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!!!

5itb the Disneyland Paris site has a fabulous accessibility guide with all exit pass info

Fanjo there are many adults to whom the whole idea that there are children who cannot queue, just as a child in a wheelchair cannot walk, is something they just don't know about.

And there are also adults who allow their children to jump queues if they can get away with it.

Add those two together and what do you get? You get adults who perfectly understandably and reasonably (on the facts as they know them) think you and your DC are jumping the queue and getting away with it - and react accordingly.

OK I'm scared. I've got tickets for Legoland for Ds. He's been dying to go for weeks but I didn't want to attempt the school holidays.

Now I've got to deal with all the ignorant arseholes who begrudge Ds a little joy?

I don't want to go now.

well..people should stop and THINK...

And the people on this thread ARE aware of the issues and still grudge the passes so I don't think it is as simple as that.

to all the people who say we are ignorant, yes we peobably are, but how will we get rid of our ignorance without asking questions, telling you what we think and hearing replies? if you are so worried that people are ignorant then educate us without having a go at us?

from what i know off children with asd, when they are in mainstream schools they still wait in ques/lines to go in to classroom, at lunch etc, this is what i have seen,

imo some people here are arrogant for calling people ignorant and at the same time not wanting to educate them, and expecting them to have knowledge about something they have no experience of.

GLITTER i didnt say that? i think you are too defensive

im just pissed off i had a shit summer with my kids thats all, and coz they dont have sen, noone cares. all kids should have the same worth.

I would just go and seriously ignore them or tell them to eff off. Sad to have to be like that but they are just asking for it.

Does anyone have experience of Alton Towers and how they manage disabled access? I'm hoping to go there in a couple of weeks.

I've only been to 2 theme parks before and both only allowed passes for the person with the disability and 1 helper. I find this quite sad because we are a family of 3. We want to go on the rides together but instead someone always has to miss out or go on them alone. (Usually missing out because the whole point of having the pass is that I can't wait around while they queue.)

nailak - well go and educate yourself dear, why should we do it for you.

My daughter could no more stand in a queue (or speak) or go to mainstream school than you could fly in the air.

And take your pity party elsewhere, people as you say "care" about the kids with SN because they NEED MORE INPUT TO HAVE THE SAME CHANCES AS YOUR KIDS.

Some people's selfishness ASTOUNDS ME.

Yes, that's kids in mainstream - many aren't!

you can have my childs wee bit of support, and indeed her exit pass and blue badge, in return for the fact that I assume your kids can talk to you and understand basic concepts, and interact with you.

Perspective, dear.

to all the people who say we are ignorant, yes we peobably are, but how will we get rid of our ignorance without asking questions, telling you what we think and hearing replies? if you are so worried that people are ignorant then educate us without having a go at us?

That's kind of the point I'm trying to make about rude and arrogant people on 'both sides'

If you look at my post at 12.38 and a couple of the subsequent replies, they are dripping in sarcasm and appear to have been posted by petulant teenagers.

There's really no need for it. Politeness and understanding works both ways.

Nailik, there is a charity called Merlins Magic Wand, who give free tickets to children with SN and thos whose parents are on benefits (they call it disadvantaged, I hate that word). If you/your DC fall into those categories, then it is worth applying. Sorry you've had a crap summer.

Glitter, is it on their website?

Nailik: I'm going to answer your post seriously rather than in the spirit it was meant.

You have the decision on what you do with your kids in the same way as I do, they go to the park, the beach, the wood, castles all those good things that are free and/or wholesome.

But we also go to theme parks. It's what I spend my (limited) money on. Incidentally I'm not sure what "family circumstance" would stop you being able to do some of those things, having at one time or another been broke single mum etc I have still done a number of those things and not begrudged others who could do the rest.

When we do anything I want to be able to do everything that DS would be able to do without the ASD, but with the necessary adaptations. I expect tolerance and patience from people. I certainly think that Disabled people are worthy of that and are entitled to it.

I certainly don't think that if I can do these things or treat my children in this way, that DS should be limited or kept at home because he has ASD.

Fanjo The people on this thread who begrudge the passes . . . well, I will leave that sentence unfinished and keep this post undeleted.

But this entire forum consists of people who are more likely than the average to understand. It's a very unusual self-selected subset of our species. To large numbers of the parents taking their DCs to a theme park (a fate I shudder at when I look back) if it looks like a queue-jumper and acts like a queue-jumper it is a queue-jumper. You cannot blame them; we cannot all know about everything.

Do the maps they hand out at the gates explain the pass system and who is eligible? That would be a good start, although not everyone reads handouts.

Not understanding ..fine..posting that they feel people only care about kids with SN...totally insensitive. And people who post things like that should try to imagine that their kids are seriously disabled, and be glad of what they have.

Not got energy to be "patient and understanding" with people who post things like that, its too personal to me, so will leave the thread.

I have to say that we went last week to Legoland and were very pleased with the experience. We only once had "they're pushing in" and one girl asking me why my 6 year old DS who is the size of an 8 year old (suspected ASD) was in a Legoland double buggy.

Yes and we went with our free Merlin's Magic Wand tickets using the petrol they paid for and the parking ticket they provided............ because DS has a disability

Nailak and others, if you begrudge my sarcasm read the ignorant comments here and on other threads "shouldn't be paid for looking after your own kids", "kids like yours should be euthanised/institutionalised, shouldn't be seen" etc and think what that does to a person when they hear that every day about their kids, and not just on Internet forums. Yes I'm sarcastic and belligerent but think about what made me that way.

ChippingIn - Looking at what I wrote, I can see why you'd say that . DS, DD and me are utter thrill seekers. DS loves the rides themselves as sensory problems are mostly movement related (hyposensitive) so he gets a lot of joy from being spun, swung or otherwise thrown about. hence loving themeparks. He is hypersensitive over personal space and being confined with no sense of time, hence real queueline issues

Thing is when we get the tolarence, awareness and understanding we need, DS's issues are a whole lot more manageable and a whole lot less noticable. the four of us have a superb time.

DS in a queueline in meltdown IS a hazard to anyone in close proximity, as I hope spiderpig you never have to find out.

5itb yes, biiiig section on website

Glitter I'm sorry you've had to put up with things like that but imo it's no excuse for being rude to people who are simply asking questions or posting opinions based on things they don't have inside knowledge of.

Probably best to treat each person as they are IYSWIM

Otherwise everyone in life would just be downright rude to everyone else based on various crap they've had to suffer.

I don't think going to a theme park is a necessity and therefore I believe that if you can't queue you shouldn't go.

I don't think going to a theme park is a necessity and therefore I believe that if you can't queue you shouldn't go

It's not a necessity for anyone though is it?

It's a treat...a family day out to enjoy.

Why shouldn't disabled people be treated to enjoyable family days out if they can be accomodated to help them do so safely?

because it's at the expense of everybody else's enjoyment.they have to queue longer if you queue jump!
Also many people can't afford this sort of thing and they just have to accept it.Not stomp around with a sense of entitlement

5inthebed - Disneyland Paris are superb. the number of people who can go on with disabled person varys from ride to ride small world it's 6 but most of the others are less.
Kladdkaka - Have not done Alton Towers but most of the merlin group seem to be up to 3 helpers.
PersonalClown - go enjoy. both of my DC had a superb time. DS is totally oblivious to the malstrom around him. It's me and my DP that find legoland hard work. We still had a good day, but not as good a day as we have elsewhere. I must practise my think skin!