjoy fully as we have nothing in the UK at all in the way of captions etc.

On our last trip I made full use of the CC captions on attractions such as Muppets 3D, and the reflective captions on lots of shows, including Fantasmic in MGM and it was great.

For our trip in December I am even more excited as there is now a new 'hand held' captioning system which sounds wonderful.

I'm sure with all these facilities your father will have a wonderful trip, especially with such an attentive daughter to guide him.

I hope you all have a brilliant time. Do let us know what your father thought about WDW on your return won't you? It would be great to hear how he got on on his first ever trip.

 

[signtalker]

Hi im also from the UK like mazzy.We found the Cm's to be very helpful in this respect, our problem is the all the interpretered shows in Disney are ASL, and in england obviously we use BSL, we never had trouble getting front row seats for shows, and if any info was missed by my son, i filled him in on what was happening, there is also the option of watching the show etc twice in a row. i found that with my sons hearing aids it helped alot, that his ear moulds where bright colours(one bright red and one bright green), this acted as a visual clue for the Cm's who would approach and ask if the reflective captioning etc was needed, and also made people more aware, when saying excuse me, and he didnt move coz he couldnt hear.
Disney IMHO is definatelty geared up for hearing impaired/deaf/Deaf people, your father i have no doubt will enjoy himself emmensly. Dont be afraid to ask, and also use the GAC card.

Jules

 

[Talking Hands]

Signtalker the interpreters do adjust their communication mode at shows when they realize that there is only one person they are interpreting for and will use more words on the lips if needed. Also on rides they will ask what is preferred if you are the only one needing interpretation. Also as I said before if he is doing something like a talk where he has requested interpretation, he can request an oral interpreter

 

[disneywith6kids]

Thank you all for your helpfulness!!!!I'm still new at this so please pardon my ignorance. How would a GAC(do I say gac or G A C?) card help him?I want to ask for the interpreter but you can imagine running all over with 6 kids I can't really predict where we'll be at what time so I don't want to make anyone go out of their way to interpret. I'm just hoping most of the shows will have one there or at least he'll be able to use one of the other devices. However we were thinking about the CP. Should we wait in the line or just show up with the GAC? Sorry for all the questions, but I'm definately getting an education here

 

[teri]

The GAC would indicate that he needs to use the closed captioning or reflective captioning systems. I am not sure how they do it at WDW, but at Disneyland the CMs have to turn on the closed captioning in the preshows themselves, and turn on the reflective captioning when the actual show starts. Since many CMs don't know sign language, this makes explanations unnecessary -- they can look at the GAC and see what you need. Of course, you will be with him, and you can tell them yourself just as quickly, but the GAC just indicates that you need special assistance, takes some of the edge off the request. Also, if he decides to venture out on his own, he will be able to show the card himself.

You would approach the CM at the entrance of the attraction and ask for assistance - they will then direct you to where you should go. There may be a specific place where they want you to stand and wait, since they will have to set up the reflective captioning screen for you, so you may not be waiting in the same place as other people. The GAC is not a front-of-the-line pass, but they will do their best to accomodate your needs.

There is information about the GAC in the Disabilities FAQ -- feel free to ask questions.

 

[Talking Hands]

You can get a scheule of the interpreteds shows by emailing Mark Jones at Mark.Jones@disney.com or picking it up at any of the Guest Services locations in the park. These are interpreted whether deaf guests are present or not. CP was interpreted the same days as interpretation was done at EPCOT last year. This was Tuesday and Friday. In the past they have interpreted all CP shows and I heard a rumor that they might go back to that.
The only exception to the Tuesday and Friday last year was for Marlee Matlin. All her shows were interpreted. You can also obtain a scrip for CP. The interpreter there is not really close enough to lipread and it is very ASL with little on the mouth. I saw both Angela and Tara interpret last year and they were great. Of course Angela was the best but I expect her to be. She is a nationally known interpreter.

 

[signtalker]

Lisa thanks for the reply, however it would be no good the interpreteur being more oral, or using more on the lips intepretation, he cannot understand this at all, which is why we use BSL, he is fluent, and finds lipreading, or others oral appraoch very difficult, we dont have a problem we cope very well, helps when mum is an intepreteur, and is aware of what is avalible regarding reflective captioning etc.
I can honestly say that WDw is definately more geared up for hearing impaired/deaf/Deaf than the UK LOL, never theless i can sign in ASL myself, and actually made great friends with a deaf lady fluent in ASL, whos husband was her interpreteur years ago, her children where hearing, and we had a great time, and made good friends, seems when you are deaf or hearing impaired, people just accept you as if you were long lost friends.

Jules