Oh yeah, I'm not saying I disagree, at all. I've just been mulling over the situation in my own head, trying to determine if my son will need a
DAS or if we'll be able to manage in lines. So I've been working out for myself what his needs are, and what the DAS might be able to do for him. But I guess my point was, it's better for us all to focus on THAT aspect rather than what we're hearing about other people with other conditions. I have a feeling that we only hear from one subset of individuals, with very specific wants which Disney seems to no longer be accommodating. But for others, like those of us who have vision issues, or travel with someone with vision issues, we aren't hearing from many, because there aren't many of us. (does that make sense???) So, I'm not disagreeing with the assessment that our needs (or our child's needs) might warrant the need for a DAS. I'm just saying we need to focus on that, not others.
I guess what you hear from me is total frustration, not just on Disney's part but on ADA as a whole, it is like visual impairment is non workable. Let's see, blind where the first to have service dogs, but we still after 75 years get asked to remove them from a business at least once a month, (I said asked, I did not say with knowledge I have ever been told I had to). For 60 years, guide dogs who came first where trained to work a certain way, then ADA came in, and out with guide dogs, no consideration for them because w/c's need ramps, guide dogs every where had to be retrained. I just moved from a city to a smaller city and more rural neighborhood, my guide dog once again needs to be retrained, because there are no bumps on the down slopes of curbs here so she is not stopping in time. Elevators, why the hell can they not demand they be universal, the up/down button on the right, or left, or whatever, no sometimes they are on the right, sometimes on the left and sometimes not at all.can you remember back in the 90's when it became a law for elevators to be installed, for w/c people, why did no one ask a blind person where the button should be, and now that they are not universal, why don't we have another law thats tells them to pay another million dollars to put the buttons in a universal place so a blind person is not standing there feeling the walls for hours.
Yesterday I was on the phone with Disney for an hour before I hung up in total frustration. When I made my ressies, I made these request, guide dog in room, please bottom floor parking lot few would be okay, (guide dogs are trained to go on cement), a room with a straight path to the bus and to get a drink. That was all I requested.
I found a number to special medical room request and thought I would try it out. They found ressies, no request where on the ressies. They proceeded to give me a room, she was so proud of herself, she said the room would be all visual stimulated, I said excuse me what does that mean. Oh the room will have red lights for fire alarm and the phone will blink colors when it rings. I said what good will that do me, I am blind not deaf, she said it will help a lot, I said mame I can't see so how would flashing lights help me rather than an alarm, I won't be able to see the lights. She said, well fine if you don't want what we have to offer that's fine I can't help you.
I took time to calm down and said mame I will tell you what I need. And I repeated me request. She says dogs are not allowed in the room. I said he is a guide dog for service, she said there is a kennel for the dog on property. I said, mame is this the office for medical room accommodations, she said yes. I said has anyone every told you what a guide dog is, she said no guard dogs are allowed on property not even in the kennel.
I moved on, obviously this lady was in left field and I was in right field. I asked for a boots floor room , close to a bus stop and in line with a place to get a drink. In my mind I did not want to mention a specific room or building because they say not to narrow it down to far. She in return says if you want a preferred room you needed to book it. I said no I do not want a preferred room, my DD say a preferred room is worst at CSR because the convention is between then, and also I would have to manuver between all the front building to get to the bus stop. I did not tell her this way since she seemed not to understand, so I said, I need a room that I can walk out of, get to the main path and turn left and go straight to the bus or right and straight to the drink station. She says you are never going to find that, you need to change this ressie to a preferred room.
I tried again and then she said let me call resort for you to find out. She goes and comes back 15 minutes later and says although it is almost impossible to say they will the resort says they have golf carts and will try to be available to you if you want but they suggest you get a w/c. And if you do that I can get you into a w/c room.
This is when I hung up. Disney now has rooms for w/c persons and rooms for hearing persons. Has it crossed disneys mind to set aside a room or two in each hotel that can give straight access to a bus or to a drink fountain for refills. She at one point said don't you have family, that is besides the point.
I am so frustrated with Disney and ADA as a whole, because no one ask the blind person, Disney does a great job for w/c and for spectrum disorders, why have they never thought to ask blind what they need. I offered Disney, I was the first to own a trekker, and it used it on a blind solo trip, I gave them lots of information, yet they still have not done anything for trekker. I now use google maps and can find most things within a foot or two, I have told Disney, there CM at the rides need to know about google maps and when they see a blind person alone help them by saying you made it. Sometimes I get to the ride but the queue is off a bit from google maps, if the cast member would just realize what I am doing it would be easy for them to give a verbal cue, or Disney needs to put in a radio frequency that works with google maps so I know I am there.
Okay that's my rant. Sorry I am just totally frustrated, I think we visually impaired should just say we have a spectrum disorder at least they will understand, we get disoriented, overstimulated by crowds, over heated , panicked, and frustrated. But the frustration is due to stupidity, I am not saying one disorder is better or worse, or that I wish anyone a disability. I am saying that the law does not see one differently either, ADA was to make it equal for all, but companies and Disney for one has not made it equal for blind, they have left one group behind and has over compensated for another group. Equal, means equal. I don't need a w/c room, or a hearing room. But how about a room with access to a straight path walk. Or a room with Braille on the shampoo bottles, or a room with instructions in Braille for the blind, but since most blind do not read Braille, how about a room with digital access and instructions. How about a room with tactile stimulation to tell me what side of faucet is hot, or what side of the room the chair is on. How about a room that has a dog bed for my guide dog. Or how about a raised map of the room in the lobby. Why has Disney never ask a blind person for assistance in what we need.
Sorry done with ranting.
