proof for a wheelchair opinoin

[prettyprincessbelle]

I would also wonder what "proof" would be acceptable. If it wasn't against the law for them to ask. Would doctor notes be the only ok? But what if they are from another country and have no doc, but still need the wheelchair? I also wouldn't let it be just by someone's word. There are people who lie about being disabled. Heck, there are even people who post on the DIS that have a made up diability. It is against the law for them to ask, and if it wasn't, I would be wary about what they would accept as proof.

Good question.

Or what if they get hurt while ON the trip and don't go see a doctor?

My Dad hurt his back on our trip to Europe a couple years ago. If that was DLR he would have needed a wheelchair since they're available there, but he's stubborn and wouldn't have gone to the doctor so he wouldn't have had a doctor's note to show.

I would be wary too about they would accept, because if it was just say a doctor's note, that wouldn't be really "fair".

 

[toocherie]

I certainly didn't mean to get anyone all riled up about it. As I said earlier my mother (may she rest in peace) had a heart condition and used her ECV but on the outside she looked fine. That is why it bugs me with people who abuse the system. For some reason it is the same reaction I get when I see someone park in a handicap space without a handicap plaquard for their car. My mother had one for her car and a cop literally asked her for proof to park there since she looked perfectly fine. My mother was a big advocate for disabled rights and even spoke before congress on behalf of the Americans with Disabilities act. I guess that is why it bothers me so much.
Again I didn't mean to start any sort of argument. I didn't know it was a privacy issue for Disneyland. Thank you for voicing your opinions and letting me know DL's side.

I understand what you're saying. One time I got REALLY angry when on vacation in Oregon. I had to go to Costco, and someone cut me off to park in the last handicap spot. She then HOPPED out of the car and SKIPPED to the door! Now I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but that was rediculous!

I did the not-so-zen thing by double-parking behind her until she got back. I won't quote the conversation because it's a family board.....

I just want to clarify my comments.....

I know that many many people have true hidden disabilities and legitamatly need assistance with walking. My son that is in the wheelchair can walk a bit but not far enough to get from the end of the driveway to the house. My comment was directed most specifically at a group of about 15 year olds that were in line if front of us for Space Mountain, which is one of the rides where you only have one or two wheelchairs down in the loading area at a time. The kids were using a rental chair, were taking turns who rode in it, and as there friends were coming by to chat, were adding them to the line with them bragging that 'they should come with them cause they don't have to wait in lines' They had 9 people with them by the time it was their turn. I partly blame the cast member for not enforcing the rules of party size but these kids were jumping around and one would ride the chair down to the ride, another back up from the ride and then later another was in it when we saw them an hour later.

I meant no disrespect AT ALL for those whose mobility/endurance issues are 'invisable'.

I bolded a couple of quotes above. Just because someone can move freely as they walk into a store doesn't mean that they will be walking that way when they come out. Or they may have a heart condition or other condition that limits their endurance. Or, like me, they may have issues bending their knees and need to fully extend their door to get in and out of the car--and if they park in a regular parking space and a large SUV parks next to them couldn't get back in their car. I have a friend who had a hip replacement--she generally does ok, but on a long shopping trip is in quite a bit of pain at the end and appreciates having her vehicle close by.

If we get into a situation of "rating" who is entitled and who is not entitled to a handicapped space then we are in real trouble.

If someone has a state-issued handicapped placard I am going to give them the benefit of the doubt. Of course, I have seen people who I have doubts about--but I figure that is between them and their God/the universe/whatever they believe in. visitingapril09, I'm sure no one took your comments as accusing those of us with what can be "hidden" disabilities. and I think the CM should have enforced the rules. I think the rule breakers are more apt to not break the rules when they realize they aren't getting the benefits of it.

Unfortunately there will always be people who make up disabilities or are self-diagnosed and play on the sympathies of others or claim rights and benefits that they aren't really entitled to. The teenagers cited in the above example, for instance. Like Stacerita said, DL is limited by law in what kind of "proof" they can require. And if you had a teenager who liked to go with his friends to DL and needed a wheelchair for one reason or another, you wouldn't want him to be given a hassle about it--would you?

There are always going to be people who abuse systems and play on the sympathies of others. Eventually they are exposed and they go on to another place/site/group. In the meantime, don't stress about the benefits they are getting because the benefits are not really all that much--believe me.

 

[bumbershoot]

My mother was a big advocate for disabled rights and even spoke before congress on behalf of the Americans with Disabilities act. I guess that is why it bothers me so much.

It was those exact rights that your mom spoke about that are the reason no proof is required. The ADA is what prevents the questions from being asked. Just as an apartment complex cannot ask for proof that a person requires an assistance animal, and that apartment complex must accept the person's word for it that the animal is an assistance animal, even if that animal is not otherwise allowed at the complex*, DLR cannot ask for proof of the disability.

It protects those who need it, it helps them live their lives just a little bit easier (instead of having to carry documentation and open their lives to the CM giving out the wheelchairs or Guest Assistance Cards or CMs at the entrances to rides), and although it's not up to me, if it were up to me, I'm not willing to make THOSE peoples' lives a little harder, just so that other people who don't need a wheelchair can't rent one.



*the story behind how I started studying up was that we lived on the 3rd floor of an apartment building, and the new 2nd floor neighbors brought in an untrained, protective, territorial pit bull. Pit bulls (and rottweilers) were not allowed in the apartment complex. But the tenant (who used be in the apartment renting business) said that it was her assistance animal to sense epileptic attacks (she willingly gave that info to the complex manager, and the manager is gossipy, wanted us to make sure the animal wasn't a danger, and she's become our friend, so she told us), and nothing more could be said.

Found out that assistance animals have no official training...we all think of seeing eye dogs who get trained and wear vests, but that's not at all necessary by law.

Now, the tenant left her assistance dog home all the time, she NEVER took the dog with her, so obviously we had some heavy doubts about whether or not the dog was TRULY an assistance animal, and then when the dog showed how territorial she was about the building, and pinned hubby (who was around 320 at the time, not some frail person) in his car TWICE while the boyfriend of the day called uselessly from the second floor after he'd let the dog out, without a leash, to reliever herself, well that's when I started looking into the ADA.

And ultimately we weren't willing to be the guinea pigs documenting the dog's (and later dogS') horrid behavior so the managers could build a paper trail to be legally allowed to kick out the tenant and her dogs, and we moved.

Even though I was terrified (I am not ashamed to say that even though I love rotties, was raised by Alaskan Malamutes, and drooled over a Great Dane the other day, and love all OTHER big dogs, I dislike pit bulls entirely), even though I started my hermit life with my little baby b/c I was so scared the tenant's small daughter was going to open the door with Blue beside her just as I got to the second floor landing, even though it negatively affected our lives and cost us the money it took to move....I'm still not willing to negatively impact those who DO have assistance animals by requiring proof of everything, just so that our former neighbor (who still lives there, 3 years later) wouldn't have been allowed to lie her rear end off about her supposed assistance dog (again, she never took the dog with her, so that dog wasn't doing her much good where she would have needed it the most, while driving or at work!).

Protecting those who need it is what the ADA is all about.

 

[disney4metoo]

Hi,
Two years ago when I went to DL I had unexpected ankle surgery and needed to use a wheelchair. I felt guilty using one and avoiding lines (well a little guilty, but still guilty). I brought a note from my doctor and was surprised to hear they didn't need any sort of proof for a wheelchair.
All throughout the day I saw various people who really didn't need a wheelchair but obviously had it and were using it to avoid the lines. I know this because the kids who were in the wheel chair early in the day were screwing around the park later in the day.
I realize looks aren't everything as my mother had a heart condition but looked fine but did need a wheelchair (she had her own) however she always had her handicap plaquard for her car and her wallet medical card and always offered it for proof when avoiding lines at DL.
What do you think about this? Do you think Disney should ask for some medical proof when people are requesting a wheelchair or requesting to avoid the lines due to a medical condition?

I was just at Disneyland and during the fireworks had severe abdominal pain, I taken to the hospital via ambulance long story short I had a Gallbladder attack (Gallstones.) The next day since I had missed the fireworks and did not feel comfortable walking I had to use a wheelchair to take me from the Grand Hotel to DL to see the fireworks. I did not ride any rides, I did not feel well but I did want to see the fireworks. Had I not stayed at a Disney Hotel they would not have know about my visit. I guess I could have brought the ER sheets, but I did not have doctors orders to use a wheelchair because I did not think about it or know how I would feel the next day. So in my case if this was a requirement ( doctors note or medical condition) I would not have access to one which I really needed.

 

[toocherie]

I was just at Disneyland and during the fireworks had severe abdominal pain, I taken to the hospital via ambulance long story short I had a Gallbladder attack (Gallstones.) The next day since I had missed the fireworks and did not feel comfortable walking I had to use a wheelchair to take me from the Grand Hotel to DL to see the fireworks. I did not ride any rides, I did not feel well but I did want to see the fireworks. Had I not stayed at a Disney Hotel they would not have know about my visit. I guess I could have brought the ER sheets, but I did not have doctors orders to use a wheelchair because I did not think about it or know how I would feel the next day. So in my case if this was a requirement ( doctors note or medical condition) I would not have access to one which I really needed.

Exactly why "proof" shouldn't be necessary. (Hope you feel better--I dealt with gallstones for 15 years and it's not fun.)

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

I was just at Disneyland and during the fireworks had severe abdominal pain, I taken to the hospital via ambulance long story short I had a Gallbladder attack (Gallstones.) The next day since I had missed the fireworks and did not feel comfortable walking I had to use a wheelchair to take me from the Grand Hotel to DL to see the fireworks. I did not ride any rides, I did not feel well but I did want to see the fireworks. Had I not stayed at a Disney Hotel they would not have know about my visit. I guess I could have brought the ER sheets, but I did not have doctors orders to use a wheelchair because I did not think about it or know how I would feel the next day. So in my case if this was a requirement ( doctors note or medical condition) I would not have access to one which I really needed.

Ouch, I know how that is. That pain can be almost as bad as child birth! Hope your feeling better, and yes that is one good reason why they shouldn't require proof. Can you imagine if you twisted up your ankle bad AT DL? That would stink having to see a doctor for that whlie your down there for a note.

But we do plan on seeing what kind of accomodation they can give my brother who won't be able to handle the long lines next week. We can do some waiting, like the fastpass line (which we plan on also using as much as we can, and hopefully we picked a slow time of year). Or waiting for others with wheel chairs to get off, but no way could he sit in a 45+ minute line, even in his chair. It's part of his disability and I don't think there is anything wrong with accomodating that. Other then those who will be upset because we go ahead of them, but I don't really care what they think anyway. It's part of his condition, and we won't be made to feel guilty for that.

I don't like those who abuse the system, but we can't punish those with real disabilities, for their bad behavior.

 

[mechurchlady]

He would have to use FP, single rider, or disabled entrances like everyone else. For long waits like Splash he could get there early in the day to avoid crowds and would have to use the disabled entrance via the exit. Timing is very important with planning as well if you want to avoid the lines and short lines can be had if you work hard on the planning.

GAC is only for hidden disabilities like vision, hearing and cannot do stairs. Anyone who is obviously handicapped does not need a GAC. If he is using a chair or ECV then he would not need one.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

He would have to use FP, single rider, or disabled entrances like everyone else. For long waits like Splash he could get there early in the day to avoid crowds and would have to use the disabled entrance via the exit. Timing is very important with planning as well if you want to avoid the lines and short lines can be had if you work hard on the planning.

GAC is only for hidden disabilities like vision, hearing and cannot do stairs. Anyone who is obviously handicapped does not need a GAC. If he is using a chair or ECV then he would not need one.

Single rider? LOL Do you understand autistic like disabilities? Were not always talking about broken legs, or an eldery person with heart problems. They are not like "everyone else." So we actually always get a GAC for him, he has special needs beyond just being in a wheelchair because of his autism. Those special needs deserve some reasonable accomodation. Besides your issue with "special treatment" for someone with special needs, please tell me the problem with that?

We are mostly asking to go through the exit or the fast pass line. We realize there will still be a wait, but we would like where possible to have it minimal. He can't handle rides like Splash (members of my family that ride it will be waiting in line or using fast pass). He has a child's mind and Buzz is his favorite. When it gets really long he won't be able to handle sitting in line that long. The fastpass line would help, it's the shade and not too long of a wait. I believe that is reasonable accomodation, not anything real "special". We will be getting fastpass for it as well, but if he wants to ride it more often then that will allow I don't think it's fair that he can't because of him not being able to handle the long line.

People don't seem to know much about developmental disabilities. It's a real shame, that ignorance hurts those who have to deal with it every day.

 

[mechurchlady]

Single rider? LOL Do you understand autistic like disabilities? Were not always talking about broken legs, or an eldery person with heart problems. They are not like "everyone else." So we actually always get a GAC for him, he has special needs beyond just being in a wheelchair because of his autism. Those special needs deserve some reasonable accomodation. Besides your issue with "special treatment" for someone with special needs, please tell me the problem with that?

We are mostly asking to go through the exit or the fast pass line. We realize there will still be a wait, but we would like where possible to have it minimal. He can't handle rides like Splash (members of my family that ride it will be waiting in line or using fast pass). He has a child's mind and Buzz is his favorite. When it gets really long he won't be able to handle sitting in line that long. The fastpass line would help, it's the shade and not too long of a wait. I believe that is reasonable accomodation, not anything real "special". We will be getting fastpass for it as well, but if he wants to ride it more often then that will allow I don't think it's fair that he can't because of him not being able to handle the long line.

People don't seem to know much about developmental disabilities. It's a real shame, that ignorance hurts those who have to deal with it every day.

I did not see that he was autistic and would have given a different recommendation. I am sorry and if you seen me on disabilities thread I would have definitely made a different remark. Autism is a hidden disability and would be valid for getting a GAC. I did not see that he was autistic and am so sorry.

If I had known he was Autistic then I would have suggested the GAC, talking to a CM about returning later or having one member stand in line, and fastpasses if that is possible. I also find that it is not fair that he cannot ride rides because of the long lines. I would also suggest things to keep his mind busy instead of on the line such as an Ipod, games, and things to keep him busy on a task instead of the line. For some really good suggestions stop by the disAbilities board and their community board as Sue has done extensive work on listing tips and other helpful stuff for disabled persons and there are a good amount of family there who have an autistic person and bookwormde is an aspie who is really smart about autism and how it works.

 

[Minuet888]

What is a GAC? My son (3 years old) is also autistic. He too has a hard time standing in lines usually becuase he is around a lot of people in a close proximity. Usually one of us waits in line until we get to go to the "inside" part then usually Tyler is distracted by the talking Buzz Lightyear Statue to get really upset or something.
Sorry I am bad with acronyms, what is a GAC?

 

[toocherie]

What is a GAC? My son (3 years old) is also autistic. He too has a hard time standing in lines usually becuase he is around a lot of people in a close proximity. Usually one of us waits in line until we get to go to the "inside" part then usually Tyler is distracted by the talking Buzz Lightyear Statue to get really upset or something.
Sorry I am bad with acronyms, what is a GAC?

a GAC is a "guest assistance card" that you can get at City Hall or Guest Relations. Basically it allows a special needs person and up to five additional people in their party to use alternate accommodations depending on the need. For me, if I am not using an ECV, I get one to avoid stairs. In your case, you would get one to avoid your son waiting in lines. Note that this is NOT a front of the line pass--in some cases they will give you a second card (like at Toy Story Midway Mania) to come back later. And in some cases you may wait longer to get on a ride overall, but they will allow you not to have to wait IN line--does that make sense?

If you meander over to the Disabilities board I'm sure there is a sticky about this which will explain it better.

 

[mechurchlady]

What is a GAC? My son (3 years old) is also autistic. He too has a hard time standing in lines usually becuase he is around a lot of people in a close proximity. Usually one of us waits in line until we get to go to the "inside" part then usually Tyler is distracted by the talking Buzz Lightyear Statue to get really upset or something.
Sorry I am bad with acronyms, what is a GAC?

GAC si the Guest Assistance Card and is a piece of cardstock used by WDW and DLR.

Instead of the guest explaining to each CM that they are disabled the guest just shows the card. There are stamps for various needs like vision, hearing and no stairs. Go to any Guest Services window any Disney park in WDW and DLR. The CM cannot ask for proof of disability. The CM may ask questions to better help a guest like if they need braille stuff.

Autistic kids and most neurovariants are different even if they have the same label. One kid will love crowds and be a hugger while another may want to avoid crowds. I have SID and I love some sounds, crickets do not bother me but some sounds just drive me up the wall. For some people they can be both hyper and hypo sensitive while others are fully hyper or hypo.

For autistic persons you tell the CM the limitations of that person such as cannot handle lines, cannot handle crowds. The same is true with everything as saying you have something does not help the CM but explaining the limitations helps the CM choose the right stamps.

Other things you can do for autistic kids is earmuffs to reduce noise and a nice stroller to hide in. neurovariant kids like to hide in their stroller. Bring the biusy beads, games, music/radio, and stuff to keep the kid busy.

if you have any questions feel free to ask.
Also a great thread that is for disabled guests at WDW and has lots of itps is at http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713
there is a sweet aspie dude there and parents of autistic and other nuerovariation kids.