DeafBlind qualify for DAS Pass?

[WorldExplorer]

The actual building and fire codes say you’re wrong. Special Amusement buildings have to have a number of different life safety features because they are not the same as just walking around anywhere else.

Okay then; where do you believe the issue would lie in this specific circumstance, in a way that cannot be avoided with a family member being with them in the line?

 

[lazyboy97o]

Okay then; where do you believe the issue would lie in this specific circumstance, in a way that cannot be avoided with a family member being with them in the line?

People with disabilities have agency. They get to make decisions for themselves.

 

[WorldExplorer]

People with disabilities have agency. They get to make decisions for themselves.

That has nothing to do with anything being discussed; Disney sets the guidelines for who gets their special access pass. They've already made it very clear that tons of people who made the decision they couldn't handle the line don't get the pass. You need actual logic why it won't work.

 

[Disstevefan1]

If you can navigate the entirety of the park to get to the ride, where there are curbs and people running in front of you regularly, complete chaos everywhere, I'm sorry, but there's no reason navigating the defined area of the queue should be a problem. Especially not with a family member there to help.

Boarding might be hard in a unique way, yes, but that has nothing to do with queuing; every ride has CMs ready to help with that, and I have never seen one before the part where the two queues merge.

Again, I do not know about this induvial and I wont attempt to judge either way.

 

[Angel Ariel]

That has nothing to do with anything being discussed; Disney sets the guidelines for who gets their special access pass. They've already made it very clear that tons of people who made the decision they couldn't handle the line don't get the pass. You need actual logic why it won't work.

And the only people who can make that call are the Disney CMs.

If the OP has questions, she may get answers before the trip with a das interview. He may not qualify. It may be likely he won't qualify. But it would still give the OP a chance to ask about other accommodations that isn't available on the chat options. There's no harm done in just doing the interview as long as one is willing to accept the results.

 

[John park hopper]

I would assume some one with that unfortunate condition can't navigate on their own and would need some one to guide them be it in the park or waiting in line

 

[JIMINYCR]

I don't mean to sound heartless, however, I know what it is like to be just a little bit handicapped in a place like WDW. I have a question, and again don't judge it to much, but how would a deaf/blind person get to enjoy going to a place that is made up of 99% visual and auditory stimulation. I think I would feel miserable knowing that so much is happening around me that I couldn't experience in any real manner. I really don't understand. Even if you had one of those senses it might be easier to understand, but with both missing, I'm at a loss to comprehend it.

Just thinking about it, if I were in a situation where the bulk of my experience was just to feel the heat and humidity, I'd prefer staying at home. What would be the purpose? The two senses that are the most important in enjoying WDW would be sight and sounds. Smells are nice but not worth $100.00 per day.

Because you are not living life as that person is, you are assuming he cannot enjoy WDW as you can having the use of your senses of sight and hearing. You cannot know what enjoyment they can get by being an able bodied person. And probably 99% of people would agree with you.
Years ago I worked as a guide dog trainer and the school I worked at was one that was in the minority serving deaf/ blind students. In order to communicate with my students instructing them on how to use the guide dog, I had to manually spell words in the palm of their hands using the deaf alphabet. By feeling the position of my fingers in their hand they knew what I was saying. Getting to know these individuals by spending time with them opened up my eyes to understanding the world they were living in. Yes, sight and sound are key to enjoying the world, but having to live life without those senses forces the person to adjust to a whole different means of living in the world. They are not incapable of enjoying the world around them, they do it on a very different level than we do. And they can find/ get enough enjoyment at WDW to make it worth the price of a ticket.
You are also not thinking that the individual will be traveling with their fiance who will be communicating with their loved one by describing the surroundings and therefore giving him a "picture" of what WDW is offering.
I'm certainly not saying your statement was heartless or being judgmental but like many who have not lived or worked with the blind/deaf you are just not understanding their world and how they live in it.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Perhaps you shouldn’t try and judge other people about why they enjoy Disney parks.

How you would feel is irrelevant to the OP.

I'm not judging people, I'm asking a simple question. I don't understand it and I thought that perhaps someone could tell me something that I am not understanding about it. But, hey, talk about judging people, that post surely is an attempt to make me sound like a evil person because I am curious. I don't care at all. I've taken challenged people to WDW many times as an escort and they all enjoyed the place, they however could hear and see. I'm just trying to understand how it is possible to enjoy it without those really basic senses.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I agree with a lot of what you posted IMO DAS would not apply - being deaf and legally blind would not hinder standing in line. If this person can get some enjoyment good for him

I don't disagree and maybe it is because there is a difference between legally blind and blind. Maybe that is the reason. I got the impression that his blindness was beyond just blurry vision.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Because you are not living life as that person is, you are assuming he cannot enjoy WDW as you can having the use of your senses of sight and hearing. You cannot know what enjoyment they can get by being an able bodied person. And probably 99% of people would agree with you.
Years ago I worked as a guide dog trainer and the school I worked at was one that was in the minority serving deaf/ blind students. In order to communicate with my students instructing them on how to use the guide dog, I had to manually spell words in the palm of their hands using the deaf alphabet. By feeling the position of my fingers in their hand they knew what I was saying. Getting to know these individuals by spending time with them opened up my eyes to understanding the world they were living in. Yes, sight and sound are key to enjoying the world, but having to live life without those senses forces the person to adjust to a whole different means of living in the world. They are not incapable of enjoying the world around them, they do it on a very different level than we do. And they can find/ get enough enjoyment at WDW to make it worth the price of a ticket.
You are also not thinking that the individual will be traveling with their fiance who will be communicating with their loved one by describing the surroundings and therefore giving him a "picture" of what WDW is offering.
I'm certainly not saying your statement was heartless or being judgmental but like many who have not lived or worked with the blind/deaf you are just not understanding their world and how they live in it.

I'm not assuming anything, I am asking if it can be explained to me what the enjoyment would be. Why? Exactly for the reason you just said. I can see and hear and I know from that just how much WDW is built on the premise. There is nothing wrong with anyone going, and I have seen a lot of very disabled people, some that show no reaction to anything and the family is convinced that the person is having a good time. Even the tamest of attractions wouldn't be much more than a breeze on ones face without those two senses. I will put in that I don't know if that person said why he really wanted to go. If he indeed is finding something stimulating about it, then by all means he is a stronger man than I am.

If everyone remembers back a few years when people were taking along handicapped relatives and sometimes strangers to WDW to get to the front of lines and in large groups. One goes they all go. The question about if DAS was going to be a factor, just brought all that to mind. DAS now is just more or less a virtual queue but it still means that one will get to do something else and come back and not have the long line to contend with because they were operating on a no line situation. I'm not saying that is happening here, but since I have been fortunate enough to go with the ability to hear and see I really cannot picture how someone with problems involving both without having to have another sense take over to even have a chance of enjoyment. Just missing sight, yes someone can explain what it happening. Just missing hearing and one can see and therefore be part of it. With both missing, I frankly am at a loss.

I'm sure this will instill more anger toward me for having the tenacity to ask that question. I'm not saying this particular gentleman isn't finding pleasure in it, just some degree of reasoning so I can understand. It appears that this gentleman can speak so I'm wondering if he has said why or what he gets out of it. The bolded sentence in your post is the question, how are they communicating with him if he is deaf. They stated that he didn't know Braille and only has tunnel vision in one eye, if he can see enough to get the just of things than that explains it, if not then I just can't imagine what the joy would be.

By the way, I commend you for your time working with the deaf and blind. That must have been challenging and rewarding in the end. I know the four or five times I escorted mentally challenged and one of the finest people I ever knew that had Cerebral Palsy who could only talk with one or two words and could semi-walk if I held him up. That was before there was anything like DAS. It was a reward to see their reaction to the place, even that was a lot of work and if anyone thought it was easy, should try it once or twice. But, they could see and hear. Big difference.

 

[thomas998]

Respectfully, I think adults are aware of what amusement parks are and can determine for themselves whether it is a "good idea" for them to go or not. The OP didn't ask for opinions as to whether or not her fiancé should go at all, she is asking to understand what accommodations are available and what tips others may have. I highly doubt her fiancé is the first person to be in this situation at Disney.

And all too often people don't actually take the time to think about how things are for others that aren't as capable. I've seen it first hand where someone is completely oblivious to another person's situation and just assumes they will have the same experience.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

You assume the boyfriend wants to do it. He may simply be doing what he thinks she wants and neither have bothered to think about it realistically.

I assume adults can self advocate, and if the boyfriend doesn't think it's a good idea or doesn't want to, he can tell his girlfriend that. I'm answering the question of what accomodations may be useful based on the information provided.

I have not been invited by friends for things I am perfectly capable of doing because they think I can't/shouldn't do it. I have always told people to invite me, and if it's not something I think I can do, I will say so. Or in some cases, I'll join for part of an outing but skip the part I can't do.

It is ridiculously insulting when others assume they know more about your disability than you do.

 

[Angel Ariel]

And all too often people don't actually take the time to think about how things are for others that aren't as capable. I've seen it first hand where someone is completely oblivious to another person's situation and just assumes they will have the same experience.

Given that this is her fiancé she's asking about, and the extent his disabilities likely impact daily life as well, I assume they communicate about such things. As I would assume for any couple.

 

[lewisc]

Does the person have a seeing eye dog?

Legally blind means you can't read the top line on the eye chart.

I'm not sure why DAS is justified. His girlfriend will have to assist him in handling the regular queue or the lightning queue. The length of the queue isn't the issue.

The couple has to determine if the enjoyment he'll get from Disney is worth the cost. Some places discount admission for the disabled. Disney isn't such a place.

Some queues have things you can touch. Get very close to. A few of the queues might be as good or better then the actual attraction.

You might ask for front row seating. Could be the difference between very blurry and nothing.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

If he doesn't qualify for DAS, what tips can you guys recommend????

Unfortunately, the options regarding DAS information are not ideal. Under the current system, no visitors know in advance if the pass will be granted to them until they have the DAS interview with Disney.

But you should be prepared that he may not qualify for DAS. He would have to explain why he needs that specific accommodation. During the interview, the CM will discuss the types of accommodations they can offer him. It might also help to talk to your doctor/medical team ahead of your interview so you know what options might be helpful to him for navigating the parks.

I don't know if this might help, but there are multiple companies in the Orlando area that offer rental medical equipment, if that is an option that appeals to you/might be helpful. They might also be able to provide you both with helpful information about navigating WDW with his medical conditions.

 

[networkpro]

Of course we can't experience thier life, but give the OP was asking similar questions on another social media site concerning SoG, It's likely service related. She's new to Disney, doing all the planning herself, and is gathering information. Just learning the terminology, how each is implemented, and if it's even applicable to her party is a steep ramp to climb.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Does the person have a seeing eye dog?

OP didn't indicate, which is why I did not respond to that inquiry. The BF does sounds like someone who would benefit from a guide dog, especially in a place like WDW; however, service dogs are typically very expensive. It's usually $10-$20K just to get one initially. Then you also have vet bills, food bills, etc on top of that. There are programs to help fund the initial cost, but there's typically a wait list. It's a process. Plus if they have allergies, there's another monkey wrench.

In case anyone else is wondering, service animals are permitted at WDW. They are allowed to go on many attractions with you. For ones where they are not allowed for safety reasons, there are kennels where they can stay while you experience the attraction, and then they'll be with a CM at the end. I believe you can also use rider swap. Kennels are cleaned between use. There are designated relief areas in each park for service animals; you can check a map or MDE for locations.

More info here:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/service-animals/

 

[Chi84]

They aren't. And they are free to ignore anything they don't want to hear. But I'm not going to ignore reality just to avoid telling someone something that could help them just because I'm afraid I'll hurt their feelings.

I understand. But if you’re not answering their question it seems like you’re just going out of your way to be hurtful.

It would be different if the OP asked if WDW was a safe environment for people with her fiancés disability but she didn’t.

Others like @StarWarsGirl, @Angel Ariel, @JIMINYCR and @Goofyernmost weighed in with useful comments or questions based on their experiences with disabilities/disabled persons.

You come in here with a since-deleted post of a blind person blasting away at a gun range and a general warning that a disabled person trying to engage in a fuller life could end up in the ER.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I understand. But if you’re not answering their question it seems like you’re just going out of your way to be hurtful.

It would be different if the OP asked if WDW was a safe environment for people with her fiancés disability but she didn’t.

Others like @StarWarsGirl, @Angel Ariel, @JIMINYCR and @Goofyernmost weighed in with useful comments or questions based on their experiences with disabilities/disabled persons.

You come in here with a since-deleted post of a blind person blasting away at a gun range and a general warning that a disabled person trying to engage in a fuller life could end up in the ER.

My policy also is never to tell someone asking what accomodations are available that they shouldn't do something. They can judge that for themselves.

I happen to know a lot about disability accomodations at DL & WDW beyond just DAS. When asked, I provide information on what is available, what may or may not work, and ask questions to help understand needs. I do not tell people that they shouldn't go, not because I want people to all experience WDW/DL, but because it's not my business nor was it the question asked.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I do not tell people that they shouldn't go, not because I want people to all experience WDW/DL, but because it's not my business nor was it the question asked.

Exactly.