Jedi TRaining Academy with Autism?

[mshanson3121]

Has anyone had a young child (5 or 6ish) with HFA do this? Our kids both really want to do it, but I hear there's a bit of a screener to see if they meet "qualifications"? What is it they are expected to do? My biggest fear is that if her brother gets to do it and she can't, it will not be pretty.

 

[mukorasirish]

My son has done it a few times. When you sign him up they will ask if he is able to follow instructions. During the training he will have to go up on the stage without you. He will be asked to stand on a circle (there are usually about 15 kids per show all on their own circles) They are expected to stay on their circle for the first part of the show. Each child is given a plastic "Light saber" and they go through a mini class where they are taught what to do by the Jedi Master. After class, Darth Vader comes out and each student "fights" Vader using their new skills. At the end each child gets a "diploma" Things to consider:

Will your child be ok on the stage while you are not and are watching from the audience?
Can your child stay in one spot for 5 minutes?
Can they follow very basic instructions?
And when Vader comes out it can be a tiny bit scarey for some (scarey music, fog machine) will your child be ok with that?

Hope this helps.

 

[aaarcher86]

They asked my daughter a few really simple questions. What's your name? How old are you? Are you excited? Just to see if she was responsive and able to understand or follow directions.

 

[ArielRae]

I plan to do this for the first time with DS5 (high functioning Autism) in about 2 weeks. I downloaded the full Jedi academy video from youtube and have been practicing with DS on what to do and we go along with the video as if he was there. He has been doing very good so I have high hopes. While DS is on stage I plan to video it while I have DH ready to help DS off the stage if it turns out being there on the stage is to stimulating and he doesn't stay and follow directions. If you like I can post the video of how everything turns out. We get back June 23rd so I will post after that date.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I hear there's a bit of a screener to see if they meet "qualifications"? What is it they are expected to do? My biggest fear is that if her brother gets to do it and she can't, it will not be pretty.

1) As mentioned, they do ask questions and look for replies.
2) If the child does not reply well enough, he/she is excluded.
3) And, yes, there have been incidents where only one child got picked and the sibling was not chosen.
4) JUST IN CASE, you might wish to be prepared for such an occasion.
5) Building up hopes for any part of a WDW vacation can be wrought with disappointments.

 

[Tiffylv]

My 7 year old did it, but he is very good with following directions (if it's something he wants to do anyway). They will ask a few questions but nothing taxing. As long as he is verbal and able to follow directions it will be okay. Also as another poster mentioned they will need to be on stage away from you, so make sure they are comfortable with that. Have fun!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

as another poster mentioned they will need to be on stage away from you, so make sure they are comfortable with that.

1) Good point.
2) This can be MAJOR for some kids.
3) A melt-down on-stage is not a good thing.

 

[sukhakuli]

My son has done it twice, but at Disneyland. There you don't sign up ahead of time, you go to a scheduled show and hope you get picked.

The first time my son did it he was about 5, and couldn't follow any verbal instructions. I didn't tell them ahead of time. There really wasn't any time, and I have this thing about waiting to see how ds does on his own. Often he surprises us!

He kind of followed along, but mostly did his own thing. They tried to get him to follow instructions once, but after that just let it go. When he went up to fight Vader he didn't follow any of the training and just went to town sword fighting. They made a good natured joke about how he obviously didn't need their help. It was great. People are so often jerks to developmentally disabled kids, but that wasn't our experience at all!

The second time he was much older, and he took it very seriously, and did really well, also.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . couldn't follow any verbal instructions. I didn't tell them ahead of time . . . When he went up to fight Vader he didn't follow any of the training and just went to town sword fighting.

{FLAME PROOF CAPE FROM DRAWER TO SHOULDERS}
1) Sounds all well and good for the son.
2) But, what about the poor CM's having to take the abuse of a kid just swiping/swinging away?
3) Sure, once or twice might not be an issue.
4) But, this can happen over-and-over.
5) Especially when parents do not tell the CM's there is a chance of a problem.
6) One could have yelled for the attention of a CM prior to selection and/or training.
7) I seriously doubt a CM would not have paid attention to a parent calling them.
8) Almost sounds a little selfish/selfcentered.

NOTE: This is not accusatory. However, I know a lot of characters and they get tired of getting punched, hit, and kicked - many on a daily basis. Some occurrences are by malicious kids, some by kids whose parents do not control them and frequently think it funny or cute, and some out of their nature (including a disability or heat-related normal melt-down). We should keep in mind that characters are there to make people enjoy their vacation, and not to be mistreated.
{FLAME PROOF SUIT BACK TO STORAGE}

 

[SueM in MN]

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People might also want to read the thread titled, An Open Message from SueM, which is posted near the top of the board.

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

1) As mentioned, they do ask questions and look for replies.
2) If the child does not reply well enough, he/she is excluded.
3) And, yes, there have been incidents where only one child got picked and the sibling was not chosen.
4) JUST IN CASE, you might wish to be prepared for such an occasion.
5) Building up hopes for any part of a WDW vacation can be wrought with disappointments.

That is correct. An adult will need to come with the kids who wish to do it. You will also get a time for what show the your kids ill be in. Also, you guys will need to be there a half hour prior to the show so that the kids could get ready and you can be in a good place

 

[sukhakuli]

{FLAME PROOF CAPE FROM DRAWER TO SHOULDERS}
1) Sounds all well and good for the son.
2) But, what about the poor CM's having to take the abuse of a kid just swiping/swinging away?
3) Sure, once or twice might not be an issue.
4) But, this can happen over-and-over.
5) Especially when parents do not tell the CM's there is a chance of a problem.
6) One could have yelled for the attention of a CM prior to selection and/or training.
7) I seriously doubt a CM would not have paid attention to a parent calling them.
8) Almost sounds a little selfish/selfcentered.

NOTE: This is not accusatory. However, I know a lot of characters and they get tired of getting punched, hit, and kicked - many on a daily basis. Some occurrences are by malicious kids, some by kids whose parents do not control them and frequently think it funny or cute, and some out of their nature (including a disability or heat-related normal melt-down). We should keep in mind that characters are there to make people enjoy their vacation, and not to be mistreated.
{FLAME PROOF SUIT BACK TO STORAGE}

He was 5. How much damage can a 5 year old do to a guy in a hard plastic Darth Vader costume with a plastic lightsaber? Don't you think they have been trained to deal with all types of kids and situations?

Do you have experience raising kids with autism?

Maybe i should have stopped the whole show to run up when they chose him and made sure everyone in the audience and in the cast knew he was autistic? Do you know what that sort of thing might do to his self esteem? Kids with autism are at a significantly higher risk of suicide and drug abuse than kids without. I do everything in my power to make my son feel good about himself as I can. As it is, he is at a significant disadvantage compared to other more typical kids, but if I can make Disney an escape for him, much like it is an escape for everyone on vacation, then I do so. He is reminded every day of his life that he is disabled. He is in full time special ed. He is the only kid in special ed in his school with his own one on one aid, and he has after school ABA every day. Even in the summer. But if he can pretend he is "normal" for a couple of weeks a year, what's the harm?

 

[TheRustyScupper]

How much damage can a 5 year old do to a guy in a hard plastic Darth Vader costume with a plastic lightsaber? Don't you think they have been trained to deal with all types of kids and situations?

1) Please, I am not starting an argument.
2) I am simply stating that for a starting rate as low as $9.60/hour, CM's should not have to be struck or hit.
3) Especially when it can be done several time per day and day-after-day.
4) And, what if he turned the light saber on other kids, and not just Darth?
5) Parents should have enough care to make certain their kids don't abuse CM's.
6) Making an escape is good while on vacation, but not at the expense of someone else.

Do you have experience raising kids with autism?

1) I do not have such a child.
2) But, I work at Give-Kids-The-World several times per month.
3) So, yes I have some experience.
4) As a volunteer coordinator, I come in direct contact with LOTS of different types of kids and different kinds suffering(s).
5) I also see how parents control the kids so GKTW employees and volunteers are not maltreated.
6) This is not all that hard.

 

[SueM in MN]

I asked people not to argue, so please STOP.

No one is saying that anyone is expected to make a public announcement of their child's disability. There are age and 'ability to follow directions' guidelines in place, not only to protect the CMs, but also to protect all participants, not just the other participants.

I've watched the show enough times to see that the Jedi Master and helpers are trained to deal with most situations. They do things like sending the younger kids or those who might not follow directions exactly to the circles farthest from the stage when practicing.
They also get a feel for who is going to need more direction than others during the initial practices before Darth Vader comes out.
During the 'fight' with Darth Vader, they direct where to strike with the light saber. Some kids need more direction than other.
This is not only to protect Darth Vader (who is pretty well covered).
It is also to protect the child, who might not deflect Darth Vader's light saber if the child doesn't 'defend' in the right spot. And, it is also to protect the Jedi Master, who could potentially get hit by both light sabers if the child doesn't at least minimally follow directions. The Jedi Master and the child have nothing to protect them. A light saber hit to the arm might not hurt much, but one to the eye or nose could.
I also saw a small child in one show who panicked and almost ran off the front of the stage after the first hit from Darth Vader.
The CMs are well trained to handle things, but they also depend on the child at least listening to and trying to follow directions.

If a parent knows that there is a reasonable liklihood that the child will not be able to follow directions, it is important for everyone's safety (including the child's) to let the CMs know. You might not get to speak to the Jedi Master, but a discrete word to any of the helpers would work.

I'm going to lose this thread since the questions were answered and it doesn't seem like any good will come to keeping it open.