Run Over BY ECV

[KPeveler]

I am all for healthy debate. In fact, I welcome debate about disability and invisible illness.

Part of the reason I feel compelled to defend ECV and wheelchair users is that I AM one. People assume that because i do not look sick, I must not be sick. It is very difficult to go through daily life with people assuming you are lazy or a faker.

if someone had a real question or comment about disability or EVCs or whatever, I hope they post it, and everyone else can be kind enough not to jump all over them. sometimes we assume the worst when in fact people are making comments or asking questions simply because they do not know something! lets see if we can have a healthy debate, eh?

 

[jtimmons]

When we were in Disney 2 weeks ago, we got on the boat from t he WL to the Magic Kingdom and some lady tried to run hers over the edge of the boat at full speed so it wouldn't get stuck, and it ran into and pinned my sister-in-law and her daughter (who was in a stroller at the time) against the wall. The cast members promply asked us if the little girl was alright, since her feet and legs were smashed between the wall of the boat and the stroller. Luckily she was, but they need to make certain restrictions for those things. There were so many in the parks it looked like an ECV Nascar race!

JT

 

[MNWDWMANIAC]

I LOVE TURKEY LEGS!!!!!ohhh and MICKEY MOUSE ice cream sandwiches

 

[KPeveler]

I am not trying to be snotty, but i am wondering exactly what restrictions you think would help? I agree that people do need to learn to drive them better, but what would you suggest to improve the situation...

 

[jtimmons]

Well, in our situation, those are the smaller boats, and there wasn't much room on there as it was, but the lady still ran it up in the boat.

I think if the person is able to walk short distances, they should have the cast member roll the machine into the boat, while the person walks on in front of it, and finds a seat or sits back onto the vehicle. (This being that the person in my case was fully able to walk, but was using the vehicle as an "easier means of getting around."

I guess that the best way, in my opinion, would to require guests to fill out paperwork, or show proof, of some sort of a disability that would require them to use the vehicles.

 

[KPeveler]

ok, i agree with you on the first point, but not on the second.

It is illegal to require someone to "prove" their disability. For instance, I do not have a dr's note saying I need a chair in disney. Neither did my mother when she rented one for a day. She pinched a nerve in her foot and could not walk for a day. So we rented a chair. She did not go to a dr, as we were in FL and our insurance wouldnt have covered it anyway.

I agree that if the person can walk, it would be easier to have a CM maneuver it through the tight areas, or even have a CM "drive" while the person is still sitting. however, you cannot require it for everyone, but if you suggest it, most people will do it.

 

[Robo]

It is illegal to require someone to "prove" their disability.

ILLEGAL???

Not posting.

Just quoting.

 

[NUguyinCrew]

Just posting to pad my stats and hit that +3.

 

[KPeveler]

yes, Robo. I will respond to your quote, but concede that you did not post. According to the ADA, it is illegal to require someone to priove theri disability. otherwise, who would be in charge of defining "disabled?" Would it be the government? Lord help us if they were in charge of that! Would there be different "levels" for different levels and types of disability? That would be a royal mess, and in the meantime many disabled people would be stuck in goverment offices having to prove they can't walk!

 

[Mickiethepooh]

When we were in Disney 2 weeks ago, we got on the boat from t he WL to the Magic Kingdom and some lady tried to run hers over the edge of the boat at full speed so it wouldn't get stuck, and it ran into and pinned my sister-in-law and her daughter (who was in a stroller at the time) against the wall. The cast members promply asked us if the little girl was alright, since her feet and legs were smashed between the wall of the boat and the stroller. Luckily she was, but they need to make certain restrictions for those things. There were so many in the parks it looked like an ECV Nascar race!

JT

The cast memeber should have made sure your family was out of the way while loading the guest with the ECV. On many of the boats there are areas near loading where strollers are not suppose to be. and it is common sense for people to be out of the way of the area of loading, but I know these areas fill up as people want to be near the exit to get off first. Also please note that the Cast member is NOT ALLOWED to roll the scooter onto the boat nor to DRIVE IT as you suggest.
Cast members are suppose to keep this area clear. On boats I park in the WC area only to have strollers which are not suppose to be there stuck all around me and little children climbing over me to see over the sides.
And you can count on seeming more and more scooters as the rest of the poplulation ages, especially all those that spent years RUNNING to stay in shape.

 

[jtimmons]

I see your point, but I have one question,

You have to prove your disability to get a handicapped sticker for your car, wouldn't that be the same thing????

I think I also put in my post that they could have someone fill out paperwork...like with the pinched nerve, maybe she could just fill out a few papers to be allowed to use one, the thought of filling out papers would probably drive the "not-so-needing" people from getting one. (At least I think it might)

 

[TinkerbEllnor]

yes, Robo. I will respond to your quote, but concede that you did not post. According to the ADA, it is illegal to require someone to priove theri disability. otherwise, who would be in charge of defining "disabled?" Would it be the government? Lord help us if they were in charge of that! Would there be different "levels" for different levels and types of disability? That would be a royal mess, and in the meantime many disabled people would be stuck in goverment offices having to prove they can't walk!

This is not meant to sound snarky, but an honest-to-goodness question. If this is true, how does the DMV get around this in their requirements to provide "proof" for the purposes of handicapped placards?

 

[KPeveler]

I don't have a handicapped sticker for my car, since I don't really need it other than at disney and other special areas. For people who only need a scooter at disney, would there be special disney forms? what about the outside places to rent? do they have their own forms, or will there be a gov't form? Is the gov't going to start regulating who can use a wheelchair or scooter? that sounds pretty scary if you ask me!

I think the reason disney does not want to have people filling out paperwork is that they would suddenly have to follow HIPAA and privacy regulations. as soon as i write down medical information about myself, I have the right to expect that information kept private. that is just a nightmare disney does not want to get in to.

 

[jtimmons]

Also,

I just want to point out, that I am not in anyway trying to argue with anyone, but just giving my point so that maybe a common ground could be found, and maybe that common ground could be refered to disney.

If at anytime someone feels like I am attacking any group, person, or anything else offensive, I would be glad to retract my comments and stop posting on the subject.

I just don't want to hurt anyone's feelings....you are all such nice people!

 

[KPeveler]

jt - i know you are not being rude or anything. like i said, i enjoy a good debate!

tink - One reason I have heard is that driving is a privilege, not a right, so they can have some additional laws for who gets it. and i am not entirely sure how the gov't gets away with requiring such proof, honestly!

 

[jtimmons]

Good point kpeveler.

To clear up myself, I was considering paperwork for Disney Properties. And yes it would cause disney to have more responsibilities....but sometimes businesses have to take on more responsibilities to satisfy there customers.

 

[KPeveler]

jt - then you are going to get crany old people who refuse to tell some 19 yr old what their problem is. i know people who would not feel comfortable explaining their problems to a random person. i would have problems telling disney my medical stuff - it is no business of theirs! all that should matter is that a person has trouble walking and needs a scooter. but as the prices keep going up, and it would now be about $250 for a week at disney to rent a scooter everyday, i think there will be fewer and fewer people renting them unless they absolutely need them

 

[Forevryoung]

The DMV handicapped stickers are different- they require proof of disability because the ADA was not set up to provide for who uses the specific spaces that have been set aside. The law does not define exactly who gets to use the accommodations it sets up for (it's just a broad definition).

The DMV can ask for proof of disability (and a doctor's signature) because those spots do not level the field but instead offer "preferential" (for lack of a better word) parking for those who can not walk from the back of the lot or require extra space to get out of their vehicle (van spots...). The ADA seeks equal "access" to public spaces.

So a wheelchair or ECV makes the parks accessible to "everyone" and is about accessibility not preferential treatment. There is no perk to a wheelchair or ECV- you learn that quickly.

On another note, I don't think that threads have to be "warm and fuzzy" but when one person suggests segregation (not allowing people with ECVs into places), I feel that it is SOCIETY'S responsibility to step up and say something. The PP believed that the potential harm (or perceived harm) was great enough that a group of people should be excluded from participating- and on a much larger scale, that leads me to thinking about history including slavery, segregation, and the Holocaust. Where similar thinking by a group of people proved detrimental and in the last case deadly... While thinking of solutions is a good idea, always put yourself on the other side- what if it was you in that ECV or wheelchair that couldn't enter a building or event because of your disability?

 

[Mike©]

WOW! What a thread! And not one mention of the fact that most stores at WDW are not ADA complient. Narrow isles are the norm. ( like they need to jamb as much merchandise as possible in the hundreds of shops on property ).

Oh!, and AK is a real joke on a ECV!

 

[KPeveler]

forevr - thanks for the explanation of the parknig spaces!

and i wish disney would make all the stores ADA.... it wouldnt be that difficult!