Questions About Exhaustion

[guzwoman]

Hello...

I am a mom to a great 6 soon to be 7 yr old little girl with a nonvisible disability, controled Epilepsy and ADHD. I have a question about what to do about her exhaustion an issues of heat. She tires fast which is ironic because she is also hyper with tons of energy.

She can't walk for long and her side effects cause by epilepsy is always worse when she is hot. She becomes very light sensitive, and a bit agoraphobic. I have found that a stroller works well b/c she can hide from the stimulation when she gets overwhelmed or tired. My problem is this, she is so DARN TALL for a 6 year old, well over 4 ft. A wheel chair will not do because it isn't comfy and does not offer the cover a stroller offers her. Any thoughts?

Also any thoughts about what to do inorder to avoid hrs when the sun is brightest? She is miserable during these times which makes Me miserable too!

BTW I am gathering documentation to secure disability access for her.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Can't help with the stroller, but as far as Disney is concerned you won't need any documentation to get accomodations for her. Check the FAQs thread for info about GACs.

 

[mazz1]

we have found the medical centres in the parks most helpful when the heat and the stimulation have got the best of my child, she was able to spend a quiet half hour behind the curtain in there just winding down, they are very understanding

also if you are staying on site perhaps you colud plan a midday day break to give your daughter a rest when it all becomes too much

we didn't need to use the medical centres at all on our last trip as we let the children dictate the pace and knew when to call it quits for the day, very unlike the first visit when in a rush to show us everything our extened family packed far too much in and then we needed them

the best advice i would give is be guided by your child and know when it's time to call it a day

 

[ecki]

We're renting a Maclaren special needs stroller offsite, we use one at home. I better make sure the one we're renting comes with a sunshade, thanks for reminding me!

Anyway, you could try that, I know they they support up to 140lbs, so at 6 she's probably not too tall for it yet.

 

[guzwoman]

We're renting a Maclaren special needs stroller offsite, we use one at home. I better make sure the one we're renting comes with a sunshade, thanks for reminding me!

Anyway, you could try that, I know they they support up to 140lbs, so at 6 she's probably not too tall for it yet.

Where can you rent offsite? That would be awesome. I have one that goes up to 60 lbs or 70lbs...not sure which, but she it too tall of that! She is my supermodel w/o the eating disorder. Also will save the hassel of traveling with a stroller. BLAH! Last we traveled with one to Disneyland the airport lost it and I nearly freaked out cuz we can't to any Disney w/o wheels for her!

thanks for the tip!!

 

[ireland_nicole]

I second the idea of using the MacLaren Major stroller; it's like an umbrella stroller, only bigger. Another option would be to rent a double stroller in the parks. They're really good size, and I've seen kids in them up at ages older than your princess. It's just nice to have options. Have a fantastic trip!
Nicole

 

[dclfun]

You can ask at GS to use her stroller as a w/c in the queue lines so she'll always have the shade and space away from others. Resting in the first aid centers is another great suggestion. While the afternoon parades will be difficult you can always ask to be shown a location that does have shade at each park for viewing parades or outdoor shows.---Kathy

 

[kaytieeldr]

Where can you rent offsite? That would be awesome.

Not positive, but you can try www.abbf.com. The company is A Baby's Best Friend.

 

[SueM in MN]

Where can you rent offsite?

A Baby's Best Friend doesn't rent special needs strollers, but if you look in
post 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread, you will find some companies that do.
The disABILITIES FAQs thread is near the top of this board - look for the green arrow. The first post in that thread includes an index to the thread.

In the disABILITIES FAQs thread, there is a whole section about GACs (Guest Assistance Cards). You should be able to bring a special needs stroller in lines without a GAC; the CMs should recognize it as a special needs one. But it might be better to get a GAC (or sometimes they just use a special sticker).

 

[LauraVV]

Hello...

I am a mom to a great 6 soon to be 7 yr old little girl with a nonvisible disability, controled Epilepsy and ADHD. I have a question about what to do about her exhaustion an issues of heat. She tires fast which is ironic because she is also hyper with tons of energy.

My ten year old is about 48 inches. When she was five she no longer fit into an umbrella stroller. We got a Convaid Cruiser. Could you ask your physician to write a script for one? We use our when we go shopping or want to take long walks. The doctor wrote a script saying she was unable to walk community distances.

I like the Cruiser because it'll grow with her. She's already had it five years and still fits very well. It also folds up. I've seen the MacLaren strollers in places (not sure which one we saw tho) and like our Cruiser much better. It's kind of like an umbrella stroller on steroids. Ours is purple and the feet are like the feet of a regular w/c.

It can be difficult, I know, to explain a hyperactive kid with fatigue. Just know, you're not the only one. As the years have passed, the hyperactivity has reduced and the fatigue has worsened for us.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

My DD 12, DS now 21 and myself are all epelptic. We are all well controlled controlled with medication. DD is also Dyslexic, DL, SL and mild MR. DS along with siezure disorder is severly dyslexic, ADHD, LD, SL and OCD. Here is my advice. Keep everyone well hydrated, this is a must. Plan breaks into the day, we find this is a must. Find out ahead of time which attractions have covered que lines and which ones don't. Save these for off time of the day when lines are shorter like durring the parades. A special Disney hat with sun visor and sunglasses help also. Yes you can get them at home cheaper at home most likely. However half the fun is getting them there. We alway make this our first stop our first day in the parks. You can get them at all resort hotels but we find that there is usually a better selection in the parks. As far as my kids are concerned this is a tradition and must be followed. Get a luggage tag, decorate with disney paper and a sticker. Write her medical info on it ie. meds, dosage, that sort of thing and your name and cell number. You said she is ADHD. She is probably going to slip out of your grasp at some point. Been there, Done that. So these tags become invalubale, we atatch them to thier belt loops. DD helps me make them so she is more likely to leave it on. In fact she will tell you all about them if you ask.

 

[brenalexacamp]

we have a convaid cruiser too-very heavy but it is sturdy-my son is 15 and has downs-we got it for disney when he got too old for a stroller-we use it at the mall too
as far as a gac pass-we never plan on getting one-a cast member suggests it-so we can use the chair for him to wait in line -if a cast member directs us to another entrance -we go
haunted house was closed last time we went but in the past if you used the wheelchair entrance-you missed a part of the ride

everytime we go I am surprised by the great attention we get-I never expect it!

we are going with a friend and her family in may and i will get a pass-to use the convaid as a wheelchair for my son to sit while we wait in a line
we still go to the shows and parades early to get our seats

we went on either btm or splm and used the wheelchair entrance so we didn't have to do the stairs-we waited a LONG time-but we were out of the sun
I think if you go NOT expecting special treatmentwhen nice things happen it is all the more magical.

The pass is for HIM to to be able to access disney and have a good experience-not to make it easier for us to take him.

hope i said that right-you also have to understand-you cannot see everything at one vacation-