to think attitudes to disabilities in a themepark should be better...

[LunarRose]

We have exit passes for DS with ASD.

AIBU that "I'm going to kick their head in" cos they're "queue jumping", was neither clever nor original (especially after the third time my DP heard it during the day)

AIBU that pushing DS out the way (in the chest with some force) because he failed to respond instantly to your demand he "get out of your way" (whist waiting at the disabled exit) was just plain unpleasant (I was bending down to move him at the time)

So many more similar incidents through the day.

I normal circumstances I wouldn't want to wish my son's disability on anyone, nor the days over backache that a themepark trip entitled before we knew about exit passes (from carrying DS through Queuelines kicking and screaming) however....

We shall retreat to Chessington where we have always found people lovely!!!

I've just read the whole thread and all I can think of is Will from The Inbetweeners queuing for the front of ride seats, slagging off the queue jumpers who then turn out to have Downs Syndrome. He then knows he's been an arse for moaning about them. It wouldn't have had quite the same impact if it had been a row of asd children because "they" don't look any "different".

We're all so wrapped up in our own little bubble that we assume (wrongly, of course) we are all capable of the same things. Universal studios has, in my opinion, the best fast pass system. We always use it and of course we end up in our shorter queue with families with children who have additional needs. Over the years my children have begun to recognise some of the behaviours because they have been exposed to them. It's the only time they ever really mix with children with additional needs.

I don't really know what point I'm trying to make except that my children have a tiny bit more understanding of special needs purely because of Universal Studios fast pass system.

Alouise, do your children not have children with SN's in school or even in their class?

Andrew - I agree, it's just the word ignorant has been used throughout threads like this before (disabled moan/bashing threads) so I assumed that was the word we were using for the uneducated.

Apologies if it has offended you or anyone else.

Agree with Claw's post above.

Claw - The boys will be at school with some SN children but they school is quite large and setted. So they don't come across many. Also this LA still has quite a few schools specifically for behavioural and learning difficulties. The only physically disabled child there is currently an extremely good disabled athlete in the running for the para - Olympics. Therefore a bit of a hero to the whole school.

I've only been to Florida Universal, which is so well run I find English theme parks, specifically Legoland cause me extreme anger issues :o.

Alouise, oh i see and its quite true thinking about it, that many children dont come into contact with SN children. My two older 'normal' boys were/are at a large secondary school and they had no contact with SN children.

My younger ds with SN's started off at a primary school, prior to his diagnosis, where he was one of about 3-4 children in the whole school with SN's. I suppose parents of SN children tend to look for schools were the staff have had more training in SN's which tend to be the schools with a larger number of children with SN's attending it.

I hadnt given it much thought, thoses days seem so far away now

Alou that was a lovely post.

And MNHQ are going to debate the idea about Sn access / suitability at their next meeting.

It's little things: SS Great Britain hides some smelly shellfish in a room to create a smell o vision style exhibit: that was a MASSIVE no no for my boys. But how does one know if it's not said? Likewise, Bristol Zoo is fanatstic attitude wise and those that can should get priased.

DS3 starts Cubs tonight by the way, the cubs leader is an ASD trained TA and has had other kids from his school through; DS1 starts a trrial at St Johns cadets next week. There is a LOT of willingness from people to help. It does mean me being realistic- far easier if I say outright that I know they can't do X and Y (someone locally apparently is suing a Brownie group becuase they would not take her severely disabled DD on camp unles Mum attended and Mum wouldn't)

I honestly belive most people want to understand and to be supportive. Society seems to sell a philosophy of watch out incase they get mroe than you- I mentioned on another thread today an overheard convo where Mum was complaining that able kids fdon;t gett eh same supporta s those with SN- Sn, An love the clue is in the decriptive term!

But kids raised around Sn benefitl- they learn to think about others, they develop understanding but also real problem solving skills- ds2 noticed today that the nursery intake wear albels with names on so just came home with a lable so he can teach ds4 not to peel it off. Wow. he's now working out how to get DS4 to keep it on, drawing pics etc on it. that's a life skill.

Yes it was DandyLioness who came up with the "Polite Notice" clearly explaining the theme parks policy.

Had something similar happen to us today have copied and pasted this from my thread rather than retype it all.

DP and I took the DC to a theme park today.

We carefully planned it so that it ran smoothly for DS1.

Arrived got our card for the top rides so we could have our times put on etc

Got DS1's wrist band and were all set.

Most of our previous trips have been disasterous with the queing times etc so we were really pleased that for the first time ever DS1 was able to join in like all other children. I really felt proud of him when he was laughing along with us at silly things because he was relaxed.

About 4.45 DS1 and DP went to a ride to get on, at 4.50 they were turned away from the disabled access/fast track queue because there was a large queue in the non disabled queue. Poor DS1 felt embarrassed because the person in the kiosk said in a not very quit voice to DP "We are not able to let any more disabled people on as we have a queue" then looked at DS1 and asked DP "whats his disability" DS1 turned red and walked away.

His whole mood changed and he instantly started acting up. I could only watch as I couldn't stop him feeling embarrassed for what had been said. He is still getting used to the fact he has AS, and no it is not a physically obvious disability but it is one all the same.

I waited for DP to take the DC to the car and I went back to talk to the ride manager whose answer was "well we can't make allowances for disabled people when we are closing the ride" I explained the ride had been going for a further 40 minutes and he said "Yes those were the people waiting"

I am angry about the way he spoke to DP in front of a large crowd who could hear and also the fact he embarrassed DS1. I am probably over reacting as it was the first time we have ever had syuch a good day and DS1 really seemed to enjoy himself. Didn't have a meltdown when he had to wait, didn't cry because DS2 had a go on a ride before him etc.

Sorry this is a bit of a rant more than anything, it wasn't a drama but it did upset me because it really changed DS1's mood. He went to my mums when we got back and he has told her about it and that it made him feel embarrassed.

Not ignoring your post, TLES, because I commented on your actual thread. :)

I have just read this whole thread through and was open-mouthed in shock at some of the appalling things I had to read from the arachsnort (good choice of alternative name) and nailak, although she gave up quite fast (good thinking!)
In fact, I'm so shocked I'm quite speechless.

I can't abide the attitude that people should be stopped doing things, or hidden away, or "kept in their place where they won't get distressed" just so inconsiderate bastards aren't inconvenienced in any way. :(

Oh, I've remembered why I wanted to post - in terms of using the word "ignorant", I sort of assume that it is used as shorthand for "wilfully fucking pig-ignorant" rather than it's literal meaning of "doesn't know about stuff". That's how I use it in these situations, anyway.

Fair enough Thumbwitch - on another thread today I used unaware for the milder sort of ignorant. Until I learnt about it on MN I was unaware that some SN children cannot queue. So the operators should do what they can to explain to customers why some children seem to be queue-jumping - can't explain to them all because some people don't read anything and don't listen.

You expansion of the I-word to a more complete meaning is spot-on!

TLES - that's such a shame. Poor ds. I hope he's able to focus on the way he did so well the rest of the day and not on that horrible incident. (I've seen some of your previous threads about your situation and it sounds as if ds1 may have turned quite an important corner?)

I hope you name and shame the theme park - I'd like to know so I can avoid it. Not because I have a child with disabilities, I don't, but because it's a shitty way to treat a child.

(Before anyone ill-informed piles on to say it would be dangerous to name the theme park, you are perfectly within your rights to recount your own experience.)

Apart from anything else, asking a parent 'what's his disability' is shockingly rude. What the fuck business is it of someone running a ride at a theme park? Clear need for better staff training. Or not employing fuckwits in the first place.

Why thank you - I have just posted it on that other thread as well, almost x-posting with you on this one but luckily I had to check back on here to C&P it so saw what you had replied. Saved me a few lines!

edam - it's named on TLES's thread - it's Chessington, which got a reasonably good rep from the people earlier on this thread.

Spiderpig8 does indeed have form - it's the same poster who posted a thread about getting a child with ASD and his family thrown out of the cinema. The thread was not pretty, and was subsequently deleted.

Daftpunk was eventually deleted for her repeatedly bigotted posts - also posted to wind people up. I hope it isn't too long before the same happens to Spiderpig8.