WDW employee accomidations?

[Nalla]

I know how great WDW is about accomidating guests with disabilities, but does anyone know how they are about hiring/accomidating employees? I'm trying for the college program but I'm very afraid that I won't be accepted because of my service dog.
I know they can't say no because of my service dog, but they can say no citing some other reason and there would be no way to tell.

 

[jamesmommy]

I know how great WDW is about accomidating guests with disabilities, but does anyone know how they are about hiring/accomidating employees? I'm trying for the college program but I'm very afraid that I won't be accepted because of my service dog.
I know they can't say no because of my service dog, but they can say no citing some other reason and there would be no way to tell.

I have not worked at WDW, but a couple of months ago while at DHS I was talking with a young lady that had a service dog. She mentioned that she had recently been hired and was starting work next week. Her dog was going to accompany her.

Best of luck to you with your application.

 

[SueM in MN]

Over the years at visits to WDW, we have seen CMs with disabilities including CMs using wheelchairs and canes/crutches, CMs with hearing impairments, CMs with developmental disabilities, and a CM who was blind and used a cane and a seeing eye dog.
So, good luck to you - your service dog should not be a problem from what I can see.

 

[Hook's Girl]

I know how great WDW is about accomidating guests with disabilities, but does anyone know how they are about hiring/accomidating employees? I'm trying for the college program but I'm very afraid that I won't be accepted because of my service dog.
I know they can't say no because of my service dog, but they can say no citing some other reason and there would be no way to tell.

WDW is great with Cast Members. My brother did the college program after I did and he is a paraplegic. He has since settled in Florida because he believes WDW to be the most accessible place he has been. He's now a manager at DHS.

I have seen so many Cast Members with differing abilities. They are very good at finding a role that suits your needs. Just be very up front and honest about what is possible and not possible and they will find something for you! The only thing that I am not sure about is how housing would work with the service animal, but I don't think it would be a hassle at all. Good luck to you! The College Program can be an amazing experience!

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

I have heard on this site about a few different CMs who had SDs, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Come join us in our SD thread!

 

[dclfun]

I am a CM with a SD and with many medical needs. There are other CM's with mobility assistance dogs, hearing dogs, and those for the visually impaired. I wouldn't worry about having a SD impeding your chances for the College Program. Disney is all about diversity and really walks the walk. That said, your SD may need to handle being out in the heat, and you may need to handle telling guests not to pet him/her. There are no exceptions made in terms of time, so I use my breaks to play with my SD in a courtyard ( I work in a building off-site ) and my lunch break to feed and walk her. I do know one woman who did the CP in years past with her SD so there's already a precedent that I'm aware of. There could be many more.---Kathy

 

[Nalla]

Thanks! I feel a lot better now, it's so hard to find anyplace that doesn't automatically say no.
I have a phone interview, am I supposed to mention my SD during that?
As far as handling outside, my SD LOVES rain, and I've got a cooling collar for the hot days. I'll be there Jan to May if I get in, so it won't be too hot.
I'm fine with telling people not to pet her. Two friends are teaching me to say "please don't pet her, she's a working dog" in spanish and french. But yeah, I go to college and work in a day care... I'm used to constant attempts at hugging and petting her.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

>>am I supposed to mention my SD during that?<<

I would make sure to mention it somewhere in the interview as there will be some positions that you *may* not be able to work because of the dog (some attractions, transportation come to mind) for both your safety and the dogs safety... For instance Rock n Roller Coaster would require performing evacuations of the ride via stairs and tight paths assisting a variety of guests some who may have their own special needs.

But there are more positions you could work than those you potentially couldn't but I would hate to see you not mention it, get chosen for a place you couldn't work and loose out of a great opportunity as you'd get put somewhere that may not be a first choice...

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I am a campus rep for the college program. As others have said, I have seen people with all different abilities on the CP. I have even heard of CPs with dogs. Make sure you mention it at some point during the interview. You will be placed in your specific role and location after the interview. They will tell you role (e.g., attractions, merchandise, etc.) but not your location because the location may change based on operational need. However, they will probably already know where you are going. You won't know your exact location until about the second day, and if you spring a SD on them at the last moment they may be left scrambling if your original location would not be compatible with a SD.

Depending on the type of SD, I'm going to advise not doing attractions. With attractions you are around a lot of moving parts and need to be able to evacuate an attraction should it go down. It's also one of the more physically demanding jobs that we have. I have a feeling that with an SD, merch or character attendant would be your best choices. In the end, you know your and your SD's limits, so make surethat you read each role description carefully so that you don't end up in a role that is unsuitable to your needs.

 

[Joanna71985]

I have seen CMs with service dogs, so that won't be a problem. However, there probably are certain roles that wouldn't be safe to have a dog there. So I would mention the dog during the interview.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

It is up to you if you want to mention your SD in the interview or not. If it was an in-person interview, they would see the SD when you entered the room and left the room. However, many ppl don't like to mention their SD before they have confirmation of being hired for reasons like you've mentioned - discrimination where they make up some other excuse not to hire you.

I don't know if they tell you at the end of the phone call if you are hired or not - if so, after they say you are hired, you can mention your SD then. Otherwise, whenever they tell you that you're hired, you can tell them any accommodations you need, such as you use an SD.

It is your choice. Good luck with the interview! Maybe we will see you in Disney soon!

 

[Nalla]

Well, I did my phone interview. I recapped it to my mom and she thinks it went well. I did mention my service dog, and unlike every other interview I've ever had, the interviewer didn't seem at all taken aback by it.
All in all, the interview went well. I'm really hoping I get into the program.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Good luck Nalla! Keep us informed! For what it's worth, many schools have a recruiter come in person to do a presentation, and that recruiter makes notes about the students at the meeting and would certainly have noticed your service dog. Sometimes (very rarely) they even do the interviews in person. In fact, the phone interview is new only in the last couple of years. My first CP phone interviews were not an option and several of my friends had roommates who used wheelchairs, so clearly disability was not a factor when the decision was made whether or not to hire them.

Out of curiosity, what roles did you ask for?

 

[Joanna71985]

Well, I did my phone interview. I recapped it to my mom and she thinks it went well. I did mention my service dog, and unlike every other interview I've ever had, the interviewer didn't seem at all taken aback by it.
All in all, the interview went well. I'm really hoping I get into the program.

Glad to hear the interview went well. Which roles did you pick?

 

[Nalla]

Attractions and Merchandise. But the interviewer asked me to end up checking off like four more roles in addition to those. Weird.

 

[Joanna71985]

Attractions and Merchandise. But the interviewer asked me to end up checking off like four more roles in addition to those. Weird.

It's because if those roles became full, they couldn't put you anywhere else because you didn't pick anymore roles (not saying this is going to happen, but that's probably why they asked you to pick more roles).

 

[Nalla]

Ok, that makes sense

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

What Joanna said. They ask you to choose a variety of roles, although most people end up with their first choice.