Here is a break-down of us...
Mom: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Disability placard (I know it doesn't matter to them, but am just communicating the level of need to you and mentioning in case it affects parking considerations). Moderately impacts hips, hands, and feet; significantly impacts shoulders and spine which makes holding the arm out at extension to control a
scooter quickly cause numbness and pain, and leads to migraine. (Often can't wash hair or pass a cup of coffee.) Prominent dysautonomia (blood pressure, gut, and heart rate problems causing exhaustion and passing out). Mornings are slow, walking is fine, but walking and talking (like needed to manage and coordinate children with multiple disabilities), much less in humidity while weight-bearing (pushing a stroller, carrying a child or bag, etc) is moderately disabling at first and becomes completely incapacitating within a couple days.
[...] I would love to find some sort of electronic wheelchair that doesn't require arm extension to navigate AND has a means of carrying the toddler with me (attachable side car or stroller or second seat kind of thing) if that exists.
the learning curve for a motorized wheelchair is very steep. no one will rent one to you unless you already use one every day at home. NO attachments are permitted..they have even banned wagons now. your accommodation as far as Disney is concerned is a Wheelchair or ECV. they are not going to combine everyone;s issues and provide one encompassing accommodation. each person will be assessed separately
Dad: Autism spectrum, the only significant impact of which is that all executive functioning and emotional management of the children is Mom's domain as Dad cannot see or respond to those needs.
not Disney's problem. you'd be better off bringing one of your at home support agents with you to wrangle the kids
Teen: Prominent anxiety that is mildly disabling when Mom can manage the emotions, but severely disabling to incapacitating when Mom cannot talk through, organize, and direct. (The art class at
Disneyland being fast-paced led to a panic attack years ago, to give a gauge.) That means the teen is using all the spoons to self-regulate so cannot offer any meaningful support for siblings. Also, hard of hearing and needs to be able to see closed captioning, supertitles, or faces. And MCAS with multiple food and environmental allergies.
allergies are fairly easy to be handled. you would need to ask each Cast member at the beginning of any show entrances where you can sit , or ask at Guest services about the personal device fo hard of hearing guests
Child: Significant autism, globally impaired. Chatty, social, looks like a model. Loves rollercoasters. Cannot regulate emotions in response to expectations or disappointments which worsens when tired, excited, or bored, and causes thrashing meltdowns that can involve hitting, kicking, throwing, etc. Sensory-seeking, especially when bored (like when in a long line), which is a very predictable place for behavioral symptoms. Many neurological implications including elopement, bladder (urgency and frequency causing us to have to abandon whatever we're doing and run often just 10 minutes after a last bathroom stop), discoordination and poor tone (wears AFOs), stuttering, challenged executive functioning which makes for difficulty in morning and evening routines (getting dressed, etc) and in having realistic expectations, and so on. Modified diet. This kid is super competent until totally not so it is difficult to believe the level of need in the first 5 minutes but over a day it is very obvious to anyone that it is an all-encompassing level of need.
MIGHT be eligible for a DAS. you must be able to explain to a Cast Member why they cannot wait in the regular line.
Preschooler: Wants to dress up and have conversations with the princes and princesses, especially Elsa. Has Tourette Syndrome, making for a child in perpetual speech and motion with taboo words/phrases, including punching and kicking tics which are moderately disabling (needs space and understanding). Tics increase when bored, tired, etc and decrease when focused and calm. Insect anaphylaxis and severe MCAS with dietary and cholinergic triggers to heat, exercise, activity, pressure, friction, strong emotions, etc causing allergic reactions in a sensitive child who has sobbing meltdowns and bouncing off the walls excitement, needing lots of physical and emotional regulation support.
Also possibly DAS eligible. but if any of the kids becomes disruptive or a danger to themselves or others you will be asked to leave.
Toddler: Global developmental delay, rigid repetitions, mostly non-verbal, poor tone, pretty chill.
Edited to add a skipped word.