? on GAC for 7yo Hearing Impaired Son

[hearingaidmom]

My son will be 7yo during our trip to Disney World in Sept. He is hearing impaired and wears bilateral digital aids. He does not sign. Would there be any benefit to him to request a GAC at the parks? I have read several posts on this board (which is the greatest by the way ) regarding the GAC. I am not sure if he would benefit from the GAC. We definitely don't want to impose on others that are more in need of accomodations. I could see that preferential seating might be beneficial to him at shows, etc so he could be closer to stage, speakers, etc so he could pickup the sounds better. Since he will only be 7, he will not be a proficient reader to use closed captioning devices yet. At least I don't think he will!

Thanks for any advice you can provide. Again you folks are the greatest Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

It would be a good idea to get it, strictly as insurance. That way if there is some need you will have it available.

 

[eeyore45]

Hi, my oldest son, and my dh are hearing impaired (bilateral) DS went to a total communication school - he learned Signing Exact English, and does well with his hearing aides, and closed caption -

Get familiar with the links listed for Hearing Impaired (Talking Hands here, and others, including myself) have posted experiences...

1. Reflective Captioning - ( http://allearsnet.com/pl/reflect.htm ) if your 7yr old doesnt use Closed Captioning at home, he probably wont use Ref Cap at the parks... for the 3D movies, and other movis (Hall of Presidents) they use reflective captioning, its wonderful - dh for the first time was able to 'understand' Donald Duck (MK Philharmagic) in Animal Kingdom, and Epcot the 3D movies you line up and request the reflective mirror, but not all CM's were familiar with this - esp at AK they wanted us to sit with the wheelchair people, but you cant get the captioning from back there - when you walk in the theatre look at the back of the room for red scrolling messages - thats the reflective part!! we usually sit halfway down on the end to capture the words on the mirror.

2. You can put a deposit down to get the devices that are similar to the FM, you need to check them out, they are heavy, and I'd have to here it is

http://allearsnet.com/pl/listen.htm

its the Assistive LIstening Device, this one isnt heavy, but I have a back pack I kept them in to hand them over when he could use them, but halfway thru the ear plug wire got fuzzy so he stopped using it

3. Hand Held Captioning Device > > http://allearsnet.com/pl/handheld.htm

again, you put a deposit and use it at certain attractions, and if your 7yr old doesnt use closed caption at home, he may not benifet from this, this is the one we thought was heavy... and it was off at MGM one of the Backlot Tours had changed, and they hadnt updated the captioning...

Just know most of Disney is captured through all of our senses, so much to see, and experience, and feel - he'll have a grand time!!

We didnt have need of the GAC, for sitting close to front as we did use FP and just verbally told the CM's we needed the Reflective Captioning, it was never a problem...

 

[hearingaidmom]

Thanks for your replies. Again this board is great. So glad I found it!

This is actually going to be our second trip to the world with the kids. We went in 2003 when DS was 4yo. I didn't know about the GAC back then, and he was fine without it. He does have trouble at shows and movies sometimes understanding everything being said, and he will ask me to repeat for him. Of course, we try to be quiet and not disrupt other patrons.

Are the number of GAC's given out limited? I don't want to deprive someone else. If not, I think I will request one for DS and just see how things go. We may never even need to use it.

Thanks again.

 

[LisaBi]

I would request a GAC for him. It can help make sure that at shows and on attrractions that rely on audio you are seated in an area that gives the best opportunity to hear (for example, front and center if the sound isn't surround sound.)

Lisa