Wheelchair/Disabled Visitors

[richard3330]

Hi,

We are meeting some family on our next trip (next March) and they have a son who is deaf and has cerebal palsy. He usually needs to use a wheelchair although he prefers walking, altough he can't stand up for too long.

Is there a pass or something that we can get for him? Does he have to queue up in the regular queue's? Is there a disabled entrance/exit to the attractions?

Thanks so much if you can help.

Richard

 

[Nanajo1]

Most of the attractions have mainstream lines, everyone in the same line until and unless there are barriers that a w/c or ecv can't manuever. MK has the most alternate entrances for w/c. The CMs will direct you. If he has a w/c and has no other medical needs that require he wait elsewhere then you won't need the GAC (Guest Assistance Card). But if he needs to be seated up front for shows so he can see the interperters and the action then he should get a GAC so he can better enjoy the attraction. I believe the GAC is obtained at Guest Services. You tell the CM what is needed as far as accommodations for his hearing disability.
Have a great trip.

 

[Talking Hands]

Being multiply handicapped can sometimes be a problem when it comes to castmembers as they tend to only see the visiable and not respond to the invisible problem.
Get a Guest Assitance Card for hime that states he is deaf and this needs to be addressed as well. They will tell you that you only need to request it. Insist on the card because it doesn't always work that way. I have in the past been told that they cannot accomodate both. They can and must.

FOr information concerning reflective captioning, closed captioning and the handheld captioning device contact Mark Jones He can also provide a schedule of interpreting if he uses American Sign Language. Please contact him at least 2 weeks prior to your scheduled trip. Be sure to tell him if you are doing any of the dinner shows on site as he cane set up interpreters for that as well. If you need more information on deaf access just let us know as several of us here deal with it.
I am hard of hearing and also use a wheelchair so I know about both. Going to WDW in 3 days.

 

[SueM in MN]

Welcome to disABILITIES.
Even though he doesn't like to use a wheelchair and prefers to walk, that's probably not practical for him at WDW. The distance he would be walking/waiting in line is very small compared to the amount of walking he will be doing to get from place to place. In Epcot, for example, in World Showcase, it is over 1 mile just to go from one end of WS to the other. Way more walking than most people expect.
As Lisa mentioned, for some of the shows, the place where wheelchair users go is not the best place for someone who is deaf. In mnay of the shows, wheelchair users are placed in the back row of the auditorium, not where someone wants to be if they are reading lips or watching a sign language interpreter.
You do go to Guest Services in any of the parks to request GAC (Guest Assistance Card). Before you leave there, make sure he has looked over the card and it does address his needs - once we were given a card that had nothing whatsoever that helped us and once we actually were given a card made out in someone else's name. So, make sure it's clear that the needs are addressed.

 

[richard3330]

Thank-You so much for all of your replies