I just received this email. Last time we went this helped tremendously. We even got to use our stollers as wheelchairs which was a lifesaver. We are going again in a few months and was alarmed to just get this email. Is it a hoax? I have 2 boys with autism and I know that there is no way that we can stand in line with both of them. My younger one is WAY more aggresive (and big) and will not tolerate standing still. (which is why the stoller helped so much)
Here's the email. Please tell me that this is not true.
After rereading it, I think it's fake because it says something about paying extra for fastpass. Fastpass is free. This can't be true.
----- Original Message -----
From:
To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy@yahoogroups.com ; Autism-Awareness-Action@yahoogroups.com ; edit@doitnow.com
Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2004 1:32 PM
Subject: [autism-awareness-action] For parents of children with "invisible" disabilities - Disney no longer allowing "Autism" disorders to qualify for special needs passes.
To: The Walt Disney Company & Disney Resorts
<http://www.petitiononline.com/BPparent/petition.html>
http://www.petitiononline.com/BPparent/petition.html
Any parent/caregiver can tell you that it is very difficult for any child to
have to wait in a long line. For children with special needs, however,
waiting is extremely difficult and can lead to over-stimulation, stress,
anxiety, and ultimately to 'melt-downs,' which in a public setting could be
extremely dangerous to the child or to an innocent bystander.
In the past, Parents/caregivers of children with special needs were able to
obtain what is called a Special Needs (or Assistance) Pass at City Hall in
Disneyland, which allowed up to 5 members of that party to bypass the long
lines at rides. Eligibility was based upon the presentation of a doctor's
letter which clearly stated the reason for the request and stated the
diagnosis, or a copy of a current IEP plan which stated the specific
disability.
Effective the last week of December, 2003, however, this policy was changed
by the resort and the pass is now no longer available to a disabled person
unless s/he has a physical/mobility challenge, or terminal illness. It does
not take into consideration those individuals who have "invisible
disabilities" such as autism or other neuro-biological disorders which may
not be obvious at first glance, but are severely debilitating none-the-less.
This change in policy will prevent millions of children and their families
from ever being able to enjoy Disneyland again.
Emails, phone calls, and letters to Disney have all been answered with the
same exact canned letter which directs the concerned citizen to the
availability of the "Fast Pass." Letters written specifically to Michael
Eisner and James A. Rasulo were routinely re-routed to the Disneyland Resort
and never read by the intended parties.
We feel that Disney's response and so-called solution is not acceptable. The
"Fast Pass" is not available for many of the rides that this population
would gravitate towards AND it does not address the reason that the Special
Needs Pass was needed in the first place. Disney states that the pass was
discontinued because people "were abusing it." While we, the undersigned
acknowledge that there may indeed have been people who abused this
privilege, it is not right to punish those with valid documentation of the
disability.
We also feel that it is unfair to have to pay extra in order to accommodate
an individual's disability by being pushed to purchase a "Fast Pass."
Whether or not this is legal under the standards of the Americans with
Disabilities act is currently under review.
This petition is to hereby ask Disneyland to reconsider their policy on
Special Needs (Assistance) Passes and reinstate them to those with
legitimate needs. Then, once again ALL of our children and future
generations can share the experience of the Magic Kingdom.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
<http://www.petitiononline.com/BPparent/petition.html>
http://www.petitiononline.com/BPparent/petition.html
Here's the email. Please tell me that this is not true.
After rereading it, I think it's fake because it says something about paying extra for fastpass. Fastpass is free. This can't be true.
----- Original Message -----
From:
To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy@yahoogroups.com ; Autism-Awareness-Action@yahoogroups.com ; edit@doitnow.com
Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2004 1:32 PM
Subject: [autism-awareness-action] For parents of children with "invisible" disabilities - Disney no longer allowing "Autism" disorders to qualify for special needs passes.
To: The Walt Disney Company & Disney Resorts
<http://www.petitiononline.com/BPparent/petition.html>
http://www.petitiononline.com/BPparent/petition.html
Any parent/caregiver can tell you that it is very difficult for any child to
have to wait in a long line. For children with special needs, however,
waiting is extremely difficult and can lead to over-stimulation, stress,
anxiety, and ultimately to 'melt-downs,' which in a public setting could be
extremely dangerous to the child or to an innocent bystander.
In the past, Parents/caregivers of children with special needs were able to
obtain what is called a Special Needs (or Assistance) Pass at City Hall in
Disneyland, which allowed up to 5 members of that party to bypass the long
lines at rides. Eligibility was based upon the presentation of a doctor's
letter which clearly stated the reason for the request and stated the
diagnosis, or a copy of a current IEP plan which stated the specific
disability.
Effective the last week of December, 2003, however, this policy was changed
by the resort and the pass is now no longer available to a disabled person
unless s/he has a physical/mobility challenge, or terminal illness. It does
not take into consideration those individuals who have "invisible
disabilities" such as autism or other neuro-biological disorders which may
not be obvious at first glance, but are severely debilitating none-the-less.
This change in policy will prevent millions of children and their families
from ever being able to enjoy Disneyland again.
Emails, phone calls, and letters to Disney have all been answered with the
same exact canned letter which directs the concerned citizen to the
availability of the "Fast Pass." Letters written specifically to Michael
Eisner and James A. Rasulo were routinely re-routed to the Disneyland Resort
and never read by the intended parties.
We feel that Disney's response and so-called solution is not acceptable. The
"Fast Pass" is not available for many of the rides that this population
would gravitate towards AND it does not address the reason that the Special
Needs Pass was needed in the first place. Disney states that the pass was
discontinued because people "were abusing it." While we, the undersigned
acknowledge that there may indeed have been people who abused this
privilege, it is not right to punish those with valid documentation of the
disability.
We also feel that it is unfair to have to pay extra in order to accommodate
an individual's disability by being pushed to purchase a "Fast Pass."
Whether or not this is legal under the standards of the Americans with
Disabilities act is currently under review.
This petition is to hereby ask Disneyland to reconsider their policy on
Special Needs (Assistance) Passes and reinstate them to those with
legitimate needs. Then, once again ALL of our children and future
generations can share the experience of the Magic Kingdom.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
<http://www.petitiononline.com/BPparent/petition.html>
http://www.petitiononline.com/BPparent/petition.html
