Picture Cards for Autistic Spectrum Kids

[margo12]

Hi, We are going WDW in about 5 weeks. We have 5 kids. The 4th one has just recently been diagnosed with Asperger's. He also has ADHD and ODD. He will be 9yo at the end of this month.

He has been to WDW before and to Disneyland, and we have always tried to deal with his needs even before we realized that he was autistic. I would take him and his younger brother back to the hotel for a break, etc.

Anyway I've been planning to use the GAC this time around. Since he only gets a few useful hours at the parks, this will be a much-welcomed way for him to get to ride some of the rides he's been interested in but unable to wait in the long lines.

Other things we are doing this time around to help him deal with things are bringing a CD player and his Gameboy with headphones, and also some earplugs.

I've been contemplating making a picture-card system for each of the parks. Like on each card put a picture of a ride or a show and a little description of each one. Also maybe putting a rating area on the side ("I liked this ride and would like to ride it again," or "I liked this ride a little" or "I didn't like this ride at all"). I would also put on the cards places we are going to eat, etc.

Then I could have him pick the things he wanted to ride and see for that day at that park, and we could make a kind of schedule for the day using these cards.

And then I wanted to have some options listed for quiet places to go when he needs a break. This is in hopes of being able to actually stay at the park for his breaks instead of always going back to the hotel. I know that one option at each park is the baby center. Have any of you found any other good, quiet places to take a break? For example, in MK there is Tom Sawyer Island (if there aren't too many kids there).

Has anyone worked up one of these picture-card systems for WDW, and can I see it? I will be happy to post mine when I get it done.

Also, does anyone know if any of the parks do or do not have double strollers? I was considering renting one for him, to help him cushion himself against the encroaching world around him, but can't see getting one for him and leaving his 5yo ADHD brother to walk, ya know?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

[SueM in MN]

Hi and welcome to disABILITIES.
I haven't heard of anyone making a picture card system up, but it sounds like a good idea. My DD has cerebral palsy, ADD and other problems and "talks" with a computerized communication device. I have made some WDW communication boards for her. I never had time to do a really great one, but I did get some really basic ones. I got pictures from old brochures, but I'm sure you could find good ones on the internet.
We used a small photo album and for your purposes, that might work well since you could "look over" the things you plan to and then put the cards in the book in the right order.
Since you are going in 5 weeks, you ought to be able to find a lot of quiet spots. It shouldn't be busy and there are quite a few small sitting spots in each park.
They do have double strollers at each park. They have sizes big enough to fit a small 12 year old. A lot of people whose children have autism spectrum diseases find a stroller helps a lot. You can get a GAC to use the stroller as a wheelchair (taking it into lines). I don't know how they handle double strollers with this. The wheelchair accessible lines should probably accomidate a double stroller.

 

[SueM in MN]

I found quite a few pictures of rides/attractions, including the entrance signs and actual ride pictures on Deb Will's site: http://wdwig.com/ Hope it's helpful.

 

[MRHS]

I know of another quiet spot in the MK. As you go over the bridge heading toward the Hall of Presidents. Just as you get to the end of the bridge take a left before you get to the shops that line the street. There is a very quiet tree shaded area that gets very little foot traffic. The only time I have seen this area busy is during the parade when it is crazy any where near the parade route.

 

[DISNEY FUNTIMER]

I did make a picture system for my son the second time we went to disney world. We always make our plans at least a year in advance, so this gave me time to search the web for picture of rides that our family would like to go to. After I got all of the pictures I put them into micword so that I could put several on one page. I printed all the pictures and cut each one out. Then I placed them in a order , scheduleing, the rides for each day. I even had pictures of places we were going to eat. Next I placed them in a small picture booklet. The kind that you get with your pictures if you have them developed at walmart. You can also buy these cheap booklets at the dollar store or walgreens. Next I gave the booklet to my son a few days before we were going to that park. This way if my son wanted to do something in a different order or I needed to make any changes, I had time to do it. This same system could work with smaller pictures on a board with velcro, this way things could be changed more quickly. Hope this helps. If you need any of the pictures I have alot of pictures. p.s. I didn't do this the second time we went to disney world and we ended up doing the same four rides over and over again!

 

[margo12]

I would love for you to send me the pictures you have! I've spent some time on the internet looking for pictures and I'm finding them with no trouble, it's just taking some time. My e-mail address is meads@attbi.com and I can take any size attachments, and it's fine if they're zipped. Do you have a mac or a pc?

 

[LindaDVC]

I have made picture overlays for augcomm devices from old brochures. One little girl really enjoyed asking for autographs with her device and so did the characteurs!

Have a great trip!

Linda

 

[margo12]

Thank you so much for the pictures! They were really a big help.

I am almost done with the picture cards for the 4 parks. I need some help brainstorming "break places" for Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and MGM. I've got a nice little list for the Magic Kingdom.

I know there is a "wet play area" at Epcot but I can't remember where, and I think one nice place to take a break is over where Horizons used to be (are they doing construction there right now?) where the swans or ducks or flamingoes are in the water. We can take a boat ride across the lagoon or even hop on the monorail and ride that around for a while.

So I do have a few ideas for Epcot...need some more for MGM and AK...help. I've only been to AK once, for about half a day.

 

[SueM in MN]

At Epcot, the water play area is sort of on the bridge that goes between Future World and WS. It's a sort of widened part of the bridge. I think the quiet place you are thinking was where Horizons was is the Odyssey Center (where Baby Care and First Aid are). The lagoon there has flamingos and cranes. In France, there is a little garden behind the perfume shop (or sort of to the side of it). There is also a seating area along the bridge between France and the UK and it's a slo generally quite along the International Gateway.

At MGM, there aren't quite as many quiet spots. Some I can think of are the seating areas around Echo Lake and the tables in front of Min and Bill's Dockside Diner (at non-meal times). you caqn usually find a bench along Sunset Boulevard. The covered eating area near Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playard can be fairly quite at non-meal times. That's all I can think of.

At AK, There is an area across from the Flights of Wonder that is covered and has tables. It used to be the stop for the Discovery Boats. The Oasis has some good quiet spots as well as the Discovery Island Trails (in front of the tree of life).

 

[tmfranlk]

At MGM you could go to the end of NY street. There is an archway at the end of the road with a little park-like area behind it. One time when I was there, characters came out in that area, but the other few times I've been there they come out farther up NY street. Another place might be over by the old Hunchback Theater. I bet it is pretty quiet over there now (at least until they start construction).

In Epcot, there is also a garden behind UK.

For AK, I would strongly second SueM's suggestion of the trails around the Tree of Life. I have rarely seen people on them.

 

[adisneyfan2]

Margo12,

I don't know if you have APs, but if so, the passholder lounges might be good quiet spots. (Like the one at The Land in Epcot & at AK) We returned from WDW last week with my Aspie son. When he starts to get overwhelmed, if the park is crowded or too stimulating (e.g. during parades, etc.) we often ride the monorail (MK, Epcot), boats (Epcot, MK, MGM) or even parking lot tram (AK). I know it sounds a little weird, but it works for him. It's almost like a ride with a lot less wait! We have found it best to let the driver know what you are doing -- that way you won't have to get off & on again -- a big benefit on the monorail between Epcot & MK! The AK parking lot tram driver made my DS his "official co-pilot", and used his name over the PA for announcements ("Joey & I ask that you watch your step....") That really made his day!

 

[SueM in MN]

The AK parking lot tram driver made my DS his "official co-pilot", and used his name over the PA for announcements ("Joey & I ask that you watch your step....") That really made his day!

That's cool!