Night blindness and tunnel vision

[tigger21475]

My DH has RP and is legally blind. We will be there with our dd9 & dd5. He has extreme tunnel vision, can only see what is directly in front of him and night blindness.

It is difficult for him to find his way to tables without help. Will CM help bring plates back to tables at buffets?

If he were want to go back to the room when it was dark would cm help get him to the room?

When it comes to rooms I like to have a room that has easy access to transportation. Not having to go around corners. How do I get this type of room before arriving? Previously I have had to switch rooms after we are already there. I would like to not have to do this. I requested 1st floor for online checkin. Should I call the resort before we arrive?

My DH does not use a white cane but I think it might be helpful to have one with us so people are aware of the vision issue. To just look at my dh he doesn't appear to be blind.
Thought? Thank you for any suggetions

 

[gap2368]

I do not think a CM will help carry your plate back to your table for you ( you may find a CM will do this as a little extra nice jester to you) I would have your oldest daughter walk your Husband back to the table

for the most part a CM will not help you back to your room. I would ask for ground floor and close to transportation ( you can make 2 request ) they are not grarentied at all but getting there early dose help. you can call the hotel and explain your husbands need and see of they can not make some note on the hotel and maybe get a little better chancy of getting the room you want ( there are a few CM on here that might be able to tell you how you can up your chance of getting the room you would like)

Yes I think it would help him out to have a white cane that way other guess and CM will know that he has a vision problem I have gone up to guess and have help them find places. also they have auto caption that you can rent at the parks they tell you what is around you I know your husband can see some but it might help him to enjoy things a little more

 

[SueM in MN]

We have had a CM offer to carry a plate back to the table when we have been to buffets with DD using a wheelchair (can't push and carry at the same time). But, finding a CM is an issue, so the safest bet is just to plan for a family member to carry it for him.

If you are at one of the resorts (like Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans a Riverside) that has carts to take guests who are checking in to their rooms, he might be able to get one of the Bell Services CMs to take him from the resort lobby to the room. I would expect to need to wait and also to tip.

Your type of room request is probably too specific to make before you are there. People make more general requests, like close to the bus stop, but amything more specific is probably too difficult.
There is not going to be a room where you can get to the restaurant area, front desk, transportation and pool without going around any corners. It would be really hard to make a room assignment just based on that criteria. They can't guarantee a specific room (things happen, like rooms going out of commission), so the best way woul be to get input from you once you are there - how many turns are too many? Which place is most important to you having easiest access to (busses or food court)
When you are checking in, ask to see a map of the location of the room they have assigned you and ask the CM to help you figure out routes to the different features. That way, you would be able to figure out which available rooms best fit your needs.

I agree that a white cane would probably be helpful to let CMs and other guests realize that he has a vision related disability.

 

[SueM in MN]

I know that WDW was testing some devices with location-type service at one point, but the only things listed on their website at this point are devices for attractions that have audio descriptions available.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/visual-disability-services/

The audio descriptions have a sound track that describes what is happening. It is timed to not interfere with audio on the attraction.

 

[DisneyOma]

At CBR, it would be pretty hard to go to Bell Services, as it's not on the bus loop, is it? I would not pick that resort for an unattended, vision impaired person who needed assistance to get around. I'd pick a deluxe, with interior hallways and the lobby right at the entrance.

 

[disney world dreamer]

i am visually impaired.
i went to WDW solo for the first time in april.
i've had 4 retinal detachments, cannot see at all out of my left eye, have diminished peripheral vision and rather bad night blindness in my right eye.

what i USUALLY do is just hold onto the strap of my sister or friend's purse/backpack at night and during dark attraction lines and walk next to but just slightly behind during the day so that i can easily tell which direction we are walking in.

of course i had to get creative when going alone.

i brought a white cane even though i never use it in everyday life.
let me tell you that thing helped a lot.
i liked that it showed others i have a disability.
people actually asked me if i needed help.
and in dark lines i used it to help me navigate.
i would recommend that your DH brings his. if he finds that he's not using it at all then leave it in the room.

i also brought a flashlight on a lanyard.
this really helped during dark lines and at night.
i was worried that people would be whispering about me but no one seemed to care or pay any attention to it.
so i would recommend that your DH bring a small flashlight as well.

as for CM's assisting many people on here said how a CM would not be able to assist me.
but i actually found quite the opposite in my personal situations.
for example a CM helped me to the pop century bus at epcot and one assisted me to a table at be our guest. they even went and grabbed a drink and silverware for me!

at a buffet it may not be an option because the CM's are running around like crazy managing their tables.
so in that case i would either leave the kids at the table while you assist or have the older child assist. (personally i'd probably leave the kids at the table while you assist)

also at the resort it may not be an option as most CM's are in the main building and not throughout the resort. although perhaps if he went to concierge and explained he needed assistance to his room that a CM there could find a CM that could help him to his room.

personally i'd recommend staying at pop century specifically due to how well lit it is at night and how straight forward the pathways are. (of course i love the theme of pop too though)
i like the 50's section as it is easy for me to navigate.
i wouldn't recommend the 60's section as there are a few steps that i nearly tripped down each night heading back to my room.

 

[ttintagel]

None of what you're looking for can be guaranteed. But, as the previous poster said, there are many cast members who are willing to go the extra mile to help. You just can't go there counting on it as part of your plan. I'm also planning to get a cane before I go next time, even though I don't use one at home. In fact, the agencies that do cane training in my area won't even train me because I'm not legally blind yet. But from what I've observed, making an invisible disability visible will help a great deal.

Edited to add: I also liked the 50's section at Pop Century. I liked the layout, and the proximity to the main buildings.it also seems quieter than the other sections. With fewer kids running around to run into you.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) CM's are not supposed to carry food dishes/trays.
2) There is all sorts of possible liability associated with the practice.
. . . they could drop is on someone
. . . people can claim dirty hands contaminated the food
3) Some have called it "Permanent Employment for Lawyers".

 

[SueM in MN]

1) CM's are not supposed to carry food dishes/trays.
2) There is all sorts of possible liability associated with the practice.
. . . they could drop is on someone
. . . people can claim dirty hands contaminated the food
3) Some have called it "Permanent Employment for Lawyers".

CMs who work in food service settings do have training in carrying food trays/hand hygiene.
I would not expect or want random CMs carrying food trays, but servers and CMs bringing food out to buffets are usually the ones who would be carrying food for guests in these circumstances.

Providing assistance with things like carrying food trays or drinks, serving from a buffet are actually examples of common alterations or minor adjustments in ADA teaching tools for businesses.
See examples in this ADA publication:
http://www.ada.gov/reachingout/lesson11.htm

and pictures here in the summary for lesson one:
http://www.ada.gov/reachingout/lesson14.htm

 

[ttintagel]

Now that I'm at my computer where it's easier to post links than on my phone, I wasted to add some more info about using the white cane for identification rather than navigation.

This is an interesting general article about canes, but the heading "Using the Cane for Identification Purposes" is the section that's relevant to what I was discussing.
http://www.visionaware.org/info/for...the-white-cane-a-tool-for-fall-prevention/125


This site sells mobility canes, guide canes, and identification canes:
http://ambutech.com/

Since I'm not trained on a mobility or guide cane, I will probably use an ID cane. Since your husband is legally blind, he may be able to take advantage of more than one kind.

 

[beckydisneyb]

RP runs in my family. My father is blind. My DS (age11) is night blind and has beginning signs of RP. When I explained this to our travel agent about room requests and needs. She said there is a special phone number that she can call to have our "needs requested" for a medical reason. She said it doesnt guarantee it, but is better than just noting the account. We will be there Sept. 8th, will see if it works!

 

[tigger21475]

Please let me know if it works. We will be there at the end of Sept. Thank you all for your help.