To think Chessington (MERLIN) need some disability training?

[youarenotkiddingme]

My ds has ASD and a neuromuscular disorder.

These are lifelong conditions which he will not grow out of.

We have been annual pass holders for legoland for years and decided this year as hilltrain has been out for action for so long and he can't manage the Hill not to renew.

We decided instead to try a chessington with a view to purchasing MERLIN annual passes or just a Chessington annual pass.

I looked at their ride access pass information online (having always had them for DS) and the criteria has changed. So I rang them up.

They will no longer accept sensory OT reports, Camhs reports, EP reports, EHCP etc that all state he has social communication difficulties, tactile sensory difficulties and struggles with crowds and noise.
Why? Because the reports aren't dated within the past 12 months.

Well of course they aren't because they don't re diagnose him yearly with a life long condition!

They won't accept his neuromuscular consultants letter dated within past few months that clearly states his physical difficulties in keeping up with his friends because it doesn't state that he'll need a ride access pass for that reason.

Well of course it doesn't because it's a generalised letter stating his disability.

They will accept a letter from the GP that states in 1 line that due to x y and z DS would benefit from a RAP.

The letters are only done privately - at £30 that's the cost of a ticket!

I understand they need a system and need to make sure everyone gets equal enjoyment out of the day. But the RAP doesn't mean more rides it simply means not needing to stand in the main queue. You have to wait between rides still (usually an hour).

AIBU to think Chessington (etc) need to be more disability aware and realise if a child has a lifelong disability and still receives DLA for that disability (which they'll accept for a carers ticket) then whenever the report/assessment/diagnosis was written they will still experience those difficulties.

I'd be interested if anyone can link or explain somewhere in the equality act that reasonable adjustments can only be made with recent proof of disability.

That's seriously irrational. Have you pointed out the bit in the Annual Review report which confirms that the child still needs an EHCP? Why isn't that adequate recent confirmation for them?

It could be worth contacting the Equality and Human Rights Commission to see if they can pursue this.

Petulant it wasn't a rule last year. It's new this year. And completely stupid for some diagnosis. DS1 for instance has been awarded DLA based on his ASD until he is 16, so another 4 years yet. But that's not enough for Chessington to realise it's a lifelong disability. 😑🙄

You'd be able to change a read only file in photoshop.......

OP, how about contacting an Autism charity and asking them to take this up with Merlin directly? They have more resources, clout and media access than you do.

It does seem unreasonable.

Petulant I'm sorry you think I was being rude. But I stated clearly numerous times that Chessington told me it had to be within 12 months. You are the one who insisted telling me I was wrong despite what I was told. Effectively saying I was lying. That is nitpicking. I simply tried to stop the back and forth by showing that it is - in fact - what Chessington say.
How is it rude to say - actually what I'm saying is true - here's the evidence. Others on the thread also backed me up. As they rude to?

ASD is a lifetime disability but it doesn't necessarily mean that he will never be able to queue. It is the inability to queue rather than the diagnosis that entitles him to the RAP.

You can also change read only files by saving as a picture and editing in paint. Print out and scan back in, and voila. However, this is probably fraud.

I am totally with you OP.

Do people really think it's okay for a disabled person to have to pay £30 for a letter for every pass/bit of help they need? There is nothing reasonable about that. Having proof - yes, but not a letter than specifically says you need help at Chessington. Doctors generally have better things to do than write letters about theme parks when the OP has a mountain of evidence that just happens to be older than 12 months.

Common sense needs to come into it as well Many disabled people don't get a yearly updated report, you get diagnosed and that is that particularly if it's an incurable condition.

I think it's okay for Chessington to need evidence of course, but to be so restrictive is not on.

“But I stated clearly numerous times that Chessington told me it had to be within 12 months. You are the one who insisted telling me I was wrong despite what I was told. Effectively saying I was lying. That is nitpicking. ”

Oh give over. I quoted directly from their website. Which meant you’re saying they’re telling you x on the phone and they’ve written y on their website.

To extrapolate from that that I was telling you you were wrong and calling you a liar is just ridiculous.

ASD is a lifetime disability but it doesn't necessarily mean that he will never be able to queue. It is the inability to queue rather than the diagnosis that entitles him to the RAP.

But to have to pay annually to have it confirmed they can't queue, when parents know themselves? My son HAS got better at queuing since he was 4 granted. He can now tolerate a queue of up to 15 minutes. Which should be all he should need in his every day life going forwards. Any longer than that and we have sensory overload, meltdowns, endangering him and others. After 7-8 years of trying I can't see this getting any better. The RAP is our way of having a day out.

Why when the DLA and his school know this is long term, can Chessington not also accept it is long term?

I think the getting NAS involved is a great idea. I might email them.

The problem with taking parents word for it is some parents would make things up/exaggerate to avoid having to queue - they shouldn’t but we all know they would.

Dla letter doesn’t make any reference to the needs themselves so would be pointless as it doesn’t show if they have an issue with queuing and not everyone who gets dla would have problems queuing

So them wanting something that is specific does make sense and is a way to reduce abuse of the system. It’s the 12 month thing that is the problem and really needs a bigger time window

Have you looked at getting a national disabled identification card , you do have to pay but it should be acceptable for these types of places

Please don't do this. I seriously urge people to avoid this company. They are using 'national' in their trading name to try and pass themselves off as something recognised and associated with the government. They are not. They are just a private company. I could set one up and do the same. The proof you send to get one of these cards is the same proof you can use when you go places thissituatiinexcepeted and you don't have to line anyone's pockets in the process. Awful company feeding from genuinely disabled people.

Yanbu. I'm having different problems but still disability related so I feel your pain. This policy has meant that my disabled ds can no longer access legoland. On a more positive note we are going to the Harry potter studio tour on Friday and they have been amazing so far.

Oh give over. I quoted directly from their website. Which meant you’re saying they’re telling you x on the phone and they’ve written y on their website.

Except their website states what I said it does and what they confirmed by phone. I wouldn't have written my post if it didn't

By all means disagree that I think they are being unreasonable. I asked because o didn't know. But you've spent the entire time arguing an invalid point because it states 12 months. They said 12 months verbally and my OP quote the 12 months.

Thanks everyone else that's replied. I'm not sure whether to be cross or relieved that many agree that expecting a yearly private report stating a person with a lifelong disability will benefit from a RAP is a bit excessive.

User made a good point earlier though about how some disabilities do have changing needs. I guess you can't have a difference in what disability needs checking and what doesn't.

Great ideas about contacting charities etc. I've had reply from 1 saying they and others have challenged it but Merlin always say it's for fairness to all its guests - Eg keeping queues down for everyone.
Except they'll happily sell hundreds of them dressed up as Q bots!

I totally agree (know many don't!) with their new system. What I'm struggling with is the 12 month window. Totally agree with what sirzy says in that's too short a timeframe. In fact my report is Nov 16. It was reviewed as part of EHCP AR in Feb 18. There was no new assessment or report because it's relevant! AR states this. Chessington won't accept this.

It certainly needs challenging. Wish I was more tech savvy!

My dc has ASD and learning difficulties and attends a special school. The school nurse was happy to do a letter for us, she keeps the template on file.

Will they accept the EHCP annual review?

Sorry, thought I had read the whole thread but hadn’t! It’s not helped by Merlin staff all knowing what they should and shouldn’t accept. I wrote a letter for one family on headed notepaper and it was accepted. Then did it again and it wasn’t.
Perhaps your GP may do it without charge?

Posting purely to agree with polsha. The ID card scam is a horrid way of exploiting people with disabilities. Bunch of snake oil merchants.

They won't accept an ID card - but you're right its a scam anyway.

They said it has to be a letter from his GP or consultant and must be on headed paper and dated within last 12 months. She even said a repeat of previous reports just dated within the year would be acceptable. I've asked if an email from service stating its still relevant would be accepted - they said no.

I honestly wish it was different.

Sadly not questions. They've said it's £30.40 and will take up to 3 weeks to process in total from me sending letter and me receiving the report.