Note From Dr?

[keishashadow]

Hi - again, I posted a month ago & received lots of great advice...but, I'm back for more.

My DS's fractured foot is not healing. We're going thru a battery of tests to figure this out and his new specialist @ Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh has advised that this may take sometime to resolve positively.

He strongly advised us to cancel our upcoming trip in December, says he probably will be limited even as to "crutch time". But, after discusssing amoung ourselves, we are sticking it out and would rent a lightweight chair @ home to use on vacation.

What I'm confused about is: his Dr. insists that he can "write a note" for us to take to WDW. Said that would use this to reduce the amount of walking he must actually do (from chair to attraction). Not to appear dense, what would I do with a note? I know there are special entrances/waiting areas, how would this work? TIA

Thanks in advance.

 

[Michigan]

You need to explain to the doctor that WDW does not take notes from doctors anymore. In years past people would get a note from the doctor and it would give them front of the line access but that changed with all the wheelchair cheats.

The ADA law makes it clear that you can not ask someone to prove disability.

To receive a GAC just tell the CM what you need to meet your needs.

Cindy

 

[spiceycat]

which cm?

guest services? the ticket people? who do you ask for this benefit?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Guest Services. BUT if your son will be in a wheelchair, you shouldn't also need a GAC - the wheelchair effectively functions as one. At each attraction, approach the Greeter, where you will be instructed how to access the attraction.

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm at work, so I don't have my sticky notes available (they are on my computer at home). When I get home, I will post more.

The card is called a Guest Assistance Card (also called a GAC on this board to avoid typing so much). The GAC is a tool to let the CMs at the attractions know what types of assistance/accomidation is needed by people with invisible disabilities. You obtain a GAC at Guest Services in any of the parks by explaining your needs to the CMs there.

As was already mentioned, if he has a wheelchair and just needs to have access, he should not need a GAC because the CM can see the wheelchair and know you need to use an accessible boarding area (the exception would be if he has a wheelchair that could be mistaken for a stroller). When you come to a ride, talk to the greeter CM and he/she will direct you. In most cases, the regular line is accessible. When you get to the boarding area, you will need to tell the CM what you need (ie, can he walk 20 feet or will he need to be able to bring the wheelchair right up to the ride car). The CMs can be helpful in aranging things (like slowing the ride, pulling a wheelchair away after he has boarded), but they are not allowed to actually assist with a transfer.

 

[keishashadow]

He is now @ the point where he is not allowed any weight bearing on the foot (with crutches) and probably will be for sometime.

To tell the truth, I'm not familiar with wheelchairs...don't suppose there's anyway to comfortably carry/affix the crutches on it. Will be renting one from local supplier.

My concern is: if we don't lug the crutches into the park, he'd have to hop on one leg until we got to the ride itself (don't think he could keep that up for any period of time though). If you do take the WC or crutches directly up to the ride area, does someone have to stay with them while you ride or can you leave them? Can't imagine getting off the ride & they've gone missing (you never know what people will do). Anyone ever have someone steal their "personal wheelchair" if it was unattended?

 

[BillSears]

When you rent the wheelchair ask them for one that has a holder attached for the crutches. That way you can take the crutches and the chair with you.

I'm a paraplegic with his own personal wheelchair. I've never taken a single step in WDW but I think I've riden every ride there. Your son should really have no problem getting on and of of the rides. They will allow you to take the wheelchair right up to the ride in almost all cases. They may ask if he is able to walk a few steps and if you agree then he could use the crutches for that.

I've never had any problems with my personal wheelchair "getting lost". We just let the CMs take care of the chair. The CMs tend to take good care of it while I'm riding and it's always there at the end of the ride.

 

[LisaBi]

There are lots of rides that you don't even have to transfer out of the wheelchair. Others you do, but only a short step from chair to ride. There are some they ask if you can walk a short distance. If you can, they have you leave the chair in a more conveinent spot. If not, they do take you up to the ride in your chair. And yes, there are some that you plain have to be able to walk a bit, but there are very few of those.

I understand not wanting to drag crutches. But I'd think that he could ride most rides if you can manage a few steps with him hopping on one foot and someone else supporting him.

LisaB

 

[SueM in MN]

Your son probably won't need a GAC (Guest Assistance Card) because he will have a wheelchair. As was already noted, the CMs can see the wheelchair and know that the person using it needs accessible entrances. So, the GAC is more to notify CMs of things that are readily apparent that you may need accomidation for.
Here is a summary of basic info about GACs that I promised to post:

• To request a GAC, go to Guest Services in any of the parks and talk to the CM there about his problems and needs. The GAC is given based on needs and the accomidations that meet those needs.
  The GAC is usually given for up to 6 people (5 plus the perrson with a disability) and is valid at all the parks for your length of stay (you don't need to get a new one at each theme park).
  A few other things
• the GAC is not meant to be a pass that gives immediate access. In fact, about 6 years ago, they renamed it to Card because when it was called a Pass, people thought it mean front of the line access. It says right on the card that it will not shorten or eliminate waits in line.
• it is meant as a tool to tell the CMs what the person's needs are so that they can provide appropriate accomidation for the person it was issued to. Some examples of accomidations might be a quieter place to wait, a place out of the sun (for those times when the line is in the sun for a prolonged period of time).
• because what is stamped on the GAC is based on needs, not all GACs say the same thing.
• think of the GAC like an insurance card, not necessarily needed or used all the time, but there for when you need it.
• even on the same attraction, the GAC is not always handled the same each time. Exactly what happens depends on how busy it is, how many other people with special needs are there at the time and staffing. Some times you may be sent thru the regular standby line, occassionally the fastpass line; sometimes the person with the GAC and a member of their party will be given an alternate place to wait while the rest of the party goes thru the standby line - and then meet up with them when they get to the front. Sometimes you might be given a slip and told you can come back at the time written on the slip (usually equal to the standby time); very occassionally, you might be taken right in. It depends on what they call "attraction considerations" (which is basically the things I listed in the second sentence).
• Fastpass is a good way to avoid waits in line. You don't have to be present to get a fastpass, you can send one member of your party ahead with all the park passes to get fastpasses. When you report back to the ride at your fastpass return time, your wait will be 15 minutes or less.
• If he gets tired and needs to lie down in air conditioning for a while, there is a First Aid station in each park. They have cots in individual cubicles for resting.

There is a link to the online version of the WDW Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities in the disABILITIES FAQs thread. That has a list of attractions in each park that are totally wheelchair accessible (the rides that LisaBi mentioned). My DD can't walk unless someone holds her up, but she's ridden everything in all the parks at least once except Space Mountain, BTRR, Rock N Roller Coaster and Mission Space. So, even someone who can't move under their own powerr can get in most rides with assistance.

PS. One ride I would recommend NOT trying is Primeval Whirl. From the ground it looks quite tame, but both of my DD's got thrown around quite a bit in it. Youngest DD almost slid out under the restraint. Oldest DD said it was very important to be able to brace with her feet in order to stay in place (youngest DD is not able to do that and it probably contributed to her not being able to stay up).
You might also want to specifically ask the doctor about the less tame rides and whether or not he feels your son should ride them.

And, I just wanted to mention; we had a foreign exchange student from France one year who had a foot fx that just would not heal. It seemed like every time it was almost healed, she would re-injure it and get a stress fracture. The longest time she had gone "well" was about 4 months. The year she was here, she re-broke it around the middle of September. She was in a lot of pain and was thinking of going home. We found a good Orthopod who got it casted in a way it needed to be in order to heal. Once it was healed, she started a series of strengthening exercises for the muscles of the foot and lower leg. By the time she left here, her foot was completly healed and she has had no further problems with it, even skiing (About 8 years have passed now). Just wanted to let you know there is hope.

 

[Nanajo1]

If a CM asks if your DS can walk be very realistic in your answer. I answered the CM at the Haunted Mansion I could walk a few feet. I was overwelmed with the distance she thought was a few feet. So I would answer no, he must use crutches and is non weight bearing.
Regarding safeguarding the wheelchair I have seen folks with bike locks. The kind that are wire inside a tubing. The chair must be able to be moved by CMs but you can put the lock on so the front wheels don't roll. But by tipping it back it can be moved. Sometimes the w/c is moved to the end of the attraction or moved to make way for other guests but it is always near by.

 

[keishashadow]

Really appreciate all your expertise & advice. Starting to think this may be manageable with preparation. I've printed out the thread so I can reference it.

SueM in MN - the story about the foreign exchange student sounds familiar...we:

Started out w/Pediatrition, sent us to Podiatrist.

Pediatrition didn't agree with his findings, sent us to Ortho Surgeon. Put him in a removeable cast, non-weight bearing...had head to toe bone scan and MRI of left foot - Fx is not healing for "some unusual reason"...

Ortho sent us to Children's Hospital for evaluation. They're ruling out arthritis & infection and making us repeat the MRI's, this time with contrast. I politely asked whether a "real cast" might be in order and was told "...that's not how they do things here..." Further stated that they'd probably send us back to the Ortho if findings were negative.

One last comment to make...found it disturbing in Feb. @ MGM (movie disaster ride - can't think of the name); the dedicated handicapped lane was swamped with non-handicapped riders...they even joked about it-bragging that they'd get in first! I felt terrible for the folks who were trying to keep their ECVs & WC from back-sliding down the incline you have to wait in...When a CM was questioned why they were allowing/directing additional patrons into the line, they just shrugged & said it was their job to keep the lines moving.

 

[SueM in MN]

One last comment to make...found it disturbing in Feb. @ MGM (movie disaster ride - can't think of the name); the dedicated handicapped lane was swamped with non-handicapped riders...they even joked about it-bragging that they'd get in first! I felt terrible for the folks who were trying to keep their ECVs & WC from back-sliding down the incline you have to wait in...When a CM was questioned why they were allowing/directing additional patrons into the line, they just shrugged & said it was their job to keep the lines moving.

?The backstage tour?
For that one, you start out walking and stand for a show of how they do water special effects. After that, you walk up another ramp and through a building where they store props on high shelves behind wire mesh doors. At the end, you are loaded into trams where you drive thru the backlot area (that's where you see Catastrophe Canyon).

For the beginning part, wheelchair/ecv users and people traveling with strollers have to be in the far right lane. Once you get to the "water show" part, the other rows have stairs. They do usually direct other people into the right lane if the others are full. But, I do have to agree it's a hard area to be in with a wheelchair or ecv. It's about as steep an incline as is legal to have (because of the back-sliding problem). My DD is pretty light, but I feel sorry for some of the people who are not used to pushing a wheelchair (especially one of those heavy park rental ones).

 

[keishashadow]

?The backstage tour?
For that one, you start out walking and stand for a show of how they do water special effects. After that, you walk up another ramp and through a building where they store props on high shelves behind wire mesh doors. At the end, you are loaded into trams where you drive thru the backlot area (that's where you see Catastrophe Canyon).

For the beginning part, wheelchair/ecv users and people traveling with strollers have to be in the far right lane. Once you get to the "water show" part, the other rows have stairs. They do usually direct other people into the right lane if the others are full. But, I do have to agree it's a hard area to be in with a wheelchair or ecv. It's about as steep an incline as is legal to have (because of the back-sliding problem). My DD is pretty light, but I feel sorry for some of the people who are not used to pushing a wheelchair (especially one of those heavy park rental ones).

Yes, that's the one...an older woman was in an ECV and she was concerned that her battery was getting low (Pres. day weekend, very long wait). She kept shutting it off, but was back sliding, with her husband trying to keep her from drifting. They were elderly and it seemed to be quite an ordeal for them. People kept asking them if they needed help, but they refused. IMO an elevator would be a good idea here.

Recently, we found out my elderly mom needs hips & knees replaced. While we're evaluating surgery, the doctor suggested that she use a walker or that we use the complimentary wheelchairs @ the hospitals & stores. What a work out for me...I hope they're just "junky & beat up". I'm going to talk to her doctor about purchasing a lightweight fold-up chair for her to use on outings.

 

[SueM in MN]

Recently, we found out my elderly mom needs hips & knees replaced. While we're evaluating surgery, the doctor suggested that she use a walker or that we use the complimentary wheelchairs @ the hospitals & stores. What a work out for me...I hope they're just "junky & beat up". I'm going to talk to her doctor about purchasing a lightweight fold-up chair for her to use on outings.

Look on the web for "Transport Chairs". They have 4 small wheels instead of 2 big and 2 small ones. Because of the small wheels, they are lighter weight and easier to fit (and lift) into car trunks. They are meant to be pushed (because of the small wheels the person sitting in it can't propel it.