Use of IEP's for disability access in lines...

[Mrsjvb]

I
It beats me what they do in Tokyo because we tried for my mum who was still recovering from a severe fall but the massive language barrier proved too difficult to deal with. If there was anything it was very limited...so thankfully she managed without. They did cater for Wheelchairs in some form...but that is about it

there is almost no special accommodations at Tokyo Disney/Disney Sea. in fact very LITTLE wheelchair access to most things. and not to bad mouth another culture because I LOVE Japan and cannot WAIT to move back there next year.. but people with severe emotional and mental disabilities are weell.. not mainstreamed at all. Most of them live in institutions and group homes. Very well cared for and have lots of contact with their families.. but little to none with the rest of the population. One of the charities my Officer Spouses' Club 'adopted' was just such a home.

Luckily it is small enough that I don't need a wheelchair when there and I have JUST enough Japanese to make myself understood when it comes to stairs with no lighting or rails.

 

[ShannonMB]

Honestly, having never had a child with a learning disability/behavior problem, it's hard for me to understand what needs your family may have. Only you can decide what's right for you guys.

Here are a couple thoughts, though. We usually tour the parks at a less crowded time of year. We utilize rope drop and fast pass, and very rarely find a situation where we are waiting longer than 20-30 minutes for most attractions. Again, I can't say for sure, but if I had a child with mild special needs, I think I might prefer to take the opportunity to treat the child like a regular kid on vacation. They may be "labeled" at school and need special help, but at Disney, they can be just like everyone else. I think I would prefer that to going out of my way to make a big deal out of their differences by obtaining the GAC and figuring out how to use it on every ride. (This is definitely not addressing a situation where clearly some extra help is needed!) Just a thought, not intended to offend!!!

 

[carmiedog]

No child likes to wait in lines. The GAC is intended for children who have a disability that makes waiting in lines more difficult for them (childen who are autistic, can't be in the sun long, etc.) In my experience as a teacher, I have never taught a student with a learning disability who couldn't wait in line as long as their peers. Learning disabilities have to do with the way children LEARN, not the way they wait in line. CMs can't legally ask the kind of disability and judge if it is GAC worthy or not. Use your best judgment as the child's mother. If he REALLY needs it, fine, but please don't cheat the system.

But only YOU know your child's abilities. I work in special ed, and ADHD and even autism have a wide-range of behavior sets and what the children can handle.

My 8yo has always been hyper, compulsive, and prone to meltdowns - a stark contrast to his siblings. I don't believe he needs a medical diagnosis, just a watchful eye and parenting, and I'm sure he'll eventually grow out of it. We would never subject ANY of our children to 40-minute lines, disability or not. We get there at ropedrop, utilize fastpass, and have a touring plan.

Have a great trip! You can always evaluate how things are going after you're there and then decide whether a GAC would be truly applicable to your child.

 

[SueM in MN]

The card is not a pass, it is just what it says it is a Guest Assistance Card.
It is a card that communicates some basic information to cast members about your needs so that you don't need to repeat the same information over and over.
There is further information (a lot of it) in post #6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. There is a link in my signature to the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

Here is some information emailed out by Disney about GACs:
The Guest Assistance Card is a tool provided at all four WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort Theme Parks to enhance the service we provide to our Guests with disabilities. It was designed to alert our Cast about those Guests who may need additional assistance. The intent of these cards is to keep Guests from having to explain their service needs each time they visit an attraction.

The Guest Assistance Card is available to our Guests with non-apparent, special assistance needs. However, the intention of this card has never been to bypass attraction wait times, or to be used by Guests with a noticeable service need.

Guests with an apparent mobility concern, such as Guests using wheelchairs, canes, crutches, etc., or Guests with service animals, do NOT need a Guest Assistance Card. These Guests should be directed to follow the attraction entrance procedures for guests using wheelchairs, as outlined in the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities.

A Guest with a specific need for assistance can request a Guest Assistance Card at any Theme Park Guest Relations location. To accommodate the individual needs of our Guests, we ask that all Guests discuss their assistance requests with a Guest Relations cast member prior to the card being issued. The Guest Relations Cast Member will discuss the available service options with the Guest and provide written instructions for our cast on the Guest Assistance Card. The Guest will be directed to present the Guest Assistance Card to the Greeter or first available Cast Member at the attraction and await further directions for their experience.[/SIZE]

It says right on the card that it is not meant to shorten or eliminate waits in line. Very often, it does not and can make your wait longer. You should be waiting in an area/conditions that meet your needs though.
HIPPA (which stands for Health Insurance Portability and Privacy Act) is often brought up as a reason that no 'proof' is needed for getting a GAC, but this is not true.
HIPPA provides for Health Insurance Companies and Health Care Providers to share information that is need for care and limits/prohibits sharing of information that is not directly needed for care. It only applies to Health Care facilities and places that provide health care (for example; insurance companies, hospitals, pharmacies, medical equipment companies) and it only applies to those sharing information with each other. If you, as a patient want to share the information, there is not a problem.

A GAC is not a front-of-the-line pass. Only severely ill Make-A-Wish kids will be accommodated like that. A GAC can even lengthen your wait at some attractions.

True

Cathryn, a GAC is the FURTHEST thing from FoL acccess. In fact sometimes you wait LONGER having one. A GAC is there to provide a safe, reasonable alternate access to rides and attractions.. ..perhaps a quiet, out of the way area to wait until your turn in line comes up. or another lone that is less crowded or doesn't have stairs or something.

the actual IEP is not required, you just need to be able to say what the limitations are and what is a good workaround for your individual needs.

Yes.
Some examples of longer waits that we have experienced have included:
- a 35 minute wait at Small World when people in the regular line were walking right on and some boats were being sent out half full because people were not coming fast enough to fill them. (The alternate waiting area at Small World is the only way to use a wheelchair at that attraction).
- a 30 minute wait at Spaceship Earth when the posted wait time at the queue was 5 minutes (again, because we have a person using a wheelchair, we had to use the alternate waiting area because that is the only accessible entrance).

A GAC does not provide of line access, and not all GACs do the same thing. For instance, I am getting a GAC next time which will allow me to avoid waiting in lines in direct sun (I will wait elsewhere in the shade for them) because I have a medication-induced sun-sensitivity.

Every person is different. My disorder is a genetic defect, and requires me to use a top-end $15,000 power wheelchair. A friend of mine with the same disorder requires Dr Scholls insoles! I know people who are ADD/ADHD who can handle lines fine, and I know others who go into a meltdown.

Are there people who abuse the GAC system? Yes. But I believe they are a small minority, and the system is too precious to risk losing it due to those few people. Six Flags got rid of their system entirely to avoid abusers, and now I can never go there, because there is no way for me to handle the parks.

Trust me, I hate abusers more than people with no need for accommodations. I am definitely one of the people who suffers every time I have to wait longer behind someone who doesnt really need their GAC or wheelchair (they only allow 2-3 people with a wc or GAC on at a time, for safety reasons). Oh, and btw, those wheelchair lines are AFTER I wait in hte regular line.

I suggest people go read the Disabilities board FAQs. There is a lot of great info over there.

Just how a particular GAC is handled for an attraction depends on what the person's needs are, what is available at that attraction and what conditions are at that time.
ALL WDW attractions have wheelchair accessibility (i.e. a way to access the attraction without stairs or things that someone in a wheelchair can't get thru). Most attractions have wheelchair accessibility thru the regular (Mainstream) line. Not all attractions have alternate entrances or waiting areas and in many cases, the alternate waiting area is a roped off area next to the 'regular' waiting area.
Here are some pictures of alternate waiting areas:
Laugh Floor - this is the area right before entering the theater. By the time the show will begin, the area on the left side of the chain will be filled with people waiting for the show. The small area on the right side is the special needs waiting area.

This is the alternate area for Circle of Life in Epcot. People without special needs wait in the area on the left of the rope.

Honestly, having never had a child with a learning disability/behavior problem, it's hard for me to understand what needs your family may have. Only you can decide what's right for you guys.

Here are a couple thoughts, though. We usually tour the parks at a less crowded time of year. We utilize rope drop and fast pass, and very rarely find a situation where we are waiting longer than 20-30 minutes for most attractions. Again, I can't say for sure, but if I had a child with mild special needs, I think I might prefer to take the opportunity to treat the child like a regular kid on vacation. They may be "labeled" at school and need special help, but at Disney, they can be just like everyone else. I think I would prefer that to going out of my way to make a big deal out of their differences by obtaining the GAC and figuring out how to use it on every ride. (This is definitely not addressing a situation where clearly some extra help is needed!) Just a thought, not intended to offend!!!

Many people, even with children with severe needs, have found that the suggestions I bolded from your response are more helpful than a GAC.
Many people also utilize touring plans like TourGuide Mike that help them be in the least busy part of the park at the least busy times.
Knowing when to be where is more helpful to many people than having a GAC because the GAC only assists with attractions - you still need to deal with the general busy-ness and crowded conditions of the park. Going when and where it's not busy is much more helpful.

 

[livndisney]

Not true. EVERY ride has a disabled entry (usually the exit of a ride or the fast pass lane) You don't have to show anything to get the GAC (Guest Assistance Card) due to HIPPA privacy laws but I always bring proof of my DD10 autism diagnosis just in case. I agree that the disabilities board has wonderful info on this topic.[/QUO


Disney provides disabled ACCESS (via various methods) but does not have Disabled LINES. IE there is not a special line for the disabled. Which is a popular misconception on these boards.

Yeah what Sue said

 

[eeyorethegreat]

But only YOU know your child's abilities. I work in special ed, and ADHD and even autism have a wide-range of behavior sets and what the children can handle.

My 8yo has always been hyper, compulsive, and prone to meltdowns - a stark contrast to his siblings. I don't believe he needs a medical diagnosis, just a watchful eye and parenting, and I'm sure he'll eventually grow out of it. We would never subject ANY of our children to 40-minute lines, disability or not. We get there at ropedrop, utilize fastpass, and have a touring plan.

Have a great trip! You can always evaluate how things are going after you're there and then decide whether a GAC would be truly applicable to your child.

I have 4 kids three with Aspergers one has AS and ADHD. So one Neuro Typ out of 4. Like the above poster said there are a wide range of abilities and behaviors even among children with the same diagnosis. We have never had to use the GAC. We prepared our children using videos of the parks (many can now be found on Youtube and the like) we showed them pictures of the attractions and wait lines. Even listed to music from the parks. This way things seemed a bit familiar. Even when they were much younger we talked about how we would have to wait in lines and what the expectation of their behavior would be. Most importantly I had a touring plan and took breaks. We have been to WDW several times now so this is not even an issue anymore. I just plan for the sake of all of us not based on their "issues".

I can also agree with what some of the others have mentioned in that many times waits can be longer using the "handicapped" entrances/waiting areas. My mom uses and ECV on our trips as she has some major issues with her knees that make standing and walking forhours unbearable. Many times we waited longer than those who did not require special assistance. So if one wants to use the GAC in an attempt to get to the front of the lines they will be disappointed.

 

[goofyernmost]

First, I think it important to say...this is not a judgment or put down, it is a question that comes to my mind.

How does a child learn the meaning of "wait your turn" if never made to experience it? How does that help the individual when they grow up and the "real world" demands it?

Like I said...it is just a question that has never really been answered in the quest to make everything easy right now.

 

[creativeamanda]

OP, without never having been with your children or anything, it seems that I'd be at a loss as to how they should be accommodated in the terms of the GAC. However, I would urge any parent who is going to use the IEP as a form of access to do this beforehand. . .what are the educational accommodations your child needs to participate in the regular education environment? Are there any accommodations that address transitioning from one area to another? Are there any accommodations that address large crowds? Many times, children with ADHD or Aspergers Syndrome have just those kinds of accommodations on them. If at this time, you are concerned about those things in school and they are not on the IEP, then it's high time they be placed on the IEP.

If they aren't and you still want to use the GAC, then it is your perrogative, but I would have to ask if you are doing it to lessen anxiety for your kids or for yourself? As a special education teacher and administrator for 15 years, the thing that bothers me most in an educational environment is when a handful of parents use the disability to explain things away (he can't because he has ADHD rather than, "We're going to try this and see how it works, but we'll look at plan B if it doesn't"). I'm not saying that is what you are doing, but I would urge you to give the touring plans and being there at rope drop a chance before you run over for the GAC card. If it's not working out and your children are upset, then go get the card. But by all means, you may miss a teachable moment by not giving it a chance first.

 

[rie'smom]

No, I haven't, but they don't inquire into the disability... we used to get it when my sister (3) was being treated for cancer. I somewhat agree about allowing a child with extreme difficulty in lines to have accomodations (which do still require waiting) to make things better for those in the lines.

They are not supposed to inquire. 3 years ago, I broke my elbow 4 days before our trip. It was set in a wrapped splint as opposed to a hard cast. People kept bumping into me and it hurt so I went to Guest services. The woman there was so rude and demanded to see a doctor's order so that I could bypass the regular line. I told her that that was against rules. She said-" No doctor's orders, no GAC." I asked for the manager and she was the manager!
I could have had something from my doctor but when I went to the disabilities board, they said it was not needed, so I had not bothered to get one.

Just a heads up, bring a note from the doctor or therapist.

 

[princessmom29]

As a teacher of both special education and typical childern, I do NOT think a learning disability or ADD should qualify you for a GAC unless it is a severe developmental delay. ie a 16 year old with the capacity of someone say, 3 or 4. I think that these kids are just as capable of waiting in line as a typical, the just need more attention from the parent to do it. When we have to wait in line for something at school, lunch, school pictures, turning in textbooks I know that my SPED kids are going to need to be monitored, and I typically stand right next to them, but they stand in line just like eveyone else unless they are physically not capable. I know that many peole say that the wait is just as long or longer with a GAC, but form what i have observed in touring the parks I see that the wait is shorter most of the itrme, hence the appeal of the GAC to someone with a child who might qualify for it under disneys "make the customer happy" mentality, but doesn't really need it. Untill disney starts asking for documentation, people will continue to abuse GACS, making things more difficult for those who really need them. It is a catch 22 b/c no one likes the idea of asking for documentation of a disability.

 

[KPeveler]

Untill disney starts asking for documentation, people will continue to abuse GACS, making things more difficult for those who really need them. It is a catch 22 b/c no one likes the idea of asking for documentation of a disability.

It is illegal to as for proof of disability when asking for accommodations to enjoy the attraction just like everyone else (for instance I cannot wait in sun). A lot of my issues have no documentation because my condition is so rare, and i have terrible health insurance, so I cannot afford to go to specialists. I am glad that I do not have to prove disability, and I hope that the law does not change any time soon!

 

[princessmom29]

It is illegal to as for proof of disability when asking for accommodations to enjoy the attraction just like everyone else (for instance I cannot wait in sun). A lot of my issues have no documentation because my condition is so rare, and i have terrible health insurance, so I cannot afford to go to specialists. I am glad that I do not have to prove disability, and I hope that the law does not change any time soon!

WOW! So anyone can just go in and say they have a diability and they are forced to accomadate them even if it is obviously untrue?? Talk about a syatem wide open to abuse with no recourse!!

 

[rie'smom]

It is illegal to as for proof of disability when asking for accommodations to enjoy the attraction just like everyone else (for instance I cannot wait in sun). A lot of my issues have no documentation because my condition is so rare, and i have terrible health insurance, so I cannot afford to go to specialists. I am glad that I do not have to prove disability, and I hope that the law does not change any time soon!

It is illegal but see my post above. They did ask and when I didn't provide it, they refused me the card. It meant that I rode nothing on that trip because people kept bumping into my broken arm and it was very painful.

 

[SueM in MN]

They are not supposed to inquire. 3 years ago, I broke my elbow 4 days before our trip. It was set in a wrapped splint as opposed to a hard cast. People kept bumping into me and it hurt so I went to Guest services. The woman there was so rude and demanded to see a doctor's order so that I could bypass the regular line. I told her that that was against rules. She said-" No doctor's orders, no GAC." I asked for the manager and she was the manager!
I could have had something from my doctor but when I went to the disabilities board, they said it was not needed, so I had not bothered to get one.

Just a heads up, bring a note from the doctor or therapist.

They are not legally allowed to ask for proof of disability and usually won't even look at it if a person brings a doctor's note.

My personal opinion is that this was a misunderstanding. If a guest comes in and says, "I am having xxxxxx problem related to my injury while I am waiting in line," they will usually come up with some way or ways to accomodate the needs.
If someone comes in and says "I am having this problem and I need to bypass the regular line," it can appear that they are only intersted in bypassing the regular line. There are accommodations other than bypassing the line. If someone comes in a says they need a specific accommodation is not how things work, even if the person brought their whole medical record. You should not have gotten 'attitude' from the CM and requiring proof is nor legal (which that CM would have known). I do know from talking to CMs that they get lots of people who are not interested in accommodation other than what the guest wants, so the CM may have unfairly 'put' you in that category.
WDW (or anywhere else) is required to provide accommodation, but how they do it exactly is up to them. They are required under the ADA to provide accommodations for conditions that impact specific life activities, including things like walking, breathing, eating, seeing, hearing. They would not be required to provide accommodations for an injured elbow, but could out of courtesy. But even if they did allow someone to avoid waiting in the regulate lines, there could still be bumps, etc.

 

[rie'smom]

They are not legally allowed to ask for proof of disability and usually won't even look at it if a person brings a doctor's note.

My personal opinion is that this was a misunderstanding. If a guest comes in and says, "I am having xxxxxx problem related to my injury while I am waiting in line," they will usually come up with some way or ways to accomodate the needs.
If someone comes in and says "I am having this problem and I need to bypass the regular line," it can appear that they are only intersted in bypassing the regular line. There are accommodations other than bypassing the line.
WDW (or anywhere else) is required to provide accommodation, but how they do it exactly is up to them. They are required under the ADA to provide accommodations for conditions that impact specific life activities, including things like walking, breathing, eating, seeing, hearing. They would not be required to provide accommodations for an injured elbow, but could out of courtesy. But even if they did allow someone to avoid waiting in the regulate lines, there could still be bumps, etc.

Sue, I didn't ask to bypass the line. I asked for a GAC or some accommodation because of my arm. I was shocked that this woman would provide me no help at all. Now that I think about it, I should have tried to get one at another park and then I could have used it at the MK. The only thing that I could see is because my arm was wrapped instead of being in a hard cast, she thought that I had faked it and wrapped it myself.

 

[Pooh Bear Hugs]

A broken arm is not what GACs are intended for, having smashed my shoulder before it is difficult. However I could stand in lines fine, would not ride rides in case it was futher damaged.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Am I the only one that thinks this is kinda crappy?

I have (had - he's 18 now) a son with an IEP, and never would I have thought "Gee, I should use this at WDW"

It's for school, not front of the line access.

There was a thread on here (there have been several, actually) regarding using the companion bathroom, when you're not disabled. People got super bent out of shape about that, however it's okay to use an IEP for a GAC?

I'm with you, too, CathrynRose! I've spent a lot of time with some of my dd's friends that have IEPs, and outside of school, they are no different from anyone else. No way would I think they needed any kind of accomodation to wait in a line.

WOW! So anyone can just go in and say they have a diability and they are forced to accomadate them even if it is obviously untrue?? Talk about a syatem wide open to abuse with no recourse!!

That's what I was thinking! I understand HIPPA, but if people are getting special accomodations, there ought to be a way to be sure they really need it. True or not, the perception is that people with GACs get shorter waits in line, so there is an incentive there for unscrupulous people to lie about it.

 

[SueM in MN]

Sue, I didn't ask to bypass the line. I asked for a GAC or some accommodation because of my arm. I was shocked that this woman would provide me no help at all. Now that I think about it, I should have tried to get one at another park and then I could have used it at the MK. The only thing that I could see is because my arm was wrapped instead of being in a hard cast, she thought that I had faked it and wrapped it myself.

I added some clarification to my response as you were posting.
It does sound like you got unfairly 'put' into a category by the CM and going to another park may have helped.
But, even with a doctor's letter, you may have still had a problem. I've been in Guest Relations when people ahead if me have had doctor's letters that said something like "my patient, Bobby, injured his leg and needs to avoid standing or waiting in lines. Please let him ride without waiting." when the CM suggested a wheelchair would better meet his needs and that many attractions involve a period of standing and waiting, the people started arguing.
CMs are human and sometimes get frustrated and may portray that frustration to the next guest. Not fair, I know, but I have seen CMs treated pretty badly sometimes, so ai can see how sometimes they may not be able to set that aside where it belongs.

 

[Hannathy]

I'm with you, too, CathrynRose! I've spent a lot of time with some of my dd's friends that have IEPs, and outside of school, they are no different from anyone else. No way would I think they needed any kind of accomodation to wait in a line.

That's what I was thinking! I understand HIPPA, but if people are getting special accomodations, there ought to be a way to be sure they really need it. True or not, the perception is that people with GACs get shorter waits in line, so there is an incentive there for unscrupulous people to lie about it.

And there is some truth in that GAC gets them a shorter wait. If they are given a FP or let into the FP line then they are getting on the ride quicker than in the reg. line. I understand if you are in a WC you have to wait for a spec. car and that can be longer but if you are walking and get into the FP rather than reg. it is getting you on quicker.

I still don't understand why the poster with the broken arm needed to not wait in line. If it is good enough to go on a ride with it then it is good enough to stand in line. I think Disney did the right thing and wish they could ask for documentation.

 

[SueM in MN]

That's what I was thinking! I understand HIPPA, but if people are getting special accomodations, there ought to be a way to be sure they really need it. True or not, the perception is that people with GACs get shorter waits in line, so there is an incentive there for unscrupulous people to lie about it.

Just want to point out that HIPAA has nothing to do with it.
HIPAA is the The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule*

It has to do with portability of health insurance and information about your health for people who need that information in order to care for you. It also sets out limits on sharing of and disclosing of that information. For example, I am a health care provider and can get into trouble if I look at a chart or a part of a chart that I don't need access to in order to provide care. I would also be in trouble if I shared any information I do need with someone who does not need that information.
It ONLY applies to healthcare related entities though (like doctors, dentists, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies). It does NOT apply to places like WDW, hotels or other businesses. It also doesn't apply to the patient;they can tell whoever they want.

If access involves something of value that is not available to the general public (such as handicapped parking spots or handicapped discounts or free admission - like US National Parks have) then proof can be and is required.