I will probably get flamed for this but here goes...

[LindsayDunn228]

Well, that's not quite true. I'm a paraplegic who uses a wheelchair and can't walk at all. But I wouldn't be given a GAC because the lines are mostly accessible. I go through the standby line or get fastpasses for most rides.

Same for me. That's why I said I would have no need for one.

 

[diseyore]

You don't know why they use that area. Some need limited exposure to the sun. Also, space mountain has stairs on 1 side and not the other. Stairs can cause a great deal of pain when decending or accending. Sometimes you don't know if there will be a difference. It is better to use the accomodations accessable to you rather than not. Just like if the doctor writes the letter for the parking plackard they wrote it for you to use and therefore you shouldn't question why. It is really none of your concern.

 

[tarkus]

Not to get in a debate. and no I am not an xray machine but please explain to me what reason they would need to use their GAC when they were walking down without difficulty a ramp the same degree and length, the boats stop for everyone,and the wait in the reg. line was a minute or 2? I am having trouble figuring out that need. IMO abuses like these are going to make it hard for people who really need it and don't do anything to help the general public understand or be any more tolerable.

Nor am I here to debate, and yes I can be very sarcastic on this subject.

But again whats your solution ?

I really don't expect you to have one as it's soooo complicated when you take all the variables into account. Then the legal issues.

Hey, we agree on the fact that cheating happens, the problem is that to weed out the cheaters you will need to infringe on the rights of those who truly need it.

Be Big,
Alan

 

[dreamsofdisney]

I'm re-posting this message that I'd posted when we were getting ready for our last trip 6 months ago. Since then, I've thought of a lot more I could have added to this message...Like the fact that our trip - with the GAC - was still so difficult for him that I was too sad when we returned to even post my trip report. All of the behaviors I mentioned below happened...attracting many an evil glare from other WDW guests. While we'd had many successful trips in the past, this time the aggressive and inappropriate behaviors far outweighed the magical moments. I was first angry, and then sad reading some of the posts on this thread, but figured the best approach is to try to enlighten and inform. Here goes...

Autism Awareness at WDW: One Mom's View

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As we count down the days until our much-anticipated trip to WDW, I thought I would take a few minutes to post this in the hopes that it might increase awareness for my fellow DIS fans.

Maybe you’ll see us this July. You’ll look over at the roped off section for It’s Tough To Be A Bug, or Muppetvision 3D and see a Mom, Dad and teenage boy standing in the wheelchair accessible section. Or we’ll be walking down the EXIT ramp at It’s A Small World. Maybe you’ll roll your eyes and wonder why we’re trying to cut the line when we’re obviously not using a wheelchair. Perhaps you’ll see us going through the Fast Pass lane with a different looking card instead of Fast Pass tickets and think to yourself “What makes them so special?” or say, “Must be nice!” with a sarcastic tone of voice. After all, you can’t see any reason why we should be allowed to have a shorter wait. All children hate waiting in lines!

Let me introduce you to my family. I’m a 30-something-year-old Mom who recently married a wonderful 30-something-year-old man. Together, we are raising my bright and challenging 13-year-old son. My son is growing taller than me by the minute, has a deep love for Disney and Star Wars, a quick wit and great and sense of humor. He also happens to have Autism. You can’t see his Autism, but he lives with it every day. There are daily struggles to understand basic social interactions. He often responds inappropriately in social situations. He might yell out something, speak too loudly, or growl and say something rude if he’s feeling anxious. He’s been known to get very upset if he perceives people to be talking about him (although they’re probably not) or if he thinks they’re standing too close. You might see him talking (at length!) about the ride we’re about to go on. Many children with Autism can talk! But the slightest thing can set him off and we might need to make a break for the nearest exit. The long lines and close proximity to large groups of people is just too much for him. We’d love to be able to go during a less busy time of year, but he can’t afford to miss any therapies during the school year.

My son works very hard all year to get through the little steps that your child takes for granted. There are no play dates after school to ride bikes with the kids down the street. No lacrosse games or soccer tournaments. No ballet recitals or band concerts. No school dances or sleepovers. (Although some children with Autism do have these wonderful experiences, they are not feasible for my son.) Instead, he has Speech and Occupational therapies, countless doctors appointments, and attends a special school with social skill training groups and intensive, individualized education. Every vacation our family has taken this year has ended in tears after the stress of change has proven to be too much for him, and he’s had more meltdowns than I care to count. Our annual Disney trip is the one time that my son gets a break. Where he gets to be treated a little extra special and has his moment of magic.

So when you see us (or someone like us) on your next trip, please remember that you don’t know what it’s like until you’ve walked a mile in someone else’s shoes. And take a moment to appreciate your child and all of his or her special gifts. I know I’ll be doing the same with mine!

Thanks and have a Magical Vacation!

 

[diseyore]

Thank you for your post! We come in all sizes and forms.

 

[robin09]

I reposted because you said beautifully what I need to say and can't find the words. My daughter is 8 with aspergers syndrome (on the autism cusp) , sensory problems and adhd. She now talks well above her age limit. But that is thru extensive speech therapy... She didn't talk till well past 3 years of age. She is socially lacking, will touch anyone, hug anyone and immediately become their friend. She will hold hands and leave with just about anyone. She has to be watched every minute of every day as you never know what she will do. She will lick or eat anything. She will talk to anyone, or her imaginery brother.. and don't dare step on him or she will have a meltdown and tell you to move away. School is a social challenge for her, everyday is a challenge. Disney is her home away from home. The GAC makes the day bearable for us. Every minute is tense as you never know what to expect. When she gets to the front of the line, she might decide not to ride it as a fear kicks in and she will run away. She will ask the person next to us over and over and over and over... (I know it is annoying) if he/she has ever been on it.. is it scary.... Until the person looks at us and asks us to please quiet her down. These are just some of the reasons for the GAC.. It also makes the other persons vacation a little less annoying. AND yes my daughter looks typical and is adorable... till you spend 3 minutes on line with her.... yanking the chains back and forth, swinging her legs, climbing the polls...rocking on the floor asking is it time yet.. why do I have to wait....touching the person next to her......

I hope I helped at least one more person understand

I'm re-posting this message that I'd posted when we were getting ready for our last trip 6 months ago. Since then, I've thought of a lot more I could have added to this message...Like the fact that our trip - with the GAC - was still so difficult for him that I was too sad when we returned to even post my trip report. All of the behaviors I mentioned below happened...attracting many an evil glare from other WDW guests. While we'd had many successful trips in the past, this time the aggressive and inappropriate behaviors far outweighed the magical moments. I was first angry, and then sad reading some of the posts on this thread, but figured the best approach is to try to enlighten and inform. Here goes...

Autism Awareness at WDW: One Mom's View

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As we count down the days until our much-anticipated trip to WDW, I thought I would take a few minutes to post this in the hopes that it might increase awareness for my fellow DIS fans.

Maybe you’ll see us this July. You’ll look over at the roped off section for It’s Tough To Be A Bug, or Muppetvision 3D and see a Mom, Dad and teenage boy standing in the wheelchair accessible section. Or we’ll be walking down the EXIT ramp at It’s A Small World. Maybe you’ll roll your eyes and wonder why we’re trying to cut the line when we’re obviously not using a wheelchair. Perhaps you’ll see us going through the Fast Pass lane with a different looking card instead of Fast Pass tickets and think to yourself “What makes them so special?” or say, “Must be nice!” with a sarcastic tone of voice. After all, you can’t see any reason why we should be allowed to have a shorter wait. All children hate waiting in lines!

Let me introduce you to my family. I’m a 30-something-year-old Mom who recently married a wonderful 30-something-year-old man. Together, we are raising my bright and challenging 13-year-old son. My son is growing taller than me by the minute, has a deep love for Disney and Star Wars, a quick wit and great and sense of humor. He also happens to have Autism. You can’t see his Autism, but he lives with it every day. There are daily struggles to understand basic social interactions. He often responds inappropriately in social situations. He might yell out something, speak too loudly, or growl and say something rude if he’s feeling anxious. He’s been known to get very upset if he perceives people to be talking about him (although they’re probably not) or if he thinks they’re standing too close. You might see him talking (at length!) about the ride we’re about to go on. Many children with Autism can talk! But the slightest thing can set him off and we might need to make a break for the nearest exit. The long lines and close proximity to large groups of people is just too much for him. We’d love to be able to go during a less busy time of year, but he can’t afford to miss any therapies during the school year.

My son works very hard all year to get through the little steps that your child takes for granted. There are no play dates after school to ride bikes with the kids down the street. No lacrosse games or soccer tournaments. No ballet recitals or band concerts. No school dances or sleepovers. (Although some children with Autism do have these wonderful experiences, they are not feasible for my son.) Instead, he has Speech and Occupational therapies, countless doctors appointments, and attends a special school with social skill training groups and intensive, individualized education. Every vacation our family has taken this year has ended in tears after the stress of change has proven to be too much for him, and he’s had more meltdowns than I care to count. Our annual Disney trip is the one time that my son gets a break. Where he gets to be treated a little extra special and has his moment of magic.

So when you see us (or someone like us) on your next trip, please remember that you don’t know what it’s like until you’ve walked a mile in someone else’s shoes. And take a moment to appreciate your child and all of his or her special gifts. I know I’ll be doing the same with mine!

Thanks and have a Magical Vacation!

 

[Haley Whippet]

I use a ECV and have NEVER asked for a GAC.
I choose not to ask for one.
I wait in lines because I can,
That said, If I felt I needed a GAC I would for sure ask for one.
Deb

 

[OneMoreTry]

I....It personally makes me sick b/c she has no idea of what life is like for us on a daily basis. ...

Don't waste your effort getting sick over this. There's no way she COULD know what it's like. If she's truly a friend I would recommend you consider confronting her about the issue and how it makes you feel. Just do it in a non-accusing way remembering that no one can know how you feel unless they've been in your shoes.


I agree with the OP that GAC cards should be for people who couldn't use the parks if they didn't have them. Unfortunately we fall into that category. On the other hand, like you we use fast passes whenever possible and actually only use the GAC about once or twice per park day. And the limited time we are able to spend in parks due to our daughter cancels out, I think, any "advantage" we might get from the card. BTW, when we wheel our dtr up to the wheelchair entrance the CM's don't usually ask for the card. They just let us in -- but our DD's limitations are pretty obvious.

 

[taximomfor4]

Well, that's not quite true. I'm a paraplegic who uses a wheelchair and can't walk at all. But I wouldn't be given a GAC because the lines are mostly accessible. I go through the standby line or get fastpasses for most rides.

I see alot of people here who have GACs saying that they use it only as a last resort and that they usually just use normal fastpasses. Of course I also see others who use the GAC as a fastpass but I can't say that it's an abuse since I'm not them and don't know what prevents them from getting a normal fastpass.

Sometimes we are returning straight to the FP line with our GAC, but also with the little slip of paper the CM wrote us...sometimes they give a time to return (so we still are waiting fairly, but in a different place). As very, very careful as I am to NOT let guests around us see my dd's GAC, I doubt people really notice though.

Just for the record, to me, my dd looks absolutely typical. So I guess we look like fakesr. The reality is different, unfortunately. And until I learned about GAC's, WDW was absolutely, positively somewhere I NEVER would have brought dd.

And in the end, we do very, very few attractions on any given day...dd cannot swim (and is too short still to keep her face above the water while standing).

I do think there are abusers out there. Aren't there in every aspect of life? I don't worry about what they are doing, since I don't even know who "they" are. I just hope my dd will always have the GAC (or something similar) available, since with it, she can enjoy WDW.

Beth

 

[taximomfor4]

Not to get in a debate. and no I am not an xray machine but please explain to me what reason they would need to use their GAC when they were walking down without difficulty a ramp the same degree and length, the boats stop for everyone,and the wait in the reg. line was a minute or 2? I am having trouble figuring out that need. IMO abuses like these are going to make it hard for people who really need it and don't do anything to help the general public understand or be any more tolerable.

Possibly autism...if they had an autistic person with them, that person might be completely set on how THEY get onto that ride. To change the routine might quickly ruin the day.

I only know a couple of kids with autism, but one of them, especially, would NOT handle taking a different path than usual!

Beth

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

My son at first glance does not look disabled. In fact he has been seen skipping to the rides, we have shown the GAC and he was allowed on the ride. Now someone who sees this may think we are abusing the system when in actuality he just awoke from a seizure that knocked him out of that line 2 hours earlier. We had spent that two hours walking the park while he recovered in his stroller or back at the room (depending on how comfortable he is) or at first aid. He wakes up excited since he does not realize how long he has been "out of it" looking to ride the ride he was waiting for before the seizure.
So please take heed of something like this. I am sure there are people abusing but there are many invisibly disabled people that you have no idea what is going on in their situation.
As my son gets bigger it will be more apparent that he is developmentally delayed as well. But as it is now he "looks typical" to the uninformed observer.

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

Not to get in a debate. and no I am not an xray machine but please explain to me what reason they would need to use their GAC when they were walking down without difficulty a ramp the same degree and length, the boats stop for everyone,and the wait in the reg. line was a minute or 2? I am having trouble figuring out that need. IMO abuses like these are going to make it hard for people who really need it and don't do anything to help the general public understand or be any more tolerable.

read my post above that may answer your "why?"....

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hey folks.

I think we all agree this is a very hot subject.

Please be careful, especially when quoting, that discussions are based solely on what was said and/or what was asked and not on who said what or how it was said.

In other words, discuss the messages and not the messengers.

 

[SueM in MN]

BTW, when we wheel our dtr up to the wheelchair entrance the CM's don't usually ask for the card. They just let us in -- but our DD's limitations are pretty obvious.

That's because if there is a wheelchair entrance, it's almost always because the 'regular' entrance is not wheelchair accessible. So, if you have a wheelchair or ECV, the only way you can get in is to use the wheelchair entrance.


I think some people confuse having a disease or condition with having a disability that requires accomidation. It is not the disease or diagnosis that is being accomidated, it is the needs that are related to the disability that is being accomidated (and why a GAC might be needed).

Having high blood pressure does not require any accomidation. Someone on drugs for their hypertension which causes them to sunburn easily might benefit from a GAC that allows the accomidation of waiting in a place out of the sun when the line is in the sun for a prolonged period of time (what that GAC actually says).
Having thyroid disease does not require any accomidation. Someone with thyroid disease who becomes fatigued easily might benefit from using an ECV or from a GAC that allows a place to wait out of the summer heat if they have problems with heat intolerance.

Some people who have disabilities may not need a GAC because using a wheelchair/ECV and accessible entrances meets their needs.

Some people with wheelchairs have other needs that are not met just by having a wheelchair and accessible entrances. Those people might need a GAC.

When we got the first GAC for our DD, we were given some instructions to go along with it. We were told to use Fastpasses as much as possible and to check the wait time before entering a line - if the wait was 10 minutes or less, not to use the GAC, as much as possible. I know that most people are not given these 'directions' when given a GAC from what people have writen on this and other forums.

I think some of the people who use their GAC when the line is only 2-3 minutes long were probably not instructed much about using the GAC; only told to present the GAC to the first CM they saw at the attraction. So, some of them were probably just doing what they were told. When you think about it, they probably actually spent more time using the GAC than they would have by just getting into the line.

And, even if they had known all the 'ins and outs of GACs, there is no way to know exactly why they chose to use the GAC on that attraction. It may be that they are avoiding stairs (as someone suggested) or there is something about that line that they know their child with autism doesn't tolerate.

Without asking (which would be very rude), there is no way to tell.

 

[mouseketeer_mom]

I think we can all agree that the GAC is an absolutely necessary for some families to enjoy WDW. I think we can also agree, the in the spirit of all things Disney, those families are entitled to EVERY consideration the CM can provide. I think we even agree, that like every system, someone will use it to full advantage, even though it may not be necessary for them. Lastly, there is no doubt that the casual observer standing in line, is not the person to distinguish between the two.

So, I offer this question (and it is that, just a question) Could Disney eliminate some of the "cheaters" by requesting some documentation? Anything at all. A hand written note from a Dr. or therapist simply saying "this person would benefit from any consideration you can provide". No need to provide personal details. Or perhaps something a parent or adult might already have that shows a diagnosis (no need for an extra trip to the Dr.)

This would help in eliminating some of the "cheaters" and offer CMs greater opportunity to do everything to accomodate those that need the GAC.

My DS7 is adhd. I know the extra stimulation that Disney offers has a greater potential to cause a meltdown for him. I know we will have to extra vigilant as he has a real tendency to put anything in his mouth when he is over stimulated, or trying to "be still". I think he'll do fine as long as he has his medicine. I also know I don't want to be anywhere near a park when he is "coming down" off of his medicine. He will not be able to tolerate the noise and stimulation for that 45 mins or so of transition. Would a GAC help us to enjoy the parks in the evenings? Maybe so. If it reduced wait times, and offered quiter places to wait. But, I think we will enjoy WDW as a family while making our own accommodations for him. We'll structure our day knowing what he can tolerate and when. We won't NEED a GAC to enjoy WDW. Believe me, I'm quite sure the allowances we might make are nothing compared to what some parents have to do in order to enjoy Disney with their children.

 

[SueM in MN]

So, I offer this question (and it is that, just a question) Could Disney eliminate some of the "cheaters" by requesting some documentation? Anything at all. A hand written note from a Dr. or therapist simply saying "this person would benefit from any consideration you can provide". No need to provide personal details. Or perhaps something a parent or adult might already have that shows a diagnosis (no need for an extra trip to the Dr.)

I agree it is a valid question; here's my take on it.

I have heard that some parks DO this, but I'm not so sure it would cut down on abuse.
I believe there have been some lawsuits (but I'm not sure about that). The reason is that the ADA says you can not be required to provide proof of disability in order to get accomidation. As long as the parks are providing accomidation (rather than special treatment like front of the line access), asking for proof would be not allowed.

Another thing to keep in mind is that a GAC is not a single card that gives everyone the same access (which is what some parks that do require 'proof' have). The GAC has a place for a stamp (or stamps) that tell what sort of accomidations are needed by the person it is issued to.
If the CMs are asking people "what needs do you have that you need accomidation for" or "what types of accomidation do you need", it is not as easy to 'cheat'. The ADA does allow that kind of quesion because (kind of obviously), the place needs to know what sort of assistance you need in order to provide it.

There are some websites that suggest bringing a letter with just the sort of wording you suggested, "this person would benefit from any consideration you can provide". One of the problems with that is it doesn't tell what sort of assistance the person needs (they still need to be able to explain their needs).
I did bring things like a copy of my child's IEP with us the first time we asked for a GAC; it was easy to bring (it was never looked at). But, it didn't give any clue of what my child's needs were - just that she has disabilities.

It would be very easy for many people who don't need accomidation to get a letter - people have written in the past that their doctor told them to get a GAC for fill in the blank with any condition, and they posted here to ask about GACs. As it turned out, many of them really could not think of any reasons they needed a GAC or how it might help them, but were going to ask for one because their doctor gave them a letter. They had a disability or condition, but did not have any need for accomidation to go along with it. Most of those people posting decided not to ask for a GAC because they could not see how it would help them.

And, what about those people who have needs, but didn't know they have to have a letter? Do they not get accomidation?
What about those whose doctor has never been to WDW and thinks they don't need any accomidation?
Or what about those hard nosed doctors (and I have heard of some) who would require a visit or a charge to write a note (which in some ways is fair, since they have to spend some of their time doing it)?
Or the people who find that WDW is a bit too much without accomidation after they are there?

If there is anything that people think might 'get' them something, there will be people who 'cheat'. There were even counterfeit Make A Wish buttons being sold on International Drive for a while -what kind of parent would pretend their child has a life-threatening illness just to get a little 'special treatment'? This was something I had read about on a CM forum, so as far as I know, it was very real.

Two things I know that would help to cut down on 'abuse' would be for CMs to ask what sort of assistance is needed before issuing a GAC - I think most do that.
Another thing would be for the CMs to give an explanation of how to use the GAC the person is given, including things like using Fastpass (more than 'just take it to the CM at the attraction').

 

[ducklite]

I'll help you beat off the flames because I agree with you. some of the reasons are really stretching it. I feel for the people who really need the GAC because the way it is going it is going to get a lot stricter. When we were there last on IASW the line was literally 3 minutes if that and as we were getting off, down the ramp came a family with their GAC out , no physical disability or wheelchair in the group. They just wanted to bypass the incredibly small line because they could, now that is abuse.

But you don't know if they had a hidden disability.

In the hot months I get a GAC as insurance. I have asthma, it's incredibly aggravated by being in the sun when it's hot out. (I don't get one in cooler weather!) All I want to do is wait in a shaded place. Without it, the WDW paramedics, who I'm already well acquainted with, would be seeing me even more. I don't want to jump a line. I look perfectly healthy. I'm on the slender side, I don't walk with a limp, or use any mobility device. But I still have a health issue that the GAC can help with. The problem is with a lot of the attractions, there is no shaded place, I'm instead sent through the FP line or wheelchair entrance.

Frankly there's just not much I can do about it. I only use it when I know that I could easily trigger into a full-blown paramedics with O2 transport to first aid and possibly Celebration Health situation. WDW would MUCH rather hand me a GAC and send me through a FP line or wheelchair entrance than deal with the results otherwise. We do use FP as much as possible, but it's not always an option.

I guess my point is, "Don't judge a book by it's cover."

Anne

 

[taximomfor4]

Another thing would be for the CMs to give an explanation of how to use the GAC the person is given, including things like using Fastpass (more than 'just take it to the CM at the attraction').

The GAC itself has "Use Fastpass Where Available" right on it. We get up as early as we can, plan our day to get FP early for the ones that run out (ds and dh ride them -- dd with her GAC won't do most of those, probably EVER, but even the ones she will ride, we DO fastpass early). Some FP-enabled attractions, we ALSO use our GAC because there are quite a few needs dd has. FP doesn't address all of them.

We are meticulous about NOT using the GAC constantly and inconsiderately, because we are really, really worried that if GAC's are overused, perhaps they will be eliminated.

That brings me to my next point. ADA be darned, I would bring my dd's entire medical chart for perusal if it allowed her to still get a GAC (or something similar)...that is the only way I would ever dream of bringing her to WDW.

An example: She does Irish Dance. At a competition a few weeks ago, she was standing on the stage with other competitors. I saw her face change. One of her hidden medical problems had just slammed her, I could tell. She waited anyway, with contorted face, then finally went along the back of the stage to the stage monitor, near tears, and explained what was happening. I "Excuse Me"'ed through the throngs to get to her, ran her away for a few moments, then ran her back. She made it back as the last competitor began, was shoved up on the stage to start immediately, couldn't remember which dance this comeptition was, listened for a second to the music, id'd the dance and found her step. She is 8, but has had to develop perseverence like I have never seen in a child. She placed SECOND out of 23. She was impressed with the medal. I was impressed because she's 8, and pushed through when she was all discombobulated. (<Most of the kids in her competitions, if they mess up or miss a step, they go back to the line early and cry. It is heartbreaking).

Her reality is full of challenges. EVERYTHING. She loves competing. But she is so averse to overstimulation (crowds, people jostling her --too much TOUCH, 4 stages with 4 different songs going at once, etc) that she cries at least 3 times at every single competition. We find the "quiet places" and take her there between events.

I got way off topic. I just want people to get a snapshot of the kids we're really talking about here. I know, at WDW, we get funny looks with our GAC. I know it. I am clandestine about showing the GAC, because DD doesn't even know about it, I don't think. But I guess people around us might have noticed it. If anyone asks what I have, I blow off the question. Can't have dd hearing me talk about it, now can I?

Beth

 

[tarkus]

I agree it is a valid question; here's my take on it.

I have heard that some parks DO this, but I'm not so sure it would cut down on abuse.
I believe there have been some lawsuits (but I'm not sure about that). The reason is that the ADA says you can not be required to provide proof of disability in order to get accomidation. As long as the parks are providing accomidation (rather than special treatment like front of the line access), asking for proof would be not allowed.

Another thing to keep in mind is that a GAC is not a single card that gives everyone the same access (which is what some parks that do require 'proof' have). The GAC has a place for a stamp (or stamps) that tell what sort of accomidations are needed by the person it is issued to.
If the CMs are asking people "what needs do you have that you need accomidation for" or "what types of accomidation do you need", it is not as easy to 'cheat'. The ADA does allow that kind of quesion because (kind of obviously), the place needs to know what sort of assistance you need in order to provide it.

There are some websites that suggest bringing a letter with just the sort of wording you suggested, "this person would benefit from any consideration you can provide". One of the problems with that is it doesn't tell what sort of assistance the person needs (they still need to be able to explain their needs).
I did bring things like a copy of my child's IEP with us the first time we asked for a GAC; it was easy to bring (it was never looked at). But, it didn't give any clue of what my child's needs were - just that she has disabilities.

It would be very easy for many people who don't need accomidation to get a letter - people have written in the past that their doctor told them to get a GAC for fill in the blank with any condition, and they posted here to ask about GACs. As it turned out, many of them really could not think of any reasons they needed a GAC or how it might help them, but were going to ask for one because their doctor gave them a letter. They had a disability or condition, but did not have any need for accomidation to go along with it. Most of those people posting decided not to ask for a GAC because they could not see how it would help them.

And, what about those people who have needs, but didn't know they have to have a letter? Do they not get accomidation?
What about those whose doctor has never been to WDW and thinks they don't need any accomidation?
Or what about those hard nosed doctors (and I have heard of some) who would require a visit or a charge to write a note (which in some ways is fair, since they have to spend some of their time doing it)?
Or the people who find that WDW is a bit too much without accomidation after they are there?

If there is anything that people think might 'get' them something, there will be people who 'cheat'. There were even counterfeit Make A Wish buttons being sold on International Drive for a while -what kind of parent would pretend their child has a life-threatening illness just to get a little 'special treatment'? This was something I had read about on a CM forum, so as far as I know, it was very real.

Two things I know that would help to cut down on 'abuse' would be for CMs to ask what sort of assistance is needed before issuing a GAC - I think most do that.
Another thing would be for the CMs to give an explanation of how to use the GAC the person is given, including things like using Fastpass (more than 'just take it to the CM at the attraction').

Sue,

You make so many valid points on this that it's just easier for me to say I agree with you in entirety.

Your point about "equal" access is important, even with a qualifying disability we are assured equal, not superior access. Something we need to keep in mind.

The documentation and ADA is always a grey area, and I agree it would be easier if there was some sort of uniform way to ID.

Of course others see showing ID as an "infringement" on their civil rights, and I don't begrudge that argument either.


Wonderful post, Thanks.

Be Big,
Alan

 

[krismom]

I suppose the same could be said for people who "rent" the wheelchairs and ECV's... if they really needed one, they'd own one. I wouldn't be against the documentation idea- I could bring a filing cabinet full of medical evals, reports and diagnoses... but the CM's need to know how they can help- not why they should.