traveling with 7 year old down syndrome child

[joanierfowler]

This is our first trip to WDW and we are traveling with a 7 year old with Down syndrome. ANy helpful hints?Thanks

 

[bookwormde]

It is a little difficualt to give advice without knowing the child's fuctional level but in general doing some prebriefing, having lots of favorite activities should help. It is good to be familiar with security proceedures and to know your child's disability rights uner 14 CFR part 382 of the FAA regulations (you can google it to find the specifics).

Welcome

bookwormde

 

[cm8]

This is our first trip to WDW and we are traveling with a 7 year old with Down syndrome. ANy helpful hints?Thanks

hi!! here is some information that I think you will find useful,

http://disneyworldforum.disney.go.com/panelists.aspx?pid=60

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Walt-Disney-World-234/First-timer-doubts.htm

http://www.viewpoints.com/Walt-Disney-World-Orlando-FL--24548-review-a93c2

 

[SueM in MN]

Follow the link in my signature to the disABILITIES FAQs thread.
One of the posts in that thread is about air travel. It includes links to information about things like rights of people with disabilities related to air travel, links to information about the Orlando airport and some links to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website. Some of the TSA links include videos that show security screening from a child's point of view.

Also in the disABILITIES FAQs thread, post #6 has information about Guest Assistance Cards (GACs). Some people think that there is a card that gives "disability access" or special access/entrances to anyone with a disability, but that is not true. The Guest Assistance Card has some general information about what sort of assistance someone needs because of their disability. Because not all people with the same diagnosis is the same, people may have different needs (i.e. not every person with Down Syndrome or any other condition have the same needs, even if they have the same diagnosis).
If you are concerned that he may have stamina needs or may not be able to walk the full day while you are at WDW, you can bring a wheelchair or special needs stroller and use it in lines - most lines are wheelchair accessible. Guests with wheelchairs don't need any special card to use the wheelchair in line. Someone with a special needs stroller would be best getting a GAC or sticker that allows them to use a stroller as a wheelchair. THis is just so the stroller is not mistaken for a regular stroller.
If you need to rent a special needs stroller, you can find information on how to do that in post #2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread (scroll toward the end of that post).

Post #3 of the FAQs thread has some general information that may be helpful.

I'm not sure if this is the sort of information you are looking for, but if you give us more information, we can help more.