Qualifying for DAS

[DVC1991]

Hi Everyone!

My friend and I are going to Disney World this upcoming December. We have gone together in the past, and she has been able to qualify for the DAS based on a back injury she experienced a year or so ago. She just had surgery on her back in July, so she is still not back to feeling 100%.

I have seen some posts recently saying that the DAS is now reserved for cognitive only disabilities? Is this true? It is unfortunate because even though her problem is physical in nature, it is not linked to mobility, where she would need a wheelchair or scooter. Both walking for too long and sitting for too long are not good for her back, and we often leave the parks mid day to go to back to the hotel just so she can rest.

Do you think she will still qualify for the DAS on our upcoming trip?

 

[kamik86]

Hi Everyone!

My friend and I are going to Disney World this upcoming December. We have gone together in the past, and she has been able to qualify for the DAS based on a back injury she experienced a year or so ago. She just had surgery on her back in July, so she is still not back to feeling 100%.

I have seen some posts recently saying that the DAS is now reserved for cognitive only disabilities? Is this true? It is unfortunate because even though her problem is physical in nature, it is not linked to mobility, where she would need a wheelchair or scooter. Both walking for too long and sitting for too long are not good for her back, and we often leave the parks mid day to go to back to the hotel just so she can rest.

Do you think she will still qualify for the DAS on our upcoming trip?

Its not reserved only for cognitive abilities.

However if the problem is one of stamina (can't stand too long, can't walk too far etc) the suggestion is to get a wheelchair and not a DAS. If a wheelchair wouldn't meet some of her needs and that can be explained but a DAS would meet her needs she would still qualify for one.

However if her need is not standing in line because she can only do the park for half a day I'm not sure that one would qualify.

 

[lanejudy]

I'm guessing your friend previously received the GAC (Guest Assistance Card), a program that is no longer offered. The new program is the DAS (Disability Access Service). There is more about it in the WDW - Disability Access Service thread pinned near the top of this forum.

As PP mentions, if your friend's needs are mobility and/or stamina related, Disney's standard recommendation is to use a mobility device. She does not need to sit all day if using a wheelchair or ECV; many guests use a wheelchair to push when they wish to walk but have it to sit when needing a break. An ECV can be driven to a "land" and parked, allowing the user to walk. If she has other needs unrelated to mobility or stamina, she can discuss those with Guest Relations.

If your friend received a DAS in the past couple of years, and nothing has significantly changed or improved for her condition, she just needs to give the same explanation when requesting DAS this time. If she has the old card, she can bring that back; DAS is now attached to the ticket or MagicBand so there will not be a "card" to receive anymore.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[lanejudy]

And to the DISboards!

 

[DVC1991]

I'm guessing your friend previously received the GAC (Guest Assistance Card), a program that is no longer offered. The new program is the DAS (Disability Access Service). There is more about it in the WDW - Disability Access Service thread pinned near the top of this forum.

As PP mentions, if your friend's needs are mobility and/or stamina related, Disney's standard recommendation is to use a mobility device. She does not need to sit all day if using a wheelchair or ECV; many guests use a wheelchair to push when they wish to walk but have it to sit when needing a break. An ECV can be driven to a "land" and parked, allowing the user to walk. If she has other needs unrelated to mobility or stamina, she can discuss those with Guest Relations.

If your friend received a DAS in the past couple of years, and nothing has significantly changed or improved for her condition, she just needs to give the same explanation when requesting DAS this time. If she has the old card, she can bring that back; DAS is now attached to the ticket or MagicBand so there will not be a "card" to receive anymore.

Enjoy your vacation!

Thanks!!
She did not have her disability when the GAC was in place and has only received the DAS. We were in WDW in June just before her surgery and have already experienced the magic band linked card I was just concerned cause i heard some people say that within the past few months disney has cracked down on who gets the DAS. If nothing has changed though, she should be fine! We go about 3 times per year and every time (except one) she was granted the DAS.

 

[gap2368]

Why was she not given a DAS one time

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

A couple points:
- no one here can guarantee you friend will get a DAS. It is at the discretion of the CM
- a DAS is not just for cognitive disabilities
- based on what you've said here, your friend could rent a wheelchair and alternate sitting and standing. It might not be what she wants to do, but based on what you've said it would accommodate her needs.

 

[DVC1991]

Why was she not given a DAS one time

He never really explained why. He just said we didn't qualify for it, which I'm assuming is that he was implying the mobility issues fixed with a wheelchair. I also wonder if he thought we were trying to scam the system, as we are both only in our early 20s. From the outside, we don't look like we would need a disability pass.

 

[OurBigTrip]

He never really explained why. He just said we didn't qualify for it, which I'm assuming is that he was implying the mobility issues fixed with a wheelchair. I also wonder if he thought we were trying to scam the system, as we are both only in our early 20s. From the outside, we don't look like we would need a disability pass.

Well, if her issue is mobility, she really don't need a DAS.

 

[gap2368]

He never really explained why. He just said we didn't qualify for it, which I'm assuming is that he was implying the mobility issues fixed with a wheelchair. I also wonder if he thought we were trying to scam the system, as we are both only in our early 20s. From the outside, we don't look like we would need a disability pass.

I think this falls under mobility and your friend can use a wheel chair and she can push and sit when she need to or an ECV and park it some of the time.

I am in my early 30 but often get confused for someone much younger just about every one thinks I am 10 year younger then I really am and if I am in shorts and a T shirt then I can look 15 years younger ( a few months a go a cop thought I was too young to drive and was sure I had a fake license ) any ways I have never had a problem with getting a DAS card and I too do not look disabled. unless I am having problems I think the resin why your friend was not given a DAS card was because she could have used a mobility device

 

[seashoreCM]

A suitable test question to ask yourself: What do you expect the DAS to do for you compared with not having the DAS?

This answer is actually not acceptable: "Since I need to leave the park for several hours to rest, I would like to accomplish more activities in those hours that I am in the park by waiting in line less."

It is not necessary to name diseases or disorders or disabilities. CMs probably don't know enough to relate medical terminology to ability to tour the park.

Would a wheelchair with a reclining lie-flat back help?

 

[CoriM48]

Good luck. It sounds like since your friend has recently has and has not had a DAS approved, you should continue as usually and try to request one, knowing that you have about a 50/50 change of getting a CM who will approve one. As others have noticed, a CM would not be by-the-book wrong to deny your friend as DAS as a wheelchair could accommodate someone who can't sit and/or stand for long periods of time, but as your friend has experienced in the recent past, many CM might have a more flexible opinion. I hope you guys have a great trip either way!

 

[SueM in MN]

A suitable test question to ask yourself: What do you expect the DAS to do for you compared with not having the DAS?

This answer is actually not acceptable: "Since I need to leave the park for several hours to rest, I would like to accomplish more activities in those hours that I am in the park by waiting in line less."

It is not necessary to name diseases or disorders or disabilities. CMs probably don't know enough to relate medical terminology to ability to tour the park.

Would a wheelchair with a reclining lie-flat back help?

A reclining wheelchair that reclines flat would be difficult to rent because they are definitely specialty wheelchairs. It would also be difficult or impossible to push because those are meant to be stationary when reclined. Even if it could be pushed, it would be too long.

If someone needs to lie down for a while, First Aid in any park would be a better option. They have rooms with cots where guests can rest.

 

[seashoreCM]

(The lie flat option was meant for stationary rest periods in the park only. The wheelchair back would raised and the foot rests lowered before moving on. Save having to go to the first aid station at the park entrance.)

 

[SueM in MN]

Still can't rent those and even not reclined, it would still be hard to push.
I've got personal experience pushing that type v

 

[KPeveler]

Still can't rent those and even not reclined, it would still be hard to push.
I've got personal experience pushing that type v

I actually did find rentals for this in the Orlando area, but I still agree that it would be very difficult to handle in the parks.

My suggestion for the OP would be to rent a wheelchair and have the user alternate between sitting and standing with a couple scheduled breaks in First Aid. Even having a DAS would not actually let you include more in a day than you would otherwise have. You, and the DAS holder have to be in the parks to use it, so she could not be "in line" with the DAS while she was, for example, resting in the hotel. She would still have to be in the parks and going to the rides to get the times, and she would still have to wait for her turn as long as the standby times. She would have to find a place to sit in the parks while resting, and she park benches will definitely not help with the back problem.

So even if she does get the DAS, she should have a wheelchair available to sit and rest. She can pad it and rest even when the park is crowded, or when there was only the option of uncomfortable benches or restaurant chairs.

In fact, that was one of the first reasons I got my wheelchair - I needed a place to sit with proper support. The benches and chairs in the parks actually made my back feel a lot worse.

 

[SueM in MN]

I actually did find rentals for this in the Orlando area, but I still agree that it would be very difficult to handle in the parks.

My suggestion for the OP would be to rent a wheelchair and have the user alternate between sitting and standing with a couple scheduled breaks in First Aid. Even having a DAS would not actually let you include more in a day than you would otherwise have. You, and the DAS holder have to be in the parks to use it, so she could not be "in line" with the DAS while she was, for example, resting in the hotel. She would still have to be in the parks and going to the rides to get the times, and she would still have to wait for her turn as long as the standby times. She would have to find a place to sit in the parks while resting, and she park benches will definitely not help with the back problem.

So even if she does get the DAS, she should have a wheelchair available to sit and rest. She can pad it and rest even when the park is crowded, or when there was only the option of uncomfortable benches or restaurant chairs.

In fact, that was one of the first reasons I got my wheelchair - I needed a place to sit with proper support. The benches and chairs in the parks actually made my back feel a lot worse.

The only places I have ever found to rent them are the medical supply companies like Colonial Medical.
http://www.colonialmed.com/p-4001-reclining-back-wheelchair-rental.aspx

They rent for a month at a time from Colonial and are generally used for a change of position for people who are housebound from an injury or illness. I've pushed them in a hospital setting with nice smooth, flat hallways with a medium size person. Even in those more or less perfect conditions, they are difficult to push (even when not reclined) and hard to steer.

 

[OurBigTrip]

I actually did find rentals for this in the Orlando area, but I still agree that it would be very difficult to handle in the parks.

My suggestion for the OP would be to rent a wheelchair and have the user alternate between sitting and standing with a couple scheduled breaks in First Aid. Even having a DAS would not actually let you include more in a day than you would otherwise have. You, and the DAS holder have to be in the parks to use it, so she could not be "in line" with the DAS while she was, for example, resting in the hotel. She would still have to be in the parks and going to the rides to get the times, and she would still have to wait for her turn as long as the standby times. She would have to find a place to sit in the parks while resting, and she park benches will definitely not help with the back problem.

So even if she does get the DAS, she should have a wheelchair available to sit and rest. She can pad it and rest even when the park is crowded, or when there was only the option of uncomfortable benches or restaurant chairs.

In fact, that was one of the first reasons I got my wheelchair - I needed a place to sit with proper support. The benches and chairs in the parks actually made my back feel a lot worse.

The DAS holder could get a DAS return time and then go back to the hotel to rest as well, so she actually can be "in line" while resting in the hotel.

 

[stitchlovestink]

The DAS holder could get a DAS return time and then go back to the hotel to rest as well, so she actually can be "in line" while resting in the hotel.

EXACTLY!!
Sometimes resting at First Aid doesn't meet a person's needs appropriately.
There is no rule saying you can't get a return time, exit the park, reenter the park later, and use said return time. Any return time is good until you either use it, replace it with another return time for a different attraction or the park closes for the day.

 

[KPeveler]

Sue, I did find the website where I found the chair rentals. Here is the company - http://www.orlandomedicalrentals.com/

They do say they rent for shorter times, but I have no idea if they will rent to people in the hotels, and they do cost a lot for a wheelchair rental. They do have a lot of specialty equipment, so they may be helpful for some people who do not want to fly with their own equipment, including things like feeding pumps.

I should state I have no knowledge of this company beyond what I found on Google. I know of no one who has used the company, so if anyone decides to use it, please proceed with caution.

As to the DAS staying valid when the person leaves the park, I was not sure how well that would work with the new MagicBand system. It is good to know.