OT disability question

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

I understand that this is a self-selecting group, but I’m genuinely curious:
It seems like there are a lot more people with disabilities now versus, say, 20 years ago. Do you think that the disabilities have become more pervasive or are people just more aware now than they were before?

I’m not necessarily talking about obvious physical limitations but more the “invisible” kind.

No judgement here…I’m just trying to understand why the world is changing.

(I started reading about DAS because a friend has fibromyalgia and was trying to figure out how best to manage)

 

[chaoslobster]

There's not just one answer.

A lot of it is that people are more willing now to admit that they do have a disability and do need help, rather than toughing it out. Things that have always existed like fibro are now easier to have diagnosed and be recognized -- you don't need a diagnosis to be disabled, but for many, it helps so much to have a doctor confirm that it's not all in your head. A lot of people have families who won't believe them and won't support them until a doctor says "yes, he/she is disabled."

Americans in particular are much larger and much heavier than ever before, which contributes to millions of people who are not capable of enjoying WDW without a scooter, wheelchair, or another form of mobility assistance.

And sadly, some of it is that people are more entitled now than they have ever been, and since they don't need to prove anything to get a DAS... you do the math. Any time Disney provides a way to "skip the queue" (even though you're not skipping it, you're just able to wait somewhere else in comfort) there will always be a small subset of people who are willing to abuse it. That subset is a larger group now than it was a decade ago.

 

[Lilsia]

I think that the term disabilities has broadened. 30-40 years ago, you were considered disabled if you had severe mental or physical limitations. Now, we consider even minor limitations under the term disabilities. I think most of these are what we used to refer to as medical conditions and not necessarily a disability. And in the past, if someone couldn't do something, they just didn't go. Now, we are seeing more accessibility for a number of issues, with Disney being a big on trying to accommodate everyone. My issue is more of a medical issue, and not a disability. But I qualify for DAS and if I did not, I would only be able to go on anything that had a line longer then 20 minutes. In the past, people like me would have just stayed home. Plus I think that there are a lot more fakers out there. The whole social media thing is a stage for people who like the attention. Even things like saying that you are a "picky eater". Humans have not devolved in the last decade for there to be so many people to have a legitimate medical reasons for being "picky". So I think that it is a combination of several things, more people, broader terms, it's more acceptable to talk about it, social media makes it possible for you to interact with more people, and more fakers.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Thank you both for your perspective. So many things I never thought about.

I know hard Disney can be for people without challenges, so I’m glad that Disney makes it possible for all families to be able to enjoy the parks. Life would be so sad without a little Disney magic.

 

[DisneyOma]

There's not just one answer.

A lot of it is that people are more willing now to admit that they do have a disability and do need help, rather than toughing it out. Things that have always existed like fibro are now easier to have diagnosed and be recognized -- you don't need a diagnosis to be disabled, but for many, it helps so much to have a doctor confirm that it's not all in your head. A lot of people have families who won't believe them and won't support them until a doctor says "yes, he/she is disabled."

Americans in particular are much larger and much heavier than ever before, which contributes to millions of people who are not capable of enjoying WDW without a scooter, wheelchair, or another form of mobility assistance.

And sadly, some of it is that people are more entitled now than they have ever been, and since they don't need to prove anything to get a DAS... you do the math. Any time Disney provides a way to "skip the queue" (even though you're not skipping it, you're just able to wait somewhere else in comfort) there will always be a small subset of people who are willing to abuse it. That subset is a larger group now than it was a decade ago.

Can you show the proof for your third statement? I believe that the subset of people is staying about the same, or decreasing, as otherwise there would be yet another round of changes for accessibility at WDW.

 

[bookgirl]

I think you also have to factor in the large number of people who are aging.

I have never used the DAS before my last trip. Did I have the issues then that I have now..yep. However as I've aged the management of those issues has become more difficult. So a lot of people are aging into the program.

Funny note is that I was a special ed teacher and when I got my degree I realized that I had issues that back in the 70s were not recognized, but today would have landed me in specialized intervention. I survived without intervention but I think my youth would have been very different if my parents had known then what we know now.

As an adult I have learned to compensate but I wish I had known then.

Also the issues that gets me a DAS now has nothing to do with the issues that I had as a child so I guess technically I could qualify twice.....lol

 

[Lilsia]

I think you also have to factor in the large number of people who are aging.

I have never used the DAS before my last trip. Did I have the issues then that I have now..yep. However as I've aged the management of those issues has become more difficult. So a lot of people are aging into the program.

Funny note is that I was a special ed teacher and when I got my degree I realized that I had issues that back in the 70s were not recognized, but today would have landed me in specialized intervention. I survived without intervention but I think my youth would have been very different if my parents had known then what we know now.

As an adult I have learned to compensate but I wish I had known then.

Also the issues that gets me a DAS now has nothing to do with the issues that I had as a child so I guess technically I could qualify twice.....lol

I agree that most issues were classified as either a child being "slow", or "hyperactive", etc. I am almost 50 and just realized that I most likely have ADHD. I watched this video that they did of children with it and that was exactly how my life was. How I saw things, how others perceived me, how I process information, etc. I was always called lazy and stupid, especially by my parents. It is horrible what kids went through back then.

 

[bookgirl]

I agree that most issues were classified as either a child being "slow", or "hyperactive", etc. I am almost 50 and just realized that I most likely have ADHD. I watched this video that they did of children with it and that was exactly how my life was. How I saw things, how others perceived me, how I process information, etc. I was always called lazy and stupid, especially by my parents. It is horrible what kids went through back then.

I actually had intervention for Speech and Language but in truth I would have qualified for Sensory Integration as well as OT and a Learning Disability, however I spent my entire school time in gifted programs because I over compensated LOL. I was always the picky, quirky, loud, messy kid. Little did we know. I probably do have ADD but it is what it is. But it did help identify a couple of issues with my nephews and it made it easier to intervene.

 

[MinnieMSue]

I know I had autism (high functioning) in the 70’s but it honestly wasn’t a thing then. You were just considered weird and definitely not treated or even diagnosed back then. I adapted and made it through fine. I never liked being around people. Now I am sure I could be diagnosed but am not going to a doctor or anything to be tested. I get by ok in my life. Still am the odd one and would almost be a hermit if I didn’t have a job. I think now people are being diagnosed and getting interventions - it was just not a common thing back then at least where I lived. Accommodations were not expected or even available. If you couldn’t handle it you stayed home.