School Project

[Damhsa04]

For my senior project in high school I'm making a scrapbook of Disney World Vacations for your Special Needs. The families are an older couple requiring an EVC, a family with a 9 and 5 year old and the 9 year old has autism, and 2 young adults with food allergies.

I've been all set with the physical and dietary restrictions but I'm having difficulty with the mental family.


I honestly have no idea what autism does to a child. So I need a lot of insight to get this perfect.

I know coming on this forum a lot of you can give me a lot of information on autism and how to plan a trip with that in thought.

So far in my mock trip I have the family going down for 5 days staying at Pop. So if you guys can help me that'd be great.

EDIT: Yes I have Deb Koma and Wills book PassPorter's Walt Disney World for your Special Needs, now known as Open Mouse.. It's been a great tool for my project

 

[MinnieVanMom]

Duplicate.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

I've been all set with the physical and dietary restrictions but I'm having difficulty with the mental family.

Excuse me!!! Mental Family? Please tell me that is their last name and not how I am reading this!!!

 

[Damhsa04]

Excuse me!!! Mental Family? Please tell me that is their last name and not how I am reading this!!!

Sorry, I didn't word it correctly. I just meant the family that has autism. Because in the scrapbook I'm making I have the Physical, Mental, and Dietary needs.

What's a better way to word it, just so I know.

 

[livndisney]

For my senior project in high school I'm making a scrapbook of Disney World Vacations for your Special Needs. The families are an older couple requiring an EVC, a family with a 9 and 5 year old and the 9 year old has autism, and 2 young adults with food allergies.

I've been all set with the physical and dietary restrictions but I'm having difficulty with the mental family.


I honestly have no idea what autism does to a child. So I need a lot of insight to get this perfect.

I know coming on this forum a lot of you can give me a lot of information on autism and how to plan a trip with that in thought.

So far in my mock trip I have the family going down for 5 days staying at Pop. So if you guys can help me that'd be great.

EDIT: Yes I have Deb Koma and Wills book PassPorter's Walt Disney World for your Special Needs, now known as Open Mouse.. It's been a great tool for my project

Excuse me!!! Mental Family? Please tell me that is their last name and not how I am reading this!!!

I thought the same thing when I read it. To the OP, while I am not sure the intent of your project, it is rather offensive to come here and read things like "mental family" and "family with autism".

As far as your project, perhaps reading the suggestions in the guidebook you mentioned would help you. Also you may want to read the notes at the beginning of this board.

Each of our children are special to us. A child with autism or any other special need is still a child. They should be referred to as child and not by the disability.

 

[mechurchlady]

I guess I am the odd one here as I understood what the kid was saying. sigh now to your question about doing the parks with an autistic child.

Autism is not one set symptoms but each child is a complex person that may react differently than another autistic child. One kid has a meltdown over seeing a bunny rabbit and another kid loves rabbits. One kid loves noise and another does not. It takes lots of work to find out everything about your kid and what works and does not work. They are evolving beings so at times just when you get something down to perfection then the kid evolves and hates what they previously loved but that is how most kids are, lol.

Here are some threads for your to look at.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2038631

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2008896

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2019945

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2007969

Some autistic children are on a vitamin regime and put on gluten and casein free diets to help them which would add to your list of things to take care of for your project trip.

 

[Damhsa04]

I thought the same thing when I read it. To the OP, while I am not sure the intent of your project, it is rather offensive to come here and read things like "mental family" and "family with autism".

As far as your project, perhaps reading the suggestions in the guidebook you mentioned would help you. Also you may want to read the notes at the beginning of this board.

Each of our children are special to us. A child with autism or any other special need is still a child. They should be referred to as child and not by the disability.

I really didn't mean to offend anybody. That was just my way of describing the families that I created for my project.

I guess I am the odd one here as I understood what the kid was saying. sigh now to your question about doing the parks with an autistic child.

Autism is not one set symptoms but each child is a complex person that may react differently than another autistic child. One kid has a meltdown over seeing a bunny rabbit and another kid loves rabbits. One kid loves noise and another does not. It takes lots of work to find out everything about your kid and what works and does not work. They are evolving beings so at times just when you get something down to perfection then the kid evolves and hates what they previously loved but that is how most kids are, lol.

Here are some threads for your to look at.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2038631

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2008896

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2019945

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2007969

Some autistic children are on a vitamin regime and put on gluten and casein free diets to help them which would add to your list of things to take care of for your project trip.

Thanks the threads helped.

 

[bookwormde]

Just so you know as you attempt to discuss this subject Autism is a neurovariation and a combination of a large number of characteristics, which are variable depending on the individual. Some of the most common characteristics, which have the greatest “impact”, are reduced or lack of innate social skills, non typical levels of sensory sensitivities, non linear-non discriminatory processing system etc. Classic Autism often manifests with communication (verbal) deficits and the breadth of the spectrum has other manifestations related to the anxiety of trying to survive in world which was designed for the majority of typical individuals where social structure and communication are paramount.

Also it is a broad spectrum ranging from profoundly disabled individuals to ultra intelligent aspergers/aspie individuals, so making some type of determination as to where on the Autism spectrum you hypothetical child is might help you.

I know this is probably more technical than you were ready for but in the end there is no typical individual with Autism so care in not promoting stereotypes is a sensitive issue.

If you have any specific question please feel fee to ask, and yes you may not word things completely accurately and appropriately initially but as you read and ask you will gain a better understanding.

If you want to learn about the HFA/aspergers end of the spectrum I would recommend a reading of The complete Guide to Aserpgers by Tony Atwood which should be available at your local library. It is one of the clearest resources for understanding the characteristics, which would impact a family with child who is Autistic beyond the stereotypical issues that you see in the media.

bookwormde

 

[MinnieVanMom]

I thought the same thing when I read it. To the OP, while I am not sure the intent of your project, it is rather offensive to come here and read things like "mental family" and "family with autism".

As far as your project, perhaps reading the suggestions in the guidebook you mentioned would help you. Also you may want to read the notes at the beginning of this board.

Each of our children are special to us. A child with autism or any other special need is still a child. They should be referred to as child and not by the disability.

Thank you for posting the reply. It would be like calling a person by illness and I find it offensive. I would never address someone by the illness or disorder. I am hoping that this is just because the OP is in High School and wanting to learn rather than offend. If so, this was the first lesson, don't offend people you asking to help you.

Good luck on the project and learning about people with abilities.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Two things - first, the OP might want to pick a more specific or 'standard' emotional/neurological condition, given autism's wide spectrum. Maybe ADHD or epilepsy? I know they're not as widely-discussed on the DIS or elsewhere, but ADHD especially would affect a child's behavior and so a family's trip.

And, something I've noticed in this thread that contrasts with a number of other threads: Many, many of those other threads refer to "autistic child". The poster in this thread have been stating "child with autism". In doing so, I find the posters in this thread more sensitive - in a good way - than those other threads. As a PP points out, it's wrong to identify the person BY the illness.

 

[LMC]

I have a child who is ASD (autism spectrum disorder); which means he is not full blown "autistic".
Typical day at disney: My child can not tolerate loud noises, does not like being in closed in spaces so we keep a small perimeter around him so no one can get too close in the que lines. He does not like changes to a routine or plan so we no longer plan our disney trips out like commandos. We have the top thing each child wants to do that day (3 kids) so after we do each "top" attraction anything else is icing on the cake. He is also a VERY selective eater so meals have to be planned around a location where they offer fare that he will eat. He has SID (sensory integration dysfuntion) and certain food sites and smells will make him vomit so we have to be careful which restaurants we even walk into so he is not getting sick in front of all the other people who are eating. He is very particular about using public toilets and the automatic flushes really get under his skin so we now take post it notes to place over the sensor so it won't flush until he is ready for it to flush. Also, if the bathroom does not "look right" to him, you walk out and wait (hopefully) until you find one that is ok for him.

Is this some of what you are looking for. Oh, you can reference your paper as "individuals on the autism spectrum". No two people are alike so our experiences are never alike. My son does have some cognitive delays but others on the spectrum do not so you should not say that all individuals on the specturm have cognitive delays. Some of the behaviors that people witness are not due to cognitive issues at all but due to other related issues; such as sensory integration. Hope this helps.

 

[BeckyScott]

Many, many of those other threads refer to "autistic child". The poster in this thread have been stating "child with autism". In doing so, I find the posters in this thread more sensitive - in a good way - than those other threads.

Person First. Always.

To the OP- the problem you're going to have with something like autism is that there is such a wide array. Of both severity, and of the child's personal reaction to a stimulus.

For example, the guidebook we have suggests pin trading as a good activity. While I understand their point, I didn't want to buy up a bunch of pins ahead of time. And we did buy some at the park to keep, but DS wasn't very interested in them. He also wouldn't put up with a lanyard hanging around his neck.

He totally ate up all the 3-D movies and Soarin'. Some kids would freak over those, as they are very very strong visuals. There were certain things I knew better than to even try, like the coasters, but that would happen with many typical children. I'm not a big coaster person myself.

The only suggestion I could make would be plan plan plan. But not in a Vacation Commando way, cause that isn't going to work. Have a Plan A, which will get thrown out the window several times during the vacation, a Plan B, if possible a Plan C, and then in a pinch the Plan D which is going back to the hotel pool. Read as much info as you can. I spent months here at the Dis reading info that I didn't even think would be relevant. And it did come in handy. Specifically, right away, there was a problem with our rental car on arrival and we ended up using ME the whole trip. Well I thought we would have a rental car, so I have no idea what possessed me to read all about ME, but I did, so when the crisis happened I was prepared to flip right to Plan B. Parents of kids w/special needs are pretty used to the idea of having to plan things much more than a "typical" family, and I think there would be very few families like that, that would just show up at Disney with no idea at all what to do. (could be wrong, hard to imagine, but people never cease to amaze me)

My trip report from last June is at http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=25633045#post25633045&highlight=BeckyScott if that would be helpful.

 

[Schmeck]

If it is offensive to use 'autistic child' or 'mental', then why is OK to call a child with Asperger's syndrome an Aspie? Sounds like a dog breed to me, yet we have a thread for "Aspie Moms" right here on the disAbilities board.

I read the Tony Atwood book - I don't recommend it.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You know, Schmeck, I wonder the same thing - but I do NOT want to ask in those threads, because I figure the parents have enough to deal with, without feeling criticized. I thought this was the perfect thread in which to ask

But back on-topic: The OP truly should consider a different neurological condition - one with fewer, for lack of a better word, variations.

 

[mechurchlady]

If it is offensive to use 'autistic child' or 'mental', then why is OK to call a child with Asperger's syndrome an Aspie? Sounds like a dog breed to me, yet we have a thread for "Aspie Moms" right here on the disAbilities board.

So what do you consider the politically correct terms for a child with autisms and Asperger's as well as their parents? Sometimes I have advice in my head and it is hard for me to stay on track as every new tangent seems to lure me away from the main track. I use "autistic child" as a discription just like "blonde child" or "male child" and would not think that it was offensive. Asperger's is a very hard word for me to spell and say so what is wrong with Aspie especially when so many use that term. I love learning and teaching others so teach me the right ways of life and I will then try to teach 10 people those right ways and hope they teach even more people.

Hugs and chocolates
Laurie

 

[BeckyScott]

You know, while I have kids with disabilities, I will refer to myself as an "autism mom". I guess that could be confusing. Well, to begin with, I guess I'll put the person first if you're talking about my kid, but if it's me I'll put the disability first. I think there is some odd Freudian thing going on with that. Personally, I've kind of claimed that as my identity in the world, I can't explain it better except that I think some of you know what I mean. And it might not be a great idea because you could also assume that I was the one with autism. Or perhaps it's a point of pride, so I want to mention it first.

Having said that, I think sometimes on boards we tend to put "Aspie mom" for example, because it's less typing. And on a board where everyone kinda knows each other, or that has a pretty decent group of regulars, it's easier to type. We will acronym the heck out of everything we can just to save some typing. Sometimes you just want to get to your point without using up a couple of lines correctly typing out all of your child's issues.

I also think, too, if I may be so bold, is that most of us will put up with disability-first or Aspie if another parent is posting, but not so much if it's someone from the outside looking in, and the acronyms are also going to be harder for an outsider to decipher. I use Aspie because I still have trouble spelling the whole name correctly (bless his heart, Hans couldn't have had an easier last name?) I swear half the time I pronounce it wrong too, and because it just seems like a friendlier word, cuter I guess, and perhaps not as scary.

And like it or not, and I must say I don't like it much, I know in our state people on the spectrum come under "Department of Mental Health". DMH is the gate-keeper for services. And I'm not a big fan of that, but that's the way it is. There is no "Department of Developmental Disorders". Most insurance companies put anything with autism as "mental health" so they can get out of paying for it. So if someone was coming from that angle, without knowing how potentially offensive it was to parents... it really grates on my nerves to get mail that says "Department of Mental Health" on it, like I care what our postman thinks, but to me that's more demeaning than saying your kid is Aspie. I could refuse to deal with them, but then I'd have to live with the consequences.

I could be way off on that, just some things I was pondering this morning.

 

[LMC]

Dear OP:
have you gotten all the info you need on your project yet? Feel free to PM me if you have any ??'s and want the honest to goodness low down on it. Honestly, I am very open about my child's issues so I don't usually get offended if someone asks me something specific.

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

only suggestion I could make would be plan plan plan. But not in a Vacation Commando way, cause that isn't going to work. Have a Plan A, which will get thrown out the window several times during the vacation, a Plan B, if possible a Plan C, and then in a pinch the Plan D which is going back to the hotel pool.

That was our plan when we took DS. We had a general idea of what he could do based on his height, what he WOULD do and tolerate well based on his specific issues and some that we weren't sure of but went ahead and jumped into anyway. We didn't commando the parks the way we would have in past vacations. We let DS dictate where we went and what we did for the most part.

 

[KirstenB]

I'm in the minority, but I didn't find the OP's phrase offensive, maybe just not politically correct.

OP, previous posters have discussed how broad the autism spectrum is. You've chosen a very tough disability to address, imho. But having said that, if I were you, I'd take the time to define very specifically how autism presents itself in this hypothetical child, then address accomodations.

I'll toss out a "template" if you will. Your 9 yr old is over-reactive to stimuli. Meaning, his parents have to cut out the tags in his clothes, because they itch, noises are always too loud, his tolerance for food textures is limited, and both his verbal and non-verbal communication skills are delayed. HIs parents have put him on a gluten free/celiac free diet, which they need to adhere to at WDW.

What does all this mean?

His parents may want to pack headphones, if they are willing to try the fireworks. That way, it will knock down the noise.

His parents will want to contact WDW ahead of time, to discuss where they can find food to accomodate his special diet.

His parents may want to rent a stroller, or bring one. Yes he's 9, but often times it gives ASD kids a safe place to retreat to, especially when the noises, smells, and physical proximity of crowds just gets overwhelming.

His parents probably want to show him YouTube videos of the rides and shows, so he can help decide if he's willing to try them.

Because his ability to communicate is impacted, his parents need to be vigilant all the time (duh!) Meaning, he may bang into the person in front of him, and not be able to say, "excuse me". His parents have to jump in for him verbally when he can't find the words.

Now, having created a stereotype, I'll tell you this advice wouldn't work for all kids with autism. Our younger dd has ASD, and she's generally under-responsive to stimuli. She often seems sleepy or mentally slow, when really she's just in need of stimulus. She's the kid craving the roller coasters, loud noises, new foods etc. She's also the one who's sticking things in her mouth, because she craves sensory input. However, because she also has low muscle tone, she'd benefit from a stoller too, but for different reasons than the child I made up.

This is clear as mud, right? Anyway, I really think you need to make up this kids' challenges ahead of time, and make VERY clear in your paper, that autism presents in many ways, and this is just one of them. Good luck with your project, and thanks for asking for help. I'm always glad to try to share my knowledge about autism.

 

[KirstenB]

If it is offensive to use 'autistic child' or 'mental', then why is OK to call a child with Asperger's syndrome an Aspie? Sounds like a dog breed to me, yet we have a thread for "Aspie Moms" right here on the disAbilities board.

I read the Tony Atwood book - I don't recommend it.

Great question. OUr daughter has speech delay, so can't be classified as Aspberger's. But, if she did, I'd refer to her as Aspie. I don't know exactly how to put this into words, but here goes: if I give something hurtful or difficult a nickname, I take the sting out of it. It has less power over me.

Before anyone takes me to task, I don't consider my own child, or any ASD child hurtful or difficult (well...maybe difficult at times ) But in our case autism presents a lot of challenges, to say the least. Anything I can do to make it feel less intimidating, even something as small as a nickname, I will do.