Jedi Training for Autistic Son

[Melissa228]

My son is 6 and loves Star Wars. He has moderate-to high functioning autism and would love to do Jedi Training.

I'm not concerned about sensory issues (he has very little) and he's a good waiter for the most part (well, as well as any six year old!) but if asked questions, he may have trouble answering, as well as being hard to understand when talking. He can follow directions but he needs them repeated a couple times.

I know the 'rules' are they won't allow parents or anyone with the kids while on stage, but do they make exceptions in this case?

My husband's attitude is, "Let him do it and let's see what happens." However, I'm a little more reserved.

 

[kylieh]

I just read this To my DH and he feels the same as your DH - just see what happens. I've seen a heap of you tubes where the kids either just stand there or take to Darth Vader with no concern for anyone's personal safety The CMs appear really good, and they do repeat instructions etc without it being a big deal.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

They do not make exceptions.

 

[cgncga]

My son is 6 and loves Star Wars. He has moderate-to high functioning autism and would love to do Jedi Training.

I'm not concerned about sensory issues (he has very little) and he's a good waiter for the most part (well, as well as any six year old!) but if asked questions, he may have trouble answering, as well as being hard to understand when talking. He can follow directions but he needs them repeated a couple times.

I know the 'rules' are they won't allow parents or anyone with the kids while on stage, but do they make exceptions in this case?

My husband's attitude is, "Let him do it and let's see what happens." However, I'm a little more reserved.

We just got back from WDW and my 7 year old daughter (low muscle tone, low vision, epilepsy, suspected Aspbergers, etc.) took part in the Jedi Training. We weren't sure how she'd do up on stage, but she did okay. She got a little frustrated when she wasn't able to open her light saber when it was her turn to fight Darth Vader, but the Jedi Master just handed her open one to my daughter to use. A lot of the younger kids needed a fair bit of direction and the Jedi Master helped them out.

Catherine

 

[Tramp68]

No worries. I have seen many kids that were unique in some way participate and enjoy the show. The people involved are very well trained to make it work and look good no matter what happens. Let your son enjoy the show. He will be fine.

Darth Vader does a very good job of reading what the kids are going to do and plays along well with them. I have even seen a little girl go before Darth and kneel as a servant

If it means anything, I am a special educator with experience working with children with autism.

**edit for my poor typing skills**

 

[Leajess99]

Let him try it. When my daughter participated in June there was 1 child that got upset and wanted off the stage. They went ahead and walked him back to his parents but made sure he got his certificate when the other kids finished as well.

The Jedi Master was very good with all of the kids.

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

I have autism and I'm sure your son will be okay. The people are usually good with the kids.

 

[livndisney]

My son is 6 and loves Star Wars. He has moderate-to high functioning autism and would love to do Jedi Training.

I'm not concerned about sensory issues (he has very little) and he's a good waiter for the most part (well, as well as any six year old!) but if asked questions, he may have trouble answering, as well as being hard to understand when talking. He can follow directions but he needs them repeated a couple times.

I know the 'rules' are they won't allow parents or anyone with the kids while on stage, but do they make exceptions in this case?

My husband's attitude is, "Let him do it and let's see what happens." However, I'm a little more reserved.

As CF posted, they do not make exceptions. They limit the number of people on the stage for those safety of all. Additionally, they "screen" the children beforehand. One of the questions they ask the child is if they can follow directions when asked.

 

[Melissa228]

Thank you everyone for your replies and advice. I think we will definitely give it a whirl. He'll be so thrilled. We won't know how well he'll do unless we try and given that he's already in a world where he's told he can't do so much, I won't tell him (if it's not out of the realm of reasonable, which I think this is...reasonable) he can't.

We leave next week and I'll update for all those of you who are reading and wondering about their children how everything went

 

[lovethattink]

My son has sensory issues very similar to Asperger's due to Cortical Dysplasia. He did Jedi Training Academy last weekend. If you click on my TR Disney Done differently, somewhere page 48 and further I go into detailed explanation of how it went for him.

He will need to be present to register for Jedi Training at the Sounds Dangerous building. The queue is long and loud. I suggest ear muffs while waiting there, and something to keep him occupied for the wait. It took us 30 minutes in line before we could register and we got in line at 9:05am. Our son did alot of stimming while waiting.

He will need to be able to answer the cm verbally. A yes or no to each question will do. He will be asked if he will follow directions, be safe on stage, and if he is afraid of Darth Vader.

He will need to be able to wait in a room (for this you will be there too) until they all walk over together to Jedi Training. Once at Jedi training, the children will separate from you. They will be in a shaded roped off area. (There are pics in my TR).

They will go up the steps together and told to stand in their own circle. My son is very rigid in his thinking and sticks to rules like glue, so he stayed put in his circle, and was very careful to follow the rules.

Star Wars is my son's area of hyperfocus, so the entire process had his full attention from start to finish. He did great and had a wonderful experience!!

 

[lovethattink]

[

We just got back from WDW and my 7 year old daughter (low muscle tone, low vision, epilepsy, suspected Aspbergers, etc.) took part in the Jedi Training. We weren't sure how she'd do up on stage, but she did okay. She got a little frustrated when she wasn't able to open her light saber when it was her turn to fight Darth Vader, but the Jedi Master just handed her open one to my daughter to use. A lot of the younger kids needed a fair bit of direction and the Jedi Master helped them out.

Catherine

I didn't see your response before I posted mine, sorry. Our children were in the same show together. Your dd 7 did great! She needed a little guidance and they were great at helping her along!

 

[SueM in MN]

We have not participated, but have watched.
I have to say that each time we watched, there have been so e kids who were very outgoing and some who had the 'deer in the headlights' look when it was their turn. As was already mentioned, the Jedi Masters and Darth Vader do a good job of adapting to the different kids.

 

[ratlenhum]

Youtube a video of it and teach him the routine. My husband did that with my son so if he didn't focus/pay attention/ process the instructions given to him, he just knew what to do from the repetition of practicing.

 

[SueM in MN]

Youtube a video of it and teach him the routine. My husband did that with my son so if he didn't focus/pay attention/ process the instructions given to him, he just knew what to do from the repetition of practicing.

Very good idea

 

[Melissa228]

Very good idea

That is a great idea! Thank you!