Tips for a A Large Collection of Special needs on a trip.

[Bugsmom73]

On our next trip we are going with friends. Each one of the guys has some sort of special need.

DH-Has an autoimmune arthritis. Right now he is doing well but we want to minimize wear and tear and walking. He has pretty good mobility and we will probably rent an ECV on an as needed basis.

DS-Autism I would say (mild to PDD-NOS functioning) Age at Trip 6 almost 7

My friend's husband- Type 1 Insulin Dependent Diabetic

Her son- ADHD

Budget is looking to be value- Safety is a concern for DS but we have learned pushing the table in front of the doors works. We are also considering a removable door alarm. We would put it on at night, remove in the am.

Where to start? We meet in about 4 weeks to start planning. DS has been to Disney 3 times, so he does get the riding the bus thing.

 

[Schmeck]

Get an ECV for your DH. That will help him conserve a lot of energy.

For friend's DH - make sure he carries snacks with him, his insulin can be kept cool at first aid at each park, or he could get a small soft sided cooler to keep the insulin with him instead. Not sure what else he would need to do, but he should know what he needs.

You don't mention the boys ages, so it's hard to give advice. An older child with ADHD should be just fine at WDW as long as his medication (if he's on any) is given at regular, set times just like it would be at home. A younger one may need to have a stroller to contain him. I think WDW is great for people with ADHD, as there is just so much going on that it's like a grand visual and auditory feast!

 

[SueM in MN]

On our next trip we are going with friends. Each one of the guys has some sort of special need.

DH-Has an autoimmune arthritis. Right now he is doing well but we want to minimize wear and tear and walking.

He would probably do well with an ECV. There is a lot of walking involved in a WDW trip and if he is concerned about wear and tear from walking, that would be the best way to avoid it.
Post #2 of the disabilities FAQ thread has information about renting ECVs. There is a link to that thread in my signature.
If he is not concerned about walking, but wants to avoid stairs, he could request a GAC (Guest Assistance Card). At most attractions, the distance walked would be the same whether or not he was using a GAC. And, keep in mind that a GAC would not help with the distances walked outside of attractions.

DS-Autism I would say (mild to PDD-NOS functioning)

You didn't say how old he is, but if he is young enough to fit in a stroller, you may want to consider using a stroller for him. You can request a GAC to allow you to use a stroller as a wheelchair. This means that you can bring the stroller where ever wheelchairs are allowed.
Many people find a stroller is helpful for children with autism because it provides kind of a safe haven to separate them from other people. It also becomes helpful for safety because the child can't wander away as easily.
If you look in post # 3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread, you will find some links to past threads with hints about dealing with autism at WDW. You can also do a search of this forum for more recent threads.

My friend's husband- Type 1 Insulin Dependent Diabetic

Also, in post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread, you will find some links to past threads about diabetes at WDW. Most people find they need to monitor their blood sugar more often.

Her son- ADHD

There are also some links to past threads dealing with ADHD in post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. Many of the hints for autism are also helpful for someone with ADHD and vice versa.
The 2 hints I would give would be if he is normally on medication to help him deal with his ADHD, it is usually a good idea to continue it on vacation. Many children with ADHD have an easier time waiting for things they are interested in than in things they are not interested in. Some parents with children with ADHD also find a stroller helpful.

Budget is looking to be value- Safety is a concern for DS but we have learned pushing the table in front of the doors works. We are also considering a removable door alarm. We would put it on at night, remove in the am.

Some other people have posted about using removable door alarms.