Need some direction/help

[rt2dz]

DS6 has SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder) and is in the middle of getting an ASD diagnosis. We know he is autistic, they just can't decide exactly where on the spectrum he falls--looking NOS-PDD, but they haven't ruled out Aspergers and the rest just due to the SPD.

Anyhow, we're heading off to Disney in just 10 days. I'm trying to figure out what his needs will be there. Unfortunately, I'm not sure he'll/we'll know until we get there. It seems as he is getting older, his issues are becoming more apparent. I suppose when they're littler it's harder to tell what is just normal little kid behavior and what is more specific to their condition.

I guess I need a little help/advice on how to handle it. What we might need to do and how. I've been reading threads all day, but I'm not sure about anything. I think a GAC might be useful--he can get overwhelmed in crowds, with loud noises, etc and if available a quieter waiting place might be good. But I'm not sure if that is really available. Quick exits if something is overwhelming would be good too.

He is obviously high functioning, and might handle Disney just fine (he has in the past). I don't want special treatment if not needed--just when it is needed.

I am also worried about characters. He might freak out when they get close. Which has happened in the past. He runs off (he is a runner) and then comes back with a changed mind after he has seen his brothers come away safe and sound.

I'm just so confused. We missed (cancelled) our last annual Disney trip because of him (too many evaluations going on), so it has been awhile (almost 2 years) since our last trip.

I need some help getting this in focus so I can help him. This trip is partly in celebration for finally getting potty-trained.

 

[deegack]

Maybe try renting a stroller for him. You can get the stroller as a wheelchair card and give him his own space. What about noise cancelling headphone or an ipod with favorite music to help him in noisy situations.

 

[clanmcculloch]

Something to keep in mind is that if you hold off getting a GAC or get one and find it doesn't provide the accomodation that you need, you can always go to Guest Relations later on and explain exactly the issue that you're seeing. You can go back several times if you need to. It's not like you need to know right now exactly what help he'll need and be locked into that decision. You can also have the GAC in hand and not use it. Keep that in mind. You can get one and try to tour without using it and then pull it out as you find it necessary.

For the characters, there really is no accomodation. I would recommend you talk to the handler and explain that he'll likely need to stand back and watch his siblings interact with the characters and that he'll need to be able to decide after watching if he'll go up or not. Basically, he needs a separate turn. It's not like he won't have waited or anything. This is something that can be done without a GAC. Ever child has the opportunity for their character interactions to be unique to them. Just make sure he goes last of all of your children rather than having him go first or with his siblings.

A GAC may be helpful for some attractions but really it won't help for everything. Crowds happen in the alternate waiting areas and crowds happen between attractions and in restaurants and on busses. A good touring plan is a very valuable tool. With touring plan services (my favourite is easywdw.com) you figure out which park will have the least amount of people per day plus which time of day to go to each attraction within the park in order to avoid crowds the most. Now that I'm using this kind of planning site, we hardly use our GAC any longer. We do still need it for some things but not much any longer. This kind of planning is so beneficial. It also helps you to figure out what you need to prepare your child for on an attraction by attraction basis and also to build detailed touring plans that include reminders for when to go eat (you can avoid crowds by going at off times and it also helps to fit meals into the schedule at normal dining times) and also how to take breaks and leave the parks while everybody is still happy rather than waiting for meltdowns to occur. It really is a valuable tool.

 

[kirstenb1]

Our dd is also 6 with HFA. She was in special ed preschool, and her teacher made her a lot of "social stories". They walk the kid through whatever bothers them with the use of simple words and pictures. For instance, dd is afraid of the characters. Her teacher made her a social story that said dd could walk by the characters. She didn't have to go up to them. She could choose to wave "hi".

Other helps are a stroller, sunglasses, her MP3 player if she needs it. She can put on the headphones, and watch a Scooby Doo cartoon, or listen to music. We watched lots of Youtube videos of the rides and attractions.

Finally our family splits up at WDW. Every day, I'd take dd to whatever park she chose. DH would take our 13 yr old. We tried to get there as early as possible, because usually shortly after lunch, dd is done for the day. So we'd get 3-4 hrs, and then she'd start to get a little overwhelmed. This is frustrating, but the trip goes much smoother if you let your kid make as many decisions as is reasonable. One pleasant surprise this trip is dd was able to go back to a park later in the evening for a couple of hours.

When you go back to the room, have plenty of your child's favorite toys. DD loves Zoobles. They're very simple little toys she can fidget with, and the repetitive motion of opening and closing them seems to soothe her. Most resorts have lots of little quiet spots to explore too.

I hope you all have a wonderful trip!!

 

[rt2dz]

Thanks to everyone!

It never would have occurred to me to offer DS6 a separate turn from his 3 brothers to decide on if he would want to meet the characters or not. Or that I could have the GAC adjusted if needed--that is priceless info! And the idea of DS6 using DS1 stroller in lines to give him space, might be an option to solving some problems too. I never would have thought of that since he is normally stroller-free.

We've been many times but since DS6 has moved from a developmental preschool to a mainstreamed kindergarten class at the public school, he doesn't deal as well with the world around him. The school is bending over backwards for him, but we just haven't found the magic formula yet and it bleeds into everything else. What used to be no big deal is suddenly a major issue and I'm just on shaky ground here. I so appreciate the help/info/advice.

 

[tinkerbelletreasure]

First, congrats on the pottytraining! I have a 4.5 y/o with SID (probably the same thing as SPD only different name) and we are in the process of tryin gto get him a diagnosis of Aspergers or Pdd-nos. We went 2 years ago and the stroller as a wheelchair option was a life saver for us. We plan on using it again next time even though he'll be 5 and is kind of big for a stroller. he needs that buffer from the rest of the crowds. We also ask to use alternative entrances when available. He loves Toy Story Mania, but I shutter to think of him going through that entire line with everything so overwhelmingly big and bright!

 

[JACH1976]

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[rt2dz]

First, congrats on the pottytraining! I have a 4.5 y/o with SID (probably the same thing as SPD only different name) and we are in the process of tryin gto get him a diagnosis of Aspergers or Pdd-nos. We went 2 years ago and the stroller as a wheelchair option was a life saver for us. We plan on using it again next time even though he'll be 5 and is kind of big for a stroller. he needs that buffer from the rest of the crowds. We also ask to use alternative entrances when available. He loves Toy Story Mania, but I shutter to think of him going through that entire line with everything so overwhelmingly big and bright!

It's funny that you mention TSM, because that is the one that scares me the most. That is a sensory overload. If he is having a really good day, not too many problems (or rather, we can deal with it), but if he is having an average or bad day, we're dead in the water.

And, yes, SID is the old name for SPD. Just depends on your Dr for which "official" name you get! Our pedi calls it SID (and my son was the first kid to convince him it does exist), but the developmental pedi calls it SPD.

And don't worry (so easy to say now--!), if you haven't accomplished potty-training, it will come. Ours came out of nowhere. It was magical and wonderful and I danced and smiled for two weeks. I don't think any of my bribes worked, but he was ready to cash in on them when he did it. And, I'm more than happy to comply. After all, what are we going to do? Tell him "no"?