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!!!

You know, lots of people dealing with disabilities say words to the effect ' you should swop and see how hard it is - it is so difficult and wearing' but to be honest I wouldn't swop .
I would rather be me with my dc and his difficulties than be stuck in the head of someone who, in the middle of a day out with their DC at a theme park, can see no pleasure in that other than to bitch about people with disabilities.
I can't imagine what it must be like to actually feel so bitter about life that you resent 'benefits' given to those whose lives are so hard.
And I think ds2 is probablybetter off in spite of his issues without that kind of tiny spiteful adult parenting him.
I would shoot myself if my life was filled with that shite

Pagwatch very well said

Oh Gawd, not this old chestnut again. I have two sons with autism, one high functioning and one is non-verbal.
I don't have the energy to respond to any of the ignorant shits on here airing their views with the excuse that they don't know what it is like because they don't have disabled children, or because they have hard a hard summer.....blah blah blah....what a load of crap.....
You know there are people more needy and more vulnerable than you in the world, while your only need is you are selfish little bastards

You'd think that level of bile and constant anger would turn them greenish yellow. Shame it doesn't.
Then we could spot the twats and avoid them. Or run them over with Ben-Hur style wheelchairs.

It makes me remember what I was like before I had children.... and then before I had children with additional needs.

I'm ashamed at how often I tutted at what I perceived to be 'naughty' behaviour or things that irritated me. I never knew the full story.

Glad I'll not be that ignorant again though.

Well said Pag

Actually Riven I just looked at the changing places website, you'd have thought that theme parks and the like would have them but they don't.... that's pretty terrible.

I'm sure DS would love the opportunity to customise one for your DD Riv, all edges and sparkly bits.

It's very interesting (informative?) to hear about the realities of something like autism. I don't know much about it apart from the very basics. I had no idea of the issues you describe with your child being in a queue for example. However, I would assume that anyone who has a blue badge/exit pass etc has one because they need it for some reason, even if that reason isn't blindingly obvious to me. I've read enough on here to grasp that they're not given out for the hell of it. I would have thought certain posters on here, whose name is familiar enough for me to know she's been around for a bit, would have picked that up too.

Kladdkaka Thankfully I also have a physical disability too and use a walking frame so I pass disability-for-the-ignorant test and get to use the exit without too much abuse

Sad world we live in when you feel like this isn't it :(

Mumble - it really doesn't seem worth expending the energy to explain anything does it? Some people are determined to remain ignorant, nasty, stupid people.

Marne-so why do you feel the need to take your DC to somewhere that upsets and stresses them and you so much.
Surely they would be happier at home in familiar surroundings with familiar adults.i am struggling to see any benefit at all in taking them to a theme park'

but what about a disabled child in a wheelchair with an obvious genetic condition, who has also passed the ignorance test, but is very aggressive, abusive and scary while waiting at the disabled entrance???

No bile from me! Op asked a question on AIBU and I answered it.

because spider most sen children crave familiarity and it's when they are uncomfortable they meltdown, however they also need to know there is more to life than what one wants. Plus the majority of parents of disabled children also have other kids who need entertaining.

Spiderpig - lots of bile & vile from you. You did not just answer the question - you have made several nasty comments. I hope you don't post under other names.

GwendolineMaryLacey We all understand what we know, don't we? My father was blind and I have never felt uncomfortable around blind people - whereas frankly I sometimes do around other disabled people and have to recognise and counter that in myself. I wonder whether some of the parents of SN children who have posted would be in the same position in reverse?

Fanjo - on one level I agree and have been trying to ignore it, but on another level it quite often posts ignorant comments about all kinds of things - there really is only so much you can ignore.

Hehe

Spiderpig, sometimes a child with SN does enjoy going to places like this, my DS2 is obsessed with theme parks. However, even though they like them, something in the enviroment can make them have a meltdown, something you can't even perceive.

We went to Lightwater Valley, DS2 knew what rides were there as we had looked on the website every day for a few weeks. On getting there, he went on a couple of rides, then when we went into a certian area, he spotted a giant head statue like the ones they hve on Easter Island. For some unknown reason he has an irrational fear of them. We were not able to go into that are as the head was in his line of site. This was about 10 rides, the newer ones, which we could not use becuase of this. He had a huge meltdown, and if we had gone into that area, he would have got worse and worse.

Andrew - yes, they probably would, some have said so. It doesn't make it any more 'right' and frankly, it's the fuckwits who have been told that still think people with disabilities should just stay home that are the ones that are a complete disgrace to mankind.

Andrew, I think thats a great Q.

However no one has looked at mine also:

but what about a disabled child in a wheelchair with an obvious genetic condition, who has also passed the ignorance test, but is very aggressive, abusive and scary while waiting at the disabled entrance???