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!!!

This thread is absolutely sickening. I cannot believe how acceptable and common this attitude towards those with disabilities is.

Spiderpig,and others who resent the so called 'perks',I'm pretty sure you'd soon change your tune if you ever became disabled. It could happen,we're all just once accident or one illness away from acquiring a disability ourselves.
These so called perks are in fact aids,not perks,aids to enable those with disabilities to access the many services and situations that those without disabilities take for granted.

Do you go around flagellating yourself to ease the guilt that you surely must feel because you can use stairs,escalators,enter shops and attractions without having to check beforehand if they're accessible,only to find that they aren't half so accessible as you were told?

These are all 'privileges' that those without disabilities accept as the norm. iI don't see you complaining about the privileges that you're accustomed to,about how unfair it is that you can access just about every shop,restaurant,gym and museum.

Kladkaka re your post about Alton Towers, we went last year and had an exit pass for me, we were with a party of four adults and five children, they gave us all wristbands but said only four at a time to use them on the rides, thought this was v generous and fair enough, would be wrong to squeeze us all on at once, but they seemed v laid back and trusted us etc. In fact we are going again in a fortnight for DDs birthday again as it was such a good experience. I was in and out of a wheelchair last year as couldn't manage any walking let alone queuing, had no comments, this year will walk as having a better time at the moment but still wouldn't be able to queue as couldn't stand for long, so will see if I get any comments, if so hey ho.

Shame about the ignorant comments further up, but just reflects so much thinking now :(

I have to admit that I had no idea before reading this thread that children with ASD cannot queue for long periods of time etc which is why they get a pass in theme parks. I think if more people understood the reasons behind these passes they might not feel so angry and act so pettily

I agree with that chocolate. I've also been saying for years that children should be taught about various more common disabilities at school.

With more and more children being diagnosed with ASD and other conditions, the general public should know a lot more about it.

Resentment can (and often does) begin at school when children see other children treated 'differently' to them. For example, a child having a 'meltdown' in class and being allowed to go home...or a child being given a 'free laptop' to take home.

To other children who don't understand (because why would they?) it just looks like preferential treatment. I believe everyone should be educated in SN.

We know far more about the various religions and cultures of people we live by/work with/go to school with, than we do about ASD for example.

oops re double post, internet playing up

As a disabled theme park enjoyer, I don't have a 'sense of entitlement'; I have legally mandated right to 'reasonable adjustment' to accommodate my disability.

I think it's really very sad that yet again on this forum people living with disabilities are having to defend themselves. Our lives will never be anywhere near as easy as someone without disabilities any yet there are those who resent every little thing which helps us, just because they are not getting the same, be it blue badges, space on buses, space in a lift, theme park queue passes or whatever. :(

Kladdaka

Alton Towers are usually OK with a copy of the diagnosis but they no longer except dla letters.

They allow for 3 helpers and I have never heard anyone comment or say anything adverse yet- They also sell fast track tickets so I think this helps.

Spiderpig - are you aware that exit passes are time marked? Someone cannot use the exit pass again until a set time which is written down on the pass (roughly equivalent to the current queue time). This works for most of the big rides in the park (a very large percentage of them at legoland).

Don't get me started on ride operators at legoland marking the times for an hour when the queue is significantly less.

Thanks worra I don't get arsey at questions, honest

accept

Letthereberock-You are talking about mobility disabilities-and I have said that I agree with making attractions accessible for these people.What i have more trouble appreciating is why people with disabilities such as ASD and their families should be entitled to queue jump.Noone LIKES queuing y'know!!

That's good Glitter but now I've had a tiny insight into how some people are so ignorant...I'm surprised you don't walk around with a baseball bat tucked up your sleeve

Assuming you don't of course.....

Lunarrose- I wasn't aware of that.That makes sense

Thanks madhairday that's good to know. That's a slight detour on route to the lake district for us then. Woohoo!

LetThereBeRock, excellent post.

I often wish Ds2s SN was an obvious one, unfortunately it is hidden. The attitues of some people, on here and in RL, are disgusting and something a lot of us with hidden Sn have to face on a daily basis. Not much sense of entitlement there.

"Noone LIKES queuing y'know!!"

so ignorant

Oh shit..... Sprung

Worral - I quite agree, the general public understand precious little about autism and yet the diagnosis rate are rising v rapidly

noone likes queuing but they do it as they understand there is something good at the end of it.

Someone with severe ASD does not understand this, can see the thing that is good and cannot understand why they cannot go and do it, so they get extremely upset.

ASD 101 for idiots

worra I think your idea about educating children in school about disabilities is excellent.

THey might also find the noise of the queue and the proximity of other people extremely distressing to the point of being painful, so that queuing would be like being tortured.

HTH.

wassup3000 a copy of the diagnosis? That's really funny, do the staff have medical training then? My diagnosis papers are in Swedish, I'd better bring my svensk/engelsk dictionary too. :o

as opposed to standard NT selfish arsehole who just gets a bit bored standing in a queue.

*spidergig8"

Children with ASD don't sometimes understand the concept of queuing which makes it difficult for them to stand quietly. Some can be oversensitive to all the sensory stimuli going on around them which can make them (for example) noisy, hit or touch other people inappropriately. They simply would not be able to queue long enough to get on a ride and enjoy it like a child without these difficulties could. Why shouldn't they enjoy and benefit from the experiences other children can?

Well it's either that or a doctors letter explaining why they can't queue. They no longer accept the dla letters. kladdkaka

I don't make the theme park rules up!!

Actually I'm talking about all disabilities. People with a variety of disabilities have to consider access issues. If an adult or child is on the autistic spectrum disorder,and that's just one example then they have to consider accessibility issues too,perhaps not whether there's a ramp or stairs,but is it too crowded?,too loud queues too long?,are the exits easy to access in the event of a meltdown etc.

I have dyspraxia and while its mostly a hidden disability and I'm generally able to do most things for myself I still have to consider accessibility issues on occasion.
There are some stores I can't go into because the layout is too confusing,the racks are too close together,they play loud music,they have stairs but the edges aren't clearly defined,so they all blur into one mass, or it's a small store and it gets too crowded. All of these things have to be considered because of my sensory issues.

You don't have to consider these things but people with ASD and other disabilities have to consider these,and more.
And you are able to queue,it might not be fun,it might piss you off but you are not going to go into a meltdown due to the wait and/or sensory overload,you're not going to tear your face to shreds with terror and frustration or bang your head against the ground.