To think the Merlin RAP queues are overused

[NameChanger207]

….which means the main queue moves much more slowly on rides with limited capacity, especially when it’s really busy and there’s also lots of fast track riders. Is it really fair that every ride access pass holder has about 3 people accompanying them?! Surely there should be just one carer per RAP user?

No, however long term it’s not sustainable as we are seeing. We have a huge economic inactivity due to sickness and disability in this country. Why? That needs looking at. If there aren’t enough people paying in, there isn’t enough to support those who actually need it.

@BlueBlubbaWhale when giving it more thought inde reports for b,f and I Is paying for a report to say what you need whether that's quantified, detailed and specified info or ruling out a particular setting because they can't provide it. While some of the info comes from tests others from observation, some does come from what the parent or carer says and what they are looking for.

This has been debated on mumsnet time and time again.
Many of these people are waiting for treatment. Some for operations/physical therapy, others for mental health conditions. Others are only working part time because the cost of childcare is prohibitive or they have caring responsibilities.
What do YOU think we should do with the 41%?

Something needs to change. You can’t have half the population qualifying to not pay any tax. Otherwise the people who do need it see the risks of benefit reductions, no access to the NHS, decent education as it happening now. The RAP thing is just a giant symptom of out society. Nearly half of our population can’t work full time. That needs addressing urgently. It’s not a ‘dig’. If I were on universal credit or relied on the state I would be bloody worried so many people are needing all this help as eventually it will have to reduce. Who is paying for it? That’s the big question. Where is all this money coming from the fund the continued and increasing reliance on the bloated state? What happens to those people who really need it?

There is no way nearly half of a countries workforce is genuinely not capable of working full time. If that is the case - we have serious long term problems and the NHS will cease quickly.

We seem to be at a tipping point in this country. What is going to happen is anyone’s guess. Problem is - nearly half of the adult population taking out isn’t working. Especially as we are an aging demographic.

Tell you what OP, we'll swap and you can be a single parent to two DC with additional needs. Even better mine 'look fine' so we're probably some of the people you're tutting about who you'd judge don't really need a RAP.

Why don't you save your ire for the greedy theme parks who sell far too many tickets and understaff the rides, making the queues so long? Or the people with more money to spend buying the fast passes and queue jumping without disabilities? Maybe complain about those things, rather than going straight for criticising families with disabled members trying to have a feasible day out.

@cubic and if you know about EHCPs etc you'll know getting social care support is also virtually impossible, Legoland no longer accept GP letters as far as I know.

No, it's paying a profess to independently assess your child's needs and what is required to meet them aka the professionals recommendations. Tribunals don't put stuff in EHCPs because parents said it or want it.

It should come from profs reports but ofcourse that's influenced by parents. Eg if getting a sensory assessment and report the ot will ask why you want the report, the parent could say something like "little Billy has meltdowns and gets overwhelmed when in busy environments." The OT is unlikely to take them to a busy environment to see this for themselves. Parents often see behaviour at home which schools don't see so they do need to listen to parents. The Ed psych may ask what parents think about the LA choice of school or why the parent thinks it isn't suitable, parents are often spot on why some schools won't work for their child so the inde EP will look to support this if they can.

They will write what the child needs but they do have to listen to parents/carers somewhat to do this.

I fully support parents getting inde reports, they shouldn't have to and its an unfair system.

Legoland go through Nimbus now as their part of Merlin. I think they do take letters into account with other evidence. Tbh we've never had a prob getting rap or dla etc but this is because of the level of need of ds.

We have a decent sc plan, respite and budgets etc.

Those with high needs generally have an easier time get support like this where we live because it's obvious, it's the kids with less obvious needs or who aren't as complex or don't require the same level of input that struggle but that's because they're usually not high care needs. We also live in an are with high fii referals (read into that what you will). I'm not saying that the less obvious kids don't have needs but some of them won't require rap.

Social care evidence is a good way forward I think, I can't think of a disability that on impacts people in theme parks. Whatever the issue is with queuing if its that bad would impact them in other ways too and other parts of their life.

Nearly half of our population can’t work full time. That needs addressing urgently.

I wonder how many of them can’t work because they’re waiting for treatment from the NHS, and how many can’t work because support for carers is non-existent, or because there’s literally no childcare options if you’re a parent of a child over 12 with additional support needs, or because their child has multiple health appointments which no employer will support them attending. I agree it needs addressing urgently, but I suspect we might have very different ideas about what that means.

I'm genuinely glad you have good support @cubic but it's not like that everywhere. Despite tribunal recommending our sc assessment was re done due to how poor it was, the LA ignored it and when eventually pushed, well it's even worse than the last one. If you are saying only those with sc support or ongoing specialist support should get Raps you'd be excluding a huge amount of disabled young people who genuinely can't queue. All due to a postcode lottery when it comes to post diagnosis support

Children with ASD and ADHD in the UK do not regulary see medical professionals other than medication reviews even if they have very high needs. Your child must have another condition or a mental health issue.

Nope Autism, hypermobility, sleep issues and afrid.

High needs requires ongoing ot, slt, dietitian, special dentist, special opinion, paediatrician, does have a wheelchair but isn't a full time user (too big for a mcclaren), not under camhs at all. Children with autism and high care needs should have other input and support. How would they cope at school, how would school know how to teach them, communicate with them? Who updates their plans?

So they do have additional issue they are physically disabled and require OT etc.
My child has very high needs in a special school as they don't have the issues your child does.
The EHCP is updated by the LA.

I get it’s frustrating. But I think families that need them deserve these perks. For some, their life is extremely hard and so I’m all for them getting some good stuff out of it where they can.

Have you considered an inde social care assessment? You sound like you may have had other inde assessments so could possibly be worth a look. Disability specialist not general sc.

My issue though is that making RAP so easy to get means that people who don't need it can abuse the system, making it unusable for some that need it.

Those who don't have other professional involvement (my first suggestion was professional not gp or sc, my pref would be sc) than the gp or school support (below/ before ehcp) are likely to be able to queue otherwise how are they coping in everyday life. If they aren't coping clearly they need that support or they will go into crisis.

Some kids can cope with minimum adjustments; social stories, now/ next, ear defenders, ipads etc but they get rap rather than queue. Some get rap and they don't need it at all.

If merlin changed the requirements those thst really need it will sort it out and get the documentation etc

@DragonFly98 the wheelchair is because he is too big for a sen buggy. The other needs are all associated with autism. He isn't physically disabled, he can run forever given the chance. Ot is for sensory needs again highly associated with autism.

Special school doesn't indicate high care needs. There are special schools for children with high functioning autism but struggle socially or have social, emotional and mental health needs. This doesn't mean they can't queue.

Autism doesn't indicate that a person cannot queue, some people with autism like queuing because they like order and following the rules etc.

Yes we definitely need more ways to make life for disabled people and their careers harder 🙄

What issues does your child have if they don't have anything other than autism? How does it impact them? Surely they must have communication needs as autism is classed as a social communication (disorder/ need etc)? Slt is usually required even if just to inform staff on possibly visuals, or expression, sharing interest, explaining social situations? Verbal kids who are very good at masking still need some input 99% of the time even if just for social understanding especially in a sen school and especially If preparing for adulthood/ puberty/ situations outside school which may crop up he isn't used to.

The LA should be seeking advice from anyone who has input or can be reasonably requested for input by the parent or carer. Given your dc has autism it could be worth you looking at if all their needs are detailed in b and there is provision to meet every need in f which is detailed, specified and quantified. Or if the ehcp is long over due an update, they may need a reassessment. (This is meant in a trying to help way not an argument. Too many kids are failed and don't have ehcps which meet their needs). At least think on it.

@cubic yes but it's all money isn't it. Already had to cough up for independent OT and salt more than once.

They have adhd and autism very high sensory needs can't bear the slightest touch or any every day sound they curl up into a ball and scream , poor concentration, very poor sleep, frequent meltdowns but academically working at year 7/8 they are age 7.
You are right they do need SLT but because they come across so eloquently due to their academically they get no help. And their needs are not being met which results in meltdowns partly due to boredom.
But they don't have any medical input and nobody I know does. It just doesn't exist unless you have physical difficulties or a learning disability in addition to asd.

Did they have ot or slt input into the ehcp? I know it takes energy and you may not have it but you could ask for a reassessment and go through tribunal to get it. Ipsea and sossen would be good places to get advice. If he's only 7 he has years in education and meeting his sensory needs could make all the difference. If he's melting down st school this is your evidence that he's not having his needs met.

I don't class ot and slt as medical so I'm not sure if we're at cross paths with that. I'd include ot and slt as other professionals who could offer evidence for rap. Obviously for different disabilities it maybe other medical professionals who offer advice. Just not a gp. Some people may have a heart problem or cancer and need rap these would have other consultants involved.

@DragonFly98 I saw someone post in here the other day about all the post diagnosis support their asd teen got and I was gobsmacked. It shouldn't be a postcode lottery.

I do think UK theme parks are absolutely rubbish at managing all queues, if they were more efficient this would become so much less an issue. I've just been to Europa Park in Germany which was absolutely heaving at full capacity.....the longest wait for a big ride was 45 mins. Most of the big rides were 20 to 30 mins. Everything seemed to just work much quicker, loading of the wagons, sending them off. For riders with additional needs /carers same system as UK they get to go in a priority queue.

And to add to my general UK theme park moan, food outlets were much higher quality and much cheaper than UK. I went to Phantasialand last and exactly the.same, better quicker and cheaper. Sorry I digress off topic slightly but my point is I find the way UK parks queues are managed generally is rubbish.

Thanks for the advice , it was just so so hard to get him into a SEN school we are overwhelmed but you are right we do need to get his EHCP updated. Am sorry I was snipey in my other post I just have had people in real life say my ds is fine as we have no secondary medical input . I realise that's not the the line of thinking you had.