Letter from Dr.

[MinnieVanMom]

I was told by the CM for the convention line that we should secure a letter from our Dr. for our DS GAC. He said that there is rampant abuse of the GAC at DL.

We have a current 20 page evaluation of our DS with DX. Should I bring that or just try to see if our local Dr. can give us a brief note saying DS has autism?

 

[blackjackdelta]

I do not think the CM's can ask for a note or letter. I would bring a small note just incase. There was a recent thread about this is, I would give it a search.


The best,

Jack

 

[bumbershoot]

That would be illegal under the ADA for them to ask for such a thing. The CM obviously had some issues for him to say such a thing, because it's not something they *can* look at, let alone demand. Just know what you need for your son, tell them that (they shouldn't even care what his diagnosis IS, b/c every person is different), and see how they can help you.

 

[farmfresh]

I agree- if your son needs assistance, he should get it.

However, I must say we were amazed just this week at the number of ECV/wheelchairs, and more particularly, the size of their parties - we counted 14 with one, all coming in via the exit. I have no issue with this in general, but you can't help but think some are pushing it just a little!

Also, in fairness to Disney, again judging by the state of some them in hopping in and out of the wheelchairs (one guy was pushing his own) Disney seems to be pretty generous with their criteria. Like everything, i guess we tolerate a little abuse round the edges so that the majority who really need this help can get it.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

The abuse really bothers me as a mom of a SN child. If the posers only knew how hard life truly is for those with SN they would never even pretend. I was explaining the GAC to a friend and went on to say that we would wait 100 days for 100 hours not to have to use the GAC and have our little guy be a NT. But that is not our reality so there is the GAC to help him have a better day in Disney.

One day it will all catch up with those who fake it.

 

[brergnat]

OP: I would bring along a short note from your child's pediatrician stating that your child has Autism, and has trouble with "X" ("X" possibly being "waiting in enclosed dark spaces", "being in close contact with large crowds of people", "personal space issues", "noise/light sensitivities"...or whatever is your child's BIGGEST hurdle related DIRECTLY to the experience of being in a theme park environment and waiting for lines/attractions.) This will help the CM's issue the proper type of GAC.

I am the parent of a child with Autism. He is almost 5 and has been going to Disneyland since he was about 4 months old (WAY before he had an Autism Dx).

We have NEVER used a GAC, partially because I didn't find out about it until about a year and a half ago, but also because I just TAUGHT my child how to wait in lines. There are other places in our daily life that we have to wait that don't have GAC's...(supermarket, Target, appointments, etc.).

I certainly understand the need for GAC's in general. I don't advocate them, however, for EVERYONE and their mom who has ANY disability. That's where it becomes abuse.

I have talked to MANY moms of other children with Autism (classmates of my son at his preschool) who brag about how "awesome" it is to have the GAC at Disneyland so they don't have to wait in line. And, from further conversation with these parents, I know for a fact that they are abusing the system...and that their children CAN wait in lines, and don't have any reason to really be using the GAC's. I know their kids...it's sad to me that, rather than using DL as a way to teach important life skills to their children, so many parents just take the "easy out" with the GAC.

Sure, sometimes it's hard to wait. And if my child starts acting up in line, you know what we do? WE GET OUT OF THE LINE! And, if the line is too long? WE DON'T GET IN IT. And we choose another ride instead. Just like we would if our child was NT...

 

[TheZue]

We are getting the Gac this time for our son with autism. Not to turn it into a debate, but he's now 7 and can still only tolerate about 10 minutes in a line. It's not so much the waiting but being around that many people talking in a crazy overwhelming queue, he can't handle that and it's a key part of his disability. I do think the GAC is great because like the previous poster he has also been to disneyland many times and pulled out of the longer lines when he lost control, but where my opinion differs is that I don't think he should be deprived of ever riding them because of his issues. We'll keep working on his length he can wait, but it's also HIS vacation from all his hard work he does at home and it is supposed to be a break for him as well.

 

[lisadoll93]

The abuse really bothers me as a mom of a SN child. If the posers only knew how hard life truly is for those with SN they would never even pretend. I was explaining the GAC to a friend and went on to say that we would wait 100 days for 100 hours not to have to use the GAC and have our little guy be a NT. But that is not our reality so there is the GAC to help him have a better day in Disney.

One day it will all catch up with those who fake it.

The thing that people dont understand is that often times you wait LONGER with a GAC. We use it mainly just for Stroller as a Wheelchair because it gives a place from away from everything.

I have seem people abuse and it drives me insane.

 

[Minuet888]

I can't comment on the OP son's because there are all types and spectrums of autism but we have a son who is autistic we did not use a GAC. We got back about a week ago from a 5 day trip to Disneyland. Lines are hard for him, crowds can be a bit difficult but we managed as well as loud noises. We waited for him to tell us what he wanted and we did it. There was stuff I thought would terrify him that he LOVED all because we took a chance that he knew what he wanted. I realize that is not for everyone. He actually did well in the longer line for TSM at DCA but he was also entertained by Mr. Potato Head, the glasses and another little boy his age behind us in line.
I do realize that it is illegal for DLR to ask for a note but the abuse of the GAC and the wheelchairs really gets to me.
We have had lengthy discussions on this topic on other threads and it gets heated so i guess I won't say anymore and risk ticking people off.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

Gosh who would want to brag to have GAC, is scream out that there a reason you need and it and who in their right mind would WANT this card? Again, I would trade my life to have a NT child but that is not reality, our son is our reality.

Please send the mom my way, I will give her an ear full. It just infuriates me because we try so hard to help DS function in the NT world and it is so hard for him and us.

I just have to stop before I really go off. Rant over.

FYI, there is the Disabilities board here and it is great place to get information and share with others. Please come over and visit.

 

[disney-super-mom]

I also have a child with autism, and we have NEVER used a GAC at DLR or WDW. Sometimes the loudness of the audio in the rides can be a little bit of an issue, but when it comes to the lines, we get fastpasses where we can, hop in short lines when we see them, and just don't get in the long lines. If we want to ride attractions that usually always have long lines, we make sure to hit those first thing in the morning when the lines are the shortest. In other words, we tour the parks just like any other family who want to best utilize their time.

Now, the one thing my son (Ryan) does have a problem with is his stamina and muscle strength. He has hypotonia (weak muscle tone) which is common in many children with autism. He looks just like any other kid (other than the fact that he's a little skinny), and you would never know there was anything wrong with him, but walking around touring the parks for just an hour or two can exhaust him to the point that it would take him a full 24 hours to recover. (We learned that the hard way. ) So we have to rent him a wheelchair when we tour the parks. However, we always park the wheelchair in the stroller parking area and stand in the regular lines. Our goal is to do things as normally as possible, and if Ryan is capable of standing in lines without getting overly tired, which he is, then that's what we do.

I have to say though, we get LOTS of dirty looks from people who see us pushing our "healthy looking" autistic son around in a wheelchair. I try to ignore it, but it drives me nuts on the inside. It makes me feel like we need a big sign on display explaining to everyone why he needs a wheelchair at DLR or WDW, but we promise to stand in the regular lines.

 

[DizNee Luver]

We got a GAC in April for our twins......we got the Stroller as Wheelchair. In 3 days, we used it twice but it was nice to know we had it if we would have needed it more than that. Due to our twins sensory issues, just walking around the park was too much for them. The stroller was their security & coming out of it was very traumatic. The CM's did not ask for medical proof nor did they hassle us. If you need it, you shouldn't have a problem getting one.

We did question the use by some when we see them running around (older kids, teen, & even some adults) & almost "playing" with the wheelchairs. I hope they truly didn't need one, but if they didn't....what a shame to abuse a system for those who really DO need it.

Disney's in a tough spot......I'm glad I'm not them!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

One thing to remember is that just because they are "playing around" or look healthy or are young does not mean there is truly not a need. I know it is so easy to think that, and I used to when I was a CM- until I was in that position myself.

I was at work in Fantasyland and had an ECV run over my achilles tendon. It was not his fault, just one of those freak accident things. I could not be on it for longer than ten minutes but was not given crutches or anything, so when I went to DAK on my day off I had to rent a wheelchair. I had jeans on so you could not see my brace. I'm sure that I looked like some 12 year old playing around in a wheelchair and that there were those who didn't believe that I needed one.

I have also been to the parks with a friend who is a year younger than me. She has had both hips replaced and has necrosis of the bones in her ankles due to the residual affects of chemotherapy and the drugs she takes to control graft vs. host from her bone marrow transplant. The wheelchair was a lifesaver for us. She wouldn't always be in the wheelchair. Sometimes she would push it. Sometimes we would trade spots and sometimes yes, we played with it when we were bored. But that did not mean that she did not need it. Without it there is no way she would have been able to tour the parks because of her mobility issues. I'm sure there were a lot of young people who saw two "healthy" young girls playing around with a wheelchair who thought we were trying to abuse the system. You can never tell by looking.

 

[Minuet888]

I know it is never easy to tell as to who is faking and who isn't. My mother used an ECV due to a heart condition and she "looks" fine but clearly wasn't (she passed in 2005 from this heart condition). Whereas when I had an ankle injury and used an ECV the huge brace on my ankle was easy to spot.

I know the legalities of asking for a note and I know it is a matter of privacy and I am NOT looking to piss anyone off here but what if the doctor on a note didn't put what the specific illness or injury was just that so and so needed the use of an assistance vehicle while at the Disneyland Resort?

It is a difficult position for Disneyland to be in and to the OP I am not sure if your latest comment "Please send the mom my way, I will give her an ear full" was directed at me but it is NOT my intention to piss anyone off. I too wish my son was "normal" (I cried when the school district said he had to go to a special school instead of being mainstreamed) and I do realize that no two autisitc kids are the same. I was simply stating what we have done for our son.

 

[Canyon girl]

The main problem is that the GAC is way over abused. If you truly need it, fine, get it. If you don't, leave it for those who do. If you get it when you don't need it, it will catch up with you one way or the other. Enough said!

 

[bumbershoot]

...and to the OP I am not sure if your latest comment "Please send the mom my way, I will give her an ear full" was directed at me but it is NOT my intention to piss anyone off. I too wish my son was "normal" (I cried when the school district said he had to go to a special school instead of being mainstreamed) and I do realize that no two autisitc kids are the same. I was simply stating what we have done for our son.

The poster was referring, not to you, but to the following:

I have talked to MANY moms ... who brag about how "awesome" it is to have the GAC at Disneyland so they don't have to wait in line.

The main problem is that the GAC is way over abused. If you truly need it, fine, get it. If you don't, leave it for those who do. If you get it when you don't need it, it will catch up with you one way or the other. Enough said!

Well I think the last two posters were trying to show that it's not always simple or easy to determine who really needs the GAC. Or a wheelchair or scooter.

The ADA protects people by not requiring that they talk about their official business to just everyone, and even though I was once basically forced to move by a sneaky lady calling her otherwise not allowed breed of dog a service animal (she NEVER took them anywhere and she'd been in apartment management before...two hints that the dog, and later dogs, wasn't a true service animal), I prefer to just not really care what others are up to.




Anyway, for those with kids who have relatively low issues with sounds, I found that earplugs are brilliant for that. DS is sensitive when tired and/or hungry, and I just about ruined the start of the trip (two trips ago) when I started us off on the LOUD Nemo attraction. Earplugs would have been brilliant, but I hadn't thought about it. Disneyland, especially Tomorrowland, is really noisy, and dampening the overwhelming sound has helped my dude a few times, when he's hungry or tired and being extra sensitive.

 

[Canyon girl]

Well I think the last two posters were trying to show that it's not always simple or easy to determine who really needs the GAC. Or a wheelchair or scooter.

Molly, what I was trying to say in my own bumbling way is that it is not ours to wonder why someone has one or to regulate it. It will take care of itself. I don't really care what others have or use unless they try to run me or my kids over with it.

 

[bumbershoot]

Molly, what I was trying to say in my own bumbling way is that it is not ours to wonder why someone has one or to regulate it. It will take care of itself. I don't really care what others have or use unless they try to run me or my kids over with it.

Ah yes, definitely. I took you the wrong way, totally my fault.