WDW with a 2 year with Sensory Processing Disorder ---Questions

[chipper10]

My son is 2 years old. He is a sensory seeking child. We have been told that he has Sensory Processing Disorder. We are working with a speech therapist, a developmental therapist, and an occupational therapist.

I'm getting nervous about how DS is going to handle our trip in May. We went in September when he was 21 months old. We were just in the beginning stages with all of his problems. At that point he only had maybe 3-5 words. DS has made amazing progress since September with his speech.

However, I think the sensory issues have really intensified. DS is a true daredevil. He likes to hit things, run into wall, etc. He tries to be on the go at all times. He's trying to get the sensory imput that he needs, but in order to do this he does everything with great intensity.

I'm wondering how we will handle the parks and the lines and all the people.

Can anyone share any experiences or offer any tips?

 

[SueM in MN]

My son is 2 years old. He is a sensory seeking child. We have been told that he has Sensory Processing Disorder. We are working with a speech therapist, a developmental therapist, and an occupational therapist.

I'm getting nervous about how DS is going to handle our trip in May. We went in September when he was 21 months old. We were just in the beginning stages with all of his problems. At that point he only had maybe 3-5 words. DS has made amazing progress since September with his speech.

However, I think the sensory issues have really intensified. DS is a true daredevil. He likes to hit things, run into wall, etc. He tries to be on the go at all times. He's trying to get the sensory imput that he needs, but in order to do this he does everything with great intensity.

I'm wondering how we will handle the parks and the lines and all the people.

Can anyone share any experiences or offer any tips?

I would suggest you go to the disABILITIES FAQS thread near the top of this board and look around a bit. If you can't located it, use the link in my signature.
Post #3 has some links to past threads about specific situations or conditions. Even though your child does not have autism or attention deficit disorder, some of the issues he faces would be the same. So, the information in those threads should be helpful to you.

Also, post #6 in that thread is all about Guest Assistance Cards. They are not meant to (and often won't) shorten your wait in line, they can provide assistance that you need related to a disability.

The other thing that will be VERY helpful will be a touring plan that will help you to avoid the parks and places that are the busiest and visit them during quieter times. Each park has days or times that are less busy and knowing when to go and when NOT to go can make a huge difference. For example, going to MK when it first opens in the morning usually means you can walk right onto attractions in Fantasyland, even during busy times like Spring break.

 

[della]

We used to have a vest my dd would wear when she was little. It was called a Bear Hug pressure vest (I think). It was not a weighted vest. It wrapped around her (like a deep pressure hug) and used velcro to stay closed. You may want to ask the OT about some suggestions for you particular child-ear plugs, visors, brushing therapy, it all depends on your child's individual needs. My dd also responded well to the deep pressure she got in the pool-it helped calm her. Sometimes we would have her swimsuit on under her clothes. We could get to the pool quickly and the swimsuit also added some of the deep pressure she craved.

 

[mechurchlady]

I and my mother has SID and aer hypersensitive for the most part. Welcome to the land of neurovariants. Neurovariants have miswired brains but that is not bad.

First and foremost is to teah the kid alternative ways to get what hey need like I snuggle in blankets, I use a straw when stressed to give me pressure to take out the stress. Find out what he needs and find alternatives. Leash the kid with a harness and leash if he is a runner or runs off into things.

Stress, illness, hunger, fatigue, over load from senses will all heighten the SID person's senses. Either they will go way not sensitive or over sensitive. So you have to watch those things and when the kid is tired expect the senses to be out of whack even more.

 

[chipper10]

Thank you everyone! We are just in the begining stages of the Sensory Processing Disorder. We haven't really discussed any thing to help DS at this time -- I think that will come next week when we meet with his OT. We had one OT, but then she couldn't comitt to coming here to see DS, so we had to find another one.

One of my major fears is that DS will completely meltdown and end up hurting himself while we are in line for a ride. (although, if he hurts himself, he probably won't even notice. He broke his foot on Tuesday, but didn't even really cry about it. He wouldn't walk on it for half the day, then he eventually started walking with a limp. We didn't even find out it was broken until Thursday afternoon. He never complained about it hurting)

I just want to be prepared and to know a little bit more of what I can expect from DS when we go.

Thanks again for all your help!

 

[SueM in MN]

One of my major fears is that DS will completely meltdown and end up hurting himself while we are in line for a ride.

One of the things that might help you is being able to have his stroller in line so that he can stay in it while you are waiting. This is called using a stroller as a wheelchair (there is information about that in post #6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread).

I just want to be prepared and to know a little bit more of what I can expect from DS when we go.

Thanks again for all your help!

In a lot of ways, going to WDW with a 2 yr old with disabilities is very similar to going to WDW with any other 2 yr old.
Things that are scary or too loud for other 2 yr olds are going to be too scary or loud for your child. His reaction may be more intense than many 2 yr olds, but he will probably react to many of the same things. You can use the information from other parents of toddlers to help you plan as well as the threads/links I mentioned earlier.
Since he craves sensory input, you will probably be looking for things that provide it. Most of the more 'daring' attractions have height limits and he will be too short for them. This is a link to the DIS site height calculator. Put his height in to get a list of attractions he is too short for or put a 0 (zero) in to get a list of height requirements for all attractions.
Many kids who crave sensory love the attractions that go around - think the Teacups, Dumbo, Carrosel and Alladin's Magic Carpets at MK and the Triceraptop Spin at AK. Also Toy Story Mania at the Studio. Barnstormer at MK is a roller coaster for kids (adults go on too).

 

[KirstenB]

I'm thinking a backpack full of fidget toys, like kooshie balls, etc might help. Our daughter loves to mess with her big sister's Rubik's cube, for instance. Maybe some Playdoh. Something to chew on. I hope you have a great trip!

 

[mamacate]

We first went with our major sensory seeking Aspie boy when he was 4, so it's somewhat a different kettle of fish, but our experience was that the parks were just wonderful for him. The motion sensation of the rides just put him in a wonderful mood. I have a friend who is a fellow Disney fan and mom to an ASD sensory seeker who said she'd put a roller coaster in the backyard if she could--the motion is so helpful for our kids. Of course a 2-year-old can't do BTMRR or anything, but even Dumbo and Goofy's Barnstormer and many other rides will provide that sensory input. We found that anytime we went on a pretty action-oriented ride, we had about 30 minutes of "high" in the form of happy, calm behavior. There were a few times when we joked "let's go back on the roller coaster!"

On our first trip with him I had everything planned to the hilt, and he absolutely thrived. The next two times we felt less pressure and took it easier on the planning, and went to the parks with more of an open-ended agenda (wanting to do certain rides, but no firm schedule). He had fun, but more trouble, those two times, and I suspect it's because it was harder to know what to expect. This year I'll have a daily ride schedule based loosely on ridemax, with photos to make it more visual. He's a lot older (about to turn 7), so his needs are very different from a two-year-olds, but to the extent you can make the day predictable, that might help. At least it helps for us.

Cate

 

[della]

This year I'll have a daily ride schedule based loosely on ridemax, with photos to make it more visual.

Love this idea!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

Love this idea!!!

If you look in the disABILITIES FAQs thread, there are links to some threads in post #3 that might be helpful. They are in the Specific Concerns or Conditions section under Communication Devices, PECs.

 

[makelifehappen]

I have 2 children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and both have language. Each are unique in their abilities and are completely opposite in their sensory issues. We are seeing an OT, psych, Speech Path, etc

My 2 year old is a sensory seeker, in constant motion & craves tactile input .She is climbing all over everything, jumping all over people, dangling from their necks, bumping into walls, etc

The other (10 years old) completely avoids overstimulating environments, needs peace & quiet, hates rollercoasters, is hypersensitive to noise, pain, light, etc.

Both do extremely well at Disney. I have never been to a more accommodating place and really feel Disney works their magic in making it possible for our family to enjoy the time spent there regardless of our needs.

So long as we are able to transition plan enough in advance (watching disney movies, reading disney books, discussing the airplane ride, etc), we honestly have not had any serious trouble there.

The mini coaster in Magic Kingdom (Goofy's Barnstormer) was the 2 year old's favourite bit about Disney, I am sure. She asked to go on it repeatedly. She also really enjoyed the 3D shows (even though you had to put those odd glasses on). However, we also worked her into a pair of sunglasses before our latest trip (earlier this month) because she was screeching about a sensitivity to the sun whilst driving, so that probably helped also.

She absolutely adored the Characters and was a little overwhelmed by the size of them when they scooped her up for a cuddle, but was extremely exited to see them.

We were less concerned about our first trip with her (she was 19 months old), as she was often in her stroller and napping.

This last trip had me very concerned, as I wasn't sure how we were going to be able to keep track of her whilst still enjoying a stress free day. She is too active and runs off. We always need to keep our eyes peeled or we would be in serious trouble, as she doesn't give it any thought.

We explained that our stroller needed to act as a wheelchair for our recent visit, otherwise it would be too risky and Disney happily accommodated by stamping our Guest Assist Card with a wheelchair and gave us a sticker for the stroller that allowed us to take the stroller into places that allowed a wheelchair.

What a lifesaver. We didn't feel like we had put anyone out, we didn't have to leave any shows, we didn't annoy our neighbours with any screams or bouncing about and best of all we didn't have to miss out on anything that otherwise would have been too difficult because of her needs.

And I have to say, we didn't have a single meltdown the entire trip!

I love Disney. It will get my money, each and every time.

Hope this helps.