Alton Towers to remove disability pass for people with ADHD and anxiety

[AnitaRita]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2gwgj4xreo
Too many people wanting to join the "Fast pass queue" so you actually end up with two queues rather than one queue and a fast entry! Got to agree with them - if you're too anxious to queue then a white knuckle ride is probably not for you!

This is certainly true for me. I am fine queuing if I am in my wheelchair because I'm set down, but I am unable to stand and queue for long periods (indeed for any amount of time).
That said to the condition that means I struggle to queue also means I would really struggle to go on a roller coaster so I don't really go to theme parks...

Which is a shame for disabled parents 😢

Doesn’t sound like they’re excluding autism though.

I think it's reasonable. There are far too many people using the RAP. It's not a very efficient virtual queuing system as you do your virtual queue and then join another queue of people with RAP! For people who genuinely can't stand it means access is not possible

Unfortunately I think it was a very abused system.

The only time I’ve ever ridden white knuckle rides is when I was clinically depressed. I just wanted to feel something…

anxiety comes in many forms - you’re encouraged to do things, get out, experience life - not shut yourself away.

maybe if the there park limited numbers the queues would be shorter and fewer people would feel the need for a fast pass. The problem is the parks are so expensive that everyone wants to feel they are getting value for money - queuing for 2hours or more for a ride is not getting “your money’s worth”.

A friend of mine has a son with ADHD, the only time his sunflower lanyard comes out is trips to theme parks!

So how do they decide who needs it and who doesn’t?

They are excluding people with ADHD and anxiety not people with complex and profound learning disabilities.

Disney did this years ago. It is a shame for children who genuinely need access provisions but the huge rise in entitlement to access provisions and benefits is going to cause those in need a lot more serious issues than queueing at a theme park.

I don't think being clinically depressed stops you from riding rollercoasters.

Of course anxiety comes in many forms but if your able to navigate the busy park with people everywhere, lights, screaming, uncontrolled crowds, and also cope with the anxiety of a ride throwing you about, I think you can stand in the much calmer more controlled environment of a queue. It's convenient that it's the shit element of theme parks it stops people doing

Those talking about huge rollercoasters know that CBeebies land is also at AT - and a lot of slow calm rides. It is not all rollercoasters by any means.

When a new hospital was built near me, it had well over 20% free disabled parking. Which got filled within weeks.

Then the parking company required people using the disabled bays to produce their blue badge and the badge holder at a desk to get the ticket activated.

All of a sudden there were plenty of blue badge spaces.

Now I have my own conclusions. However the are the same as the conclusions I drew when my local council started checking on street blue badge usage (wardens would wait and check the car was actually carrying the badge holder). Again, all of a sudden, blue badge spaces were much more available.

The problem is that it is too easy.

Ds was diagnosed with ADHD and ASD in his early teens
His ADHD report says he will struggle to queue.

He was a Legoland veteran who did occasionally find queues frustrating but no more than my other two NT DC. He queued fine.
Part of that he knew what happened in the queues and part of it was I would jolly them along, have snacks etc.

Because too many have been able to use it, it's been withdrawn from those who do really need it, which is not surprising but sad.

They are- they've removed the difficulty queueing symbol and replaced it with- difficulty with crowds (which will be lost autistic people) and difficulty standing (which means physical difficulty only)
it used to be that you'd send in evidence of disability directly to Merlin, now you need to get a nimbus access card and have the correct symbols- which initially including a difficulty with queuing symbol that has now been removed.
bow the only symbols accepted are- difficulty standing, urgent toilet needs and level access.
So basically it doesn't matter what your disability is, if it doesn't fit into those 3 categories then you can't get a ride access pass.

Lots of autistic kids love the sensory side of riding on theme part rides. The queuing is a challenge because it is unpredictable levels of waiting and involves different kinds of sensory stress.

It is really sad this has been done and I can’t help but think the timing seems really cynical - not announced until anyone planning to buy a year long Merlin pass for Christmas has done so, not knowing their kids will now be unable to go without buying really expensive fast passes.

in Disney and universal the queues are all wheelchair accessible and people in wheelchairs are expected to queue with everyone else. No exceptions

Agree. I'm too anxious to go on these rides. Should I be fast tracked. No thanks. The meaning of disability is lost now.

If you are too anxious to go on rides, then this wont apply to you then 🙄

Not true.
the change means that the ONLY people who will be able to get a ride access pass are those with the following 3 symbols on their nimbus access card- difficulty standing (allocated only to those with PHYSICAL difficulty standing)
Urgent toilet needs (self explanatory)
level access (so wheel chair users etc)
that is the change. many people with complex and profound learning difficulties, severe autism etc won't fit into any of those groups and so won't be eligible

Do those rides tend to have big queues now? When ds was little we did CBeebies with a RAP but for most rides there was no queue so it wasn’t needed.

I don’t know what the answer is but I can see why as it was it was unsustainable and meant those who needed it most where the ones who missed out.

But it is regularly abused and the ones with autism and the physically disabled are the ones who suffer, a wee bit of anxiety can get to the back of the fucking queue and allow the poor souls who are in genuine need of this benefit

No one likes queuing. Most kids get fed up and just want to get on the ride. Maybe if everyone just had to register for a time slot and the arrived at that time or maybe 5 minutes before it would alleviate the hours of queuing. But maybe that’s too much hassle for the parks to organise. I agree anxiety about queuing should not give anyone the right to jump that queue as everyone could claim this.

It's autism too but funnily enough most media outlets forgot to add that. Puts a totally different spin on it, doesn't it? 😡🙄

It's like people think being able to go on a rollercoaster is a human right. If you your too anxious to go to a park filled with people go somewhere else for the day.