GAC Question

[gigi1313]

i read in another thread when requesting a GAC, not to give a cm diagnoses, but rather request what you need... and those needs are delineated on the GAC w/certain "stamps"... what are the various "stamps" used on a GAC? i know they recently changed... and what does each stamp permit as far as waiting area?

ds has some PDD spectrum issues... ADHD, Sensory Integration Dysfunction, spatial issues, et al, and last year dh would not "allow" me to get a GAC (or even request one) 'cause he did not want it to go on ds' "permanent disney record" (LOL?) so we did not, but more than once we either had to skip a ride or leave a park all-together because ds was just overwhelmed by the line or too many people in his "personal space"... typically i can "talk him down" but when his senses are being overloaded, well, there's no talking him down! even the elevator ride up to the astro orbiter had him "spinning!" due to the crowd...

anyway, a quiet/uncrowded place to wait, a chance to handle meltdowns so we don't have to lose a park day, etc would be super-helpful... but i'm just not sure how to ask for that...

 

[Nik's Mom]

Hi! My 6 year old ds is autistic. We just basically stated exactly what our problem was and they provided the correct GAC. If I were you, I'd just explain to them how you explained to us that he'd need a quiet place to wait, etc. You should be fine. Have a great trip!

 

[gigi1313]

thanks... i just read another thread that got me nervous, someone stated their child's disabilities and the cm gave them the "wrong" stamp so they were unable to get the accommodation that they needed and, well, i'm worried that may happen to us...

but by telling them we need a quieter place to wait we should be okay?

 

[dclfun]

Actually, I think in the thread you are referring to the OP did receive the correct stamp but since nothing was explained to her she didn't realize what accomodations had been made- not a pleasant situation. It's always nice to have a helpful CM but if not, but sure to read the GAC carefully- it will have the "stamp" plus other information that's pre-printed, basically indicating that the card is not intended to shorten a wait time and that extra time may be needed if an accessible ride vehicle is necessary, etc. As long as you explain things just like you did to us, the CM should be able to issue exactly what you need.
Kathy

 

[SueM in MN]

And, if you find that the GAC you have doesn't give the accomidation you need, you can always take your child back to Guest Services and explain the problems you are having.

 

[gigi1313]

Actually, I think in the thread you are referring to the OP did receive the correct stamp but since nothing was explained to her she didn't realize what accomodations had been made- not a pleasant situation. It's always nice to have a helpful CM but if not, but sure to read the GAC carefully- it will have the "stamp" plus other information that's pre-printed, basically indicating that the card is not intended to shorten a wait time and that extra time may be needed if an accessible ride vehicle is necessary, etc. As long as you explain things just like you did to us, the CM should be able to issue exactly what you need.
Kathy

THANKS KATHY!

it's not a "time" thing, it's a space and people and meltdown thing for my ds... last year it really stunk that twice we had to leave the parks only minutes after we got there 'cause he got pushed and jostled and his space was totally invaded and he was overwhelmed and overstimulated and could not handle it and we were unable to regroup... he's actually very good about waiting on line, as long as he can have his space (dh and i try to stand one in front one in back and give him breathing room in between us standing like bookends! LOL!)... anyway, last year we left the park twice and then got hurricaned in our resort for two more days, so out of our seven days, we never managed to get thru mgm... i thought we'd be okay w/minimal crowds this year, but w/the free dining plan that came out, i'm going to guess it will be more crowded than usual at that time of year!

 

[SueM in MN]

Here's a website with a lot of helpful info.
They can give you a quieter place to wait, if that's available at that attraction. Sometimes it's not, so you do need to have some other ways to deal with things. One way that many parents of kids with autism or issues with being close to others use is a stroller (even if your child is older or has no mobility problems). In some cases, what the child does need is a sort of portable quiet place. A stroller can provide that -especially the firm molded plastic strollerrs they have at MK, Epcot and AK.

 

[lewdyan1]

Thanks again Sue...great link!

 

[dclfun]

I certainly understand about the "personal space" issue and know firsthand about how the jostling and pushing can get out of hand. I usually have someone stand behind me as well when it's crowded or in a queue line to keep people from knocking the hoses out of my vent. Once I had someone in an ECV run into the side of my chair and knock off a pump, and once a gentleman stood his son on top of my vent so the "child could see better". I can't even imagine someone with a sensory/space issue trying to deal with all that so I'm sure your son actually does an amazing job holding it together. I agree with Sue about the stroller idea and there are many larger children without disabilities who use them as there's so much walking in the parks. Hope this time around you'll have a better trip! Kathy

 

[gigi1313]

thanks for the link

as much as i'm sure he'd like an "escape" place, at 125 lbs and almost 5', i don't think a stroller is really do-able... 'cause i do not think he'd fit! LOL!

 

[dclfun]

Gigi- What about getting a manual wheelchair for him? I've seen plenty of children using them just for transport as they were too big for a stroller and folks have used them for a need such as your son's. I'd do anything that would keep him comfortable since it's your chance to have a family vacation which should be just as magical as anyone else's.

 

[riu girl]

I agree about the manual chair. DD8 is 70+ lbs and easily managed in the WDW double stroller. Without the WDW stroller, I'm not sure how things would have worked out for us. At times when she was not in the stroller and had no personal space/was accidently pushed etc., I could see her getting anxious so I would simply ask her to go back in the stroller (which was loaded with blankets, books, toys etc.). Then you could almost instantly see the anxiety diminsh and she was "good to go" again. We also had a GAC and this was very helpful. We had no meltdowns/problems whatsoever.

I just wish they offered something similar (for personal space) for DH40. He doesn't want to go back to WDW again next year due to "sensory overload (ie. the music)" and wants me to go alone with the kids. But he says he will do it again as long as we can go to a nice Florida beach beach afterwards for a week!!!

About the GAC, I am extremely shy and have a hard time around people. I knew that at guest services/relations I would not be able to discuss DDs issues (similar to your sons) properly so I typed up a small note and asked the guest relations person to read it. I was given the ideal GAC for our situation. Also, how do you discuss such matters when the child has no idea that they are "special" (Aspergers tendencies, mild ADHD)? What a terrible way for a child to find out (having her parent discuss it in front of her with a WDW CM). I wasn't going to do that.

Happy planning.

 

[gigi1313]

wow! what great ideas! both the manual wheelchair and the written note... i might just copy and paste my initial post onto a postcard to share w/the cm!

 

[Odie]

Gigi,
Looks like we'll be there the same time as you (8/28 to 9/3). Our son is diagnosed as severly autistic and is 6. My advice is take the two + months you have and write down what it is your son needs. Then address those requests with your son's doctor. His specialist is usually the best (don't get me starting on trying to convince the pediatrican what you child needs or goes through, better yet get them to help you). Last time we went our son's specialist asked us what we wanted in a letter and bascially let us write it, with some additions by her and we had no problems, except at MGM where the guy seemed to have no idea what I was talking about with an Autistic child. I almost wanted to tell him to walk around the park with us for the day, but he had to hold Drew's hand, deal with the meltdowns in line and ensure he doesn't touch anyone's cell phone because of his obsession with buttons and numbers. In about ten minutes I'm sure his attitude would change, but I digress. Whatever you do, don't be too intimidated to ask. What's worse, being told no or not even asking and losing a whole day in the park because of a meltdown? Good luck, and we'll be at POR so maybe we'll see you there!

 

[gigi1313]

OMGoodness! my son is also obsessed w/cell phones, buttons, numbers, etc... heck, the credit card slidy machine at walmart can keep him amused for an hour! wow!

thanks for your thoughts and suggestions... we are fortunate to have a great primary care doctor (not a pediatrician!) who is a personal friend, knows my son well, who not only understands but is willing to go the extra mile for us... i know we're blessed!

 

[SueM in MN]

just wanted to mention that you are not required to have a doctor's letter. Some people feel more comfortable with one, especially for "invisible" disabilities. Often, doctors write letters that either ask for something that is not available (like, "avoid waits in line") or list a lot of diagnosis/medical language. So, often the CMs don't even want to see the letters.
What is more important is that you be able to explain what your child's needs are. Just knowing a diagnosis (like autistic) doesn't let the CM know what is a problem for your child, since any two people with the same diagnosis might not have the same needs.

 

[MomOf2DisneyKids]

Gigi,
In about ten minutes I'm sure his attitude would change, but I digress.

I'm a mom of a 5 year old with PDD-NOS, and that line really cracked me up!