Toddler with suspected autism - Guest Assistance Card

[harrowgirl]

Our family (DH, myself, DD (4), DS (almost 3)), as well as my dad, and possibly his GF will be travelling to Disneyworld the first week of May. We are currently undergoing testing and observation with our son, but we suspect that he is likely on the spectrum. One of the big issues we have with him is that he is a flight risk. He is constantly running away, and I have trouble envisioning him standing in line. I'm already sweating buckets about how we are going to make this trip work with respect to standing in lines. I am not sure whether we will have a diagnosis before our trip. That being said - a diagnosis before age 3 of ASD I understand is generally tentative.

I have been reading about the Guest Assistance Card - and i feel like maybe this would be a godsend for us. DS is usually pretty obedient and compliant when he is confined to his stroller. The idea of being able to use the stroller as a wheelchair and use the disabled access would be very helpful. I'm not looking to wait for less time - but more to be able to keep him confined in the stroller for as long as possible.


Does anyone have any experience with this.

 

[Piper]

You shouldn't have a problem with this. Just go to GS and tell them that you need a stroller as wheelchair tag because he is a flight risk. Be aware that some of the lines that allow you to bypass stairs etc. may have a longer wait.

 

[OnlyDisney]

The first time we went to Disney our son was a month shy of his 3rd birthday. He's on the autism spectrum and one of our problems was with him running. We used Mickey and Pooh Bear backpack leashes for about 2 years with him and it was a godsend (we only had one negative comment made toward us about it).
We also used a GAC card to turn our stroller into a wheelchair. We used it so he had a place to cocoon when he needed it. The only time we used it as such was at the Festival of the Lion King. Took stroller through wheelchair entrance and asked the CM seating us for a seat near the exit in case son freaked out during show. We didn't take the stroller into any other line since we had the leashes.
Do you have any small toys to distract your son in line? We found colorful pipe cleaners could entertain both kids for awhile. We didn't have a smartphone at the time, but could you distract him with some games on your phone?

You can see the Mickey leash in this picture; we have part of the leash wound around Mickey so it wouldn't drag on the ground. When he visited Goofy wearing the leash Goofy even took a hold of the leash and the two of them walked off!

 

[Schmeck]

Our family (DH, myself, DD (4), DS (almost 3)), as well as my dad, and possibly his GF will be travelling to Disneyworld the first week of May. We are currently undergoing testing and observation with our son, but we suspect that he is likely on the spectrum. One of the big issues we have with him is that he is a flight risk. He is constantly running away, and I have trouble envisioning him standing in line. I'm already sweating buckets about how we are going to make this trip work with respect to standing in lines. I am not sure whether we will have a diagnosis before our trip. That being said - a diagnosis before age 3 of ASD I understand is generally tentative.

I have been reading about the Guest Assistance Card - and i feel like maybe this would be a godsend for us. DS is usually pretty obedient and compliant when he is confined to his stroller. The idea of being able to use the stroller as a wheelchair and use the disabled access would be very helpful. I'm not looking to wait for less time - but more to be able to keep him confined in the stroller for as long as possible.


Does anyone have any experience with this.

Using the 'disabled access' may increase your wait time, and depending on the time of day, CM at the entrance, and other issues, it might not be available. Also, almost all the mainstream queues are wheelchair/stroller accessible.

 

[harrowgirl]

Using the 'disabled access' may increase your wait time, and depending on the time of day, CM at the entrance, and other issues, it might not be available. Also, almost all the mainstream queues are wheelchair/stroller accessible.

Yes, I understand that.....but I'd be prepared to wait longer if I could keep him confined in the stroller.

 

[Schmeck]

Yes, I understand that.....but I'd be prepared to wait longer if I could keep him confined in the stroller.

He can stay in the stroller in all the queues if it has the stroller as wheelchair tag. The ADA requires all new queues and any remodeled queues to be accessible to wheelchairs. There are a few attractions where the loading area is not accessible to wheelchairs, so going in the exit is necessary, but those rides most likely have a height requirement that a 3 year old might not meet.

 

[Ennazus8810]

We used a GAC for our 2 year old, also diagnosed on the spectrum for our last trip. It made our lives SO much easier. We tried it without one for our first full day in the parks (AK) and I left almost in tears. We are not new to the World (see my sig) and this was my girls 3rd trip. Lines were a huge issue for us this time, as we have trouble getting my daughter to stay in one place. She loves her stroller though, and we can easily entertain her in line by giving her a phone to play games on. It truly was a godsend for us.

 

[SueM in MN]

If you have not read the information about GACs in the disABILITIES FAQs thread, I would suggest you do. You can find that bread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature. The information about GACs is in post 6.

The two things most people with children with autism or similar issues report were most helpful to them were being able to use a stroller as a wheelchair and using a touring plan.

The stroller helps to contain the child, but also becomes a safe haven, place of decreased stimulation and a separation from other guests.
Touring plans help, even if not followed completely, because they help you know which park and which part of that park will be the least busy places to be.

 

[lovethattink]

If you have not read the information about GACs in the disABILITIES FAQs thread, I would suggest you do. You can find that bread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature. The information about GACs is in post 6.

The two things most people with children with autism or similar issues report were most helpful to them were being able to use a stroller as a wheelchair and using a touring plan.

The stroller helps to contain the child, but also becomes a safe haven, place of decreased stimulation and a separation from other guests.
Touring plans help, even if not followed completely, because they help you know which park and which part of that park will be the least busy places to be.

I just wanted to add a third thing to Sue's two, parents need to be prepared to be flexible while touring with someone on the spectrum.


We would not make it at the parks without my son's medical stroller, sunglasses and earphones.