Vision disability

[simplybusy]

I have a question about vision disabilities. I have sifted, as best I could, through the FAQ thread and can't quite put my finger on a specific answer to our need:

My (8year old) daughter is completely blind in one eye and has limited vision in the other. In addition, because of the vision issues, she has no depth perception on a sunny day - which means at night or in low-light areas, she has real trouble navigating any change in flooring. When we last visited WDW in 2009, she had some other issues as well that are now mostly resolved. Due to those issues - we had a "stroller as wheelchair" tag for her. She was 3 years old so this made sense. Our upcoming trip - we were not planning to have a stroller or wheelchair because she manages absolutely fine about 90% of the time. She also has no protective reaction when she falls, so tripping her way through the parks isn't terribly fun for any of us (trying to anticipate/catch her). She doesn't use any kind of accommodation at home/in our area because she's used to those surroundings and generally knows where the steps and bumps are in the sidewalks and when pavement changes, etc. I don't want her to think she's a baby or that her disability is more than it is if we suddenly put her in a stroller or wheelchair. Again - it's generally not much of an issue especially when she knows surroundings.

Two questions: 1 - Will we need to get a card to have a better chance at getting seating where she can see some of the shows (not all of them, just a few that she's interested in) or is this handled individually with the CM at attraction? (our experience previously was that they put us in wheelchair seating anyway which allowed for optimal viewing in most cases/ no wheelchair this go-round).

And 2 - if evenings or low light rides really are just becoming a problem of having to carry or gingerly walk her through any lines and we DO decide to rent a stroller or wheelchair - can we just go to guest services and modify/apply for accommodation at that point?

Anyone with experiences that did or didn't work in a situation similar to this?

 

[lanejudy]

... Two questions: 1 - Will we need to get a card to have a better chance at getting seating where she can see some of the shows (not all of them, just a few that she's interested in) or is this handled individually with the CM at attraction? (our experience previously was that they put us in wheelchair seating anyway which allowed for optimal viewing in most cases/ no wheelchair this go-round).

And 2 - if evenings or low light rides really are just becoming a problem of having to carry or gingerly walk her through any lines and we DO decide to rent a stroller or wheelchair - can we just go to guest services and modify/apply for accommodation at that point? ...

1 - There is no longer a "card" (like the old GAC) that indicates specific seating -- you will need to mention this to the CMs at those specific attractions. I suggest mentioning it to each CM you meet along the queue, as it's possible they'll direct you to a specific door/entrance. Also, if you want moving walkways slowed; again mention it to each CM as sometimes the control is at the ride end and not the start so you'd be directed there.

2 - Absolutely! If you find that you do need to use a stroller or wheelchair, you can certainly rent one at whatever time and go to Guest Relations for the stroller-as-wheelchair tag. If you are using a park rental, it probably will only be good for that day and you would need to get another the next day if needed.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[disneyholic family]

1 - There is no longer a "card" (like the old GAC) that indicates specific seating -- you will need to mention this to the CMs at those specific attractions. I suggest mentioning it to each CM you meet along the queue, as it's possible they'll direct you to a specific door/entrance. Also, if you want moving walkways slowed; again mention it to each CM as sometimes the control is at the ride end and not the start so you'd be directed there. 2 - Absolutely! If you find that you do need to use a stroller or wheelchair, you can certainly rent one at whatever time and go to Guest Relations for the stroller-as-wheelchair tag. If you are using a park rental, it probably will only be good for that day and you would need to get another the next day if needed. Enjoy your vacation!

It seems that in cracking down on the GAC violators, disney has ended up punishing the truly disabled (by making things much more difficult)

 

[SueM in MN]

It seems that in cracking down on the GAC violators, disney has ended up punishing the truly disabled (by making things much more difficult)

I would say that the accommodation is just different; with DAS, the accommodation is waiting somewhere out of the regular line for guests who have difficulty because of their disability with the regular lines.

GACs (Guest Assistance Cards) had very basic stamps on them, which were sometimes contradictory. There never was a stamp that indicted a guest needed moving walkways stopped, so guests who needed that still had to tell the CM.
Because the stamps were so basic, many people found they still needed to explain their needs to the CM anyway (and I'd they showed the GAC without explaining, they often did not get the accommodation they expected).
Quite a few people found it was just easier to go to the front of theaters then show the GAC stamp for front of row seating, so that stamp was not useful to everyone.

 

[disneyholic family]

I would say that the accommodation is just different; with DAS, the accommodation is waiting somewhere out of the regular line for guests who have difficulty because of their disability with the regular lines.

GACs (Guest Assistance Cards) had very basic stamps on them, which were sometimes contradictory. There never was a stamp that indicted a guest needed moving walkways stopped, so guests who needed that still had to tell the CM.
Because the stamps were so basic, many people found they still needed to explain their needs to the CM anyway (and I'd they showed the GAC without explaining, they often did not get the accommodation they expected).
Quite a few people found it was just easier to go to the front of theaters then show the GAC stamp for front of row seating, so that stamp was not useful to everyone.

our GAC had 4 stamps on it, including front row seating (i never sat there, as i felt the space was limited - so only the GAC holder and one other would sit there and the rest of us in our group of 6 would sit wherever)...i find it much easier for a stamp to be on a card than for me to have to make the request and defend myself each time over and over again....i've explained myself once when obtaining the GAC with the various stamps, i don't need to keep repeating it......
the GAC, with all the stamps, seemed quite simple to me...the DAS does not...
(i'm trying to remember what the stamps we had were for - one was for front row seating, one was for entering the special line - i guess FP line, one was for parking at the beginning of a row in the parking lot....and i don't remember what the fourth was for....did we have four? ....hmm...i'm pretty sure we had 4 stamps....i could go upstairs and look at the GAC we still have, but i'm too lazy right now... )

anyway, i don't like having to constantly ask for special treatment...i find it a bit humiliating as it is (part of the reason i think that my son, years ago when he was in a full body brace, refused any kind of special treatment)...

 

[clm10308]

Des she have a white cane? Not only could it help her navigate uneven ground, it will let other people know that she as a visual impairment.

 

[buffettgirl]

My son has a lot of trouble in the queue lines. He's had good luck just using a flashlight app on the phone. It's often enough. Still, he's been pushed from behind a few times, when he wasn't moving fast enough for people behind, and there really isn't much you can do. Just let them pass, and let your daughter take her time.

 

[2tinkerbell]

We just returned from our trip to DLR. My DD likes the DAS system much better and doesn't feel singled out at all. She states it is much less humiliating than the GAC.

My DD also has some vision issues. She can't see in low light - especially going from sun into the queues. She also has figure/ground issues and needs to be seated front and center. She can not see side to side. Soarin' was a ride that when we first entered it was going to be on the side, middle row. My DD talked to the CM and we were told that it would be a 10-15 minute wait. My DD told the CM that she would wait because she simply couldn't see if we were seated at the side and that the "legs dangling down would bother" her. The CM was more than nice and accommodating. The low light issues manifest themselves at every queue. My DD has learned, and I have learned that I just hold onto her. I stand in back with my arms on her shoulders and direct her. I will sometimes stand that way to the side with her until she has adjusted to the low light. I enter the ride vehicle in first and help her get steady in entering ride vehicles. My DD has gotten pretty adept and we find that we are able to take most things in stride. I noticed that I have to point some things out to her while we are on the rides, but, I would do that anyway.

We went to see Aladin and talked to the first CM we saw. It wasn't humiliating in the least. It is just a fact of life. My DD needs some visual accommodations, just like someone else needs other accommodations - not a big deal. My DD explained what she needed (center, minimal visual distractions in front) and the CM told her what line would be the best for her to see things. I think we were in the front center of the mezzanine. We also got there early so that we had optimal choices.

I knew that WOC would be an issue for my DD and the lunch/dinner package was out of the question for us. We got a FP first thing that morning and made sure we lined up early so we could get the section we wanted and were at the rail. I studied Hydroguy's guide thread in the Disneyland forum.

I have found that if you express your needs to the CM in simple terms, they are more than accommodating. I have learned to express just exactly what is needed for the attraction and not to go into every accommodation that my DD needs for the park. For example, in shows, my DD's visual need is the most important. The DAS card doesn't help with that, so I don't even mention it.

Hope that helps and gives you ideas on how you can work with Disney to accommodate your DD's needs. I hope you have a wonderful vacation.

 

[ttintagel]

Des she have a white cane? Not only could it help her navigate uneven ground, it will let other people know that she as a visual impairment.

Yes, I've pretty much decided that on my next trip I'm going to need to bring an ID cane, even though I don't need a cane for navigation in my everyday life, and even though I wouldn't even need it in the parks if people behaved with common sense and common courtesy.

The fact is, though, when people are in the kind of mob they're in in the parks, without adequate staffing levels and without infrastructure designed for said mob, the situation on the ground requires that my invisible disability become visible.

The ID cane is generally shorter and lighter than the traditional white cane used for navigation, although there can be crossover between the two. This article has some more information.

 

[lanejudy]

our GAC had 4 stamps on it, including front row seating (i never sat there, as i felt the space was limited - so only the GAC holder and one other would sit there and the rest of us in our group of 6 would sit wherever)...i find it much easier for a stamp to be on a card than for me to have to make the request and defend myself each time over and over again....i've explained myself once when obtaining the GAC with the various stamps, i don't need to keep repeating it......
the GAC, with all the stamps, seemed quite simple to me...the DAS does not...
(i'm trying to remember what the stamps we had were for - one was for front row seating, one was for entering the special line - i guess FP line, one was for parking at the beginning of a row in the parking lot....and i don't remember what the fourth was for....did we have four? ....hmm...i'm pretty sure we had 4 stamps....i could go upstairs and look at the GAC we still have, but i'm too lazy right now... )

anyway, i don't like having to constantly ask for special treatment...i find it a bit humiliating as it is (part of the reason i think that my son, years ago when he was in a full body brace, refused any kind of special treatment)...

I thought I'd try to clarify a bit for you about how the GAC has changed vs DAS... some GAC stamps were rather general and many people still needed to discuss specifics at the attractions. For example, while your party found the front-row seating to be helpful, not everyone with a vision disability needs or wants front-row so that one stamp for vision disabilities was not particularly useful. Most people are finding they can easily request seating area to meet their needs specific to each attraction without problem and without considerable discussion "defending" their need.

You likely had a stroller-as-wheelchair stamp along with a tag on the stroller itself. The tag hasn't changed, there just is no need for a stamp as well. The vast majority of the queues are accessible to wheelchairs (ECVs, strollers and other mobility devices) so there is no need for access through the FP line if using the mobility device satisfies the need. If your child still needs to avoid the mainstreamed standby queue, that's what you'll have to discuss with Guest Relations to obtain a DAS, which will allow you to get a return time equal to the standby minus 10 minutes.

I'm not sure what your other stamps were for but it wasn't parking. The GAC, as with the new DAS, in only valid for attractions within a theme park. It had no use for transportation, parking, resorts, restaurants or other activities outside the major theme parks.

I can understand how the change may seem daunting to you. Many here were quite concerned before their first experience, though most are finding that the new system is working quite well, if not better than the GAC. If you have specific concerns as you are planning feel free to ask here -- or stop by Guest Relations to discuss any specific situations that arise. They are willing to work with guests to make a happy experience.

Enjoy your vacation!