High functioning autism

[Hoodie]

Jersey week is usually the first or second week in November. New Jersey has a educational convention in early November so all schools are closed for a Thursday and Friday. "Jersey week" is usually the beginning of that week because a lot of people either take the kids out for the 3 in school days or go for the 4 day weekend.

 

[Hoodie]

We've inadvertently gone during "Jersey week" and saw higher crowds for a couple of days, but reasonable the rest of the time. Except the year of Sandy - since most schools cancelled for storm damage, a lot of people came early (we met a ton of them) and stayed later.

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

One thing I finally figured out (It seems like I finally figure out how to handle my son needs or a stage he is going through just about the time is growing out of it ) is how to help my son with the spending issue. I tell my son that several times before we get there that he cannot buy anything on the first 3 days-but he must instead make a list of what he wants and where to find it and the price and he can then come back for it. We set up a little notepad entry for it on his phone so he can easily make his notes. He then has to crunch the numbers, knowing how much money he has to spend and how much will be left after purchasing an item and make sure he wants it. He often crosses out things on day 2 when he sees something better or decides that it isnt worth it if it means he has very little money left incase he see something better later. Now I dont say no, I say-write it down so we can put it on the list of things to buy on Wednesday. This may not work for your child-you know him best and his ability to "wait for later" but it has been pretty good for mine. on the other hand had I tried it when he was younger (he is 13 now) it would have blown up in my face because he wouldn't have been able to move past an idea that he had set his sights on so back then we just couldn't go into shops at all.

I like that idea. Another way is he could take a picture of the item he wants

My 7 year old has high functioning autism. His autism occasionally takes me by surprise, if that makes sense, where he seems like such a typical 7 year old and then suddenly he's having a full on meltdown. Our last Disney trip was about 3 years ago, before his diagnosis, and the biggest meltdown we had was in line for the Ariel ride. The line was super long, and it's a crowded wait. It was such a big meltdown that my husband had to leave the line through an emergency exit. A cast member (respectfully) asked if my son had autism. My husband was able to calm him down and we enjoyed the rest of the afternoon.

He's matured a lot since then but he still gets really overstimulated easily. He can usually hold it together until something doesn't go the way he expects (and we don't always know what his expectations are, they're something he's decided on his own) and then he'll lose it.

I guess what I'm wondering is do we try for the das right away or see how the first day goes? I've got our trip really planned out with lots of time for breaks built in to avoid some meltdowns. But we're there around Christmas and it's going to be crowded and overstimulating no matter how well I plan. Does it sound like das would be helpful for him?

Any other parents of kids with high functioning autism feel somewhat uneasy about utilizing das?

I'm a 21 (yes I said 21) year old with HFA so I could help. I have been there the week before Christmas and the lines were short at a lot of them. Definitley get the DAS just to be safe

 

[nursejackie]

My 7 year old has high functioning autism. His autism occasionally takes me by surprise, if that makes sense, where he seems like such a typical 7 year old and then suddenly he's having a full on meltdown. Our last Disney trip was about 3 years ago, before his diagnosis, and the biggest meltdown we had was in line for the Ariel ride. The line was super long, and it's a crowded wait. It was such a big meltdown that my husband had to leave the line through an emergency exit. A cast member (respectfully) asked if my son had autism. My husband was able to calm him down and we enjoyed the rest of the afternoon.

He's matured a lot since then but he still gets really overstimulated easily. He can usually hold it together until something doesn't go the way he expects (and we don't always know what his expectations are, they're something he's decided on his own) and then he'll lose it.

I guess what I'm wondering is do we try for the das right away or see how the first day goes? I've got our trip really planned out with lots of time for breaks built in to avoid some meltdowns. But we're there around Christmas and it's going to be crowded and overstimulating no matter how well I plan. Does it sound like das would be helpful for him?

Any other parents of kids with high functioning autism feel somewhat uneasy about utilizing das?

Don't wait just get it. We use one each year for the same reason, and it makes the whole process much calmer for him. He is able to tolerate some waiting (with a film on his ipad), but sometimes the excitement and frustration takes over and we are very thankful for the pass which means we can go round the park quickly and leave for some down time before returning once he has processed what's happened and what's going to happen.

 

[bopper]

Also many Jersey kids have off for Election Day as the voting is often in the schools...so you only have class on Monday and Wednesday of that week (plus the next monday off for Veteran's Day).

Re: giving your son a gift card..
I am not saying this is a bad idea, but here are pitfalls I have seen with NT kids:
1) Cannot make a decision on what they want at all...analysis paralysis
2) See something they like, buy it, but then see something they like better.
3) Wait to see if there is something better but then it is gone

So strategies might be that
1) No pressure on buying things...don't go to a store and say "pick out something"...but rather let it happen organically as you see items.
2) Try to have them be selective, but then buy things they really want if they see it but be willing to return the item if they find something better. (if he can understand that he can't have everything).

Also practice at home having a set amount of play money and then "buying" cars/stuffed animals/whatever he likes and then practice what you do when you run out of money "That's all the money we have...we can't buy any more. Let's play with the car you "bought"!"

 

[gorkt]

Yes, with the spending issue, we have never had a problem at WDW. We are not big spenders for souvenirs ourselves. We tell our kids ahead of time that they have X amount to spend and just to make a note of anything they would like to get. On the last few days of the trip we will pick it up. We also set expectations for one snack per day.

My son did get fixated on getting popcorn one time during fantasmic when he was 8, and nearly had a meltdown over it, but he survived. It wasn't fun though.

 

[DisneyOma]

My son did get fixated on getting popcorn one time during fantasmic when he was 8, and nearly had a meltdown over it, but he survived. It wasn't fun though.

This! I wish I had a tally of how many times I've helped a student on the spectrum get through a rough situation, with a meltdown on the brink, or even in progress, watch him (or her) survive it, and then have a good conversation about it afterwards. Definitely not fun, exhausting for all involved, actually, but the experience can always be turned into a positive one, IMO. It's harder if the child is non-verbal, and more 'caught up' in autistic tendencies (and if that doesn't sound right, I'm sorry, I'm not finding the right words!) but learning from a rough experience is possible. Not that anyone needs to do this for an entire vacation - vacations are supposed to be fun! - but there are chances, scenarios, possibilities to grow and learn at WDW that aren't out there in the rest of the world, IMO. I wish I could share more about what I do with my students, but it feels too confidential even if I don't use names/places/specifics.

 

[Toffeewoffy]

My DD has Asbergers - which is HFA. My niece and one of my two nephews also have it. All three are very different in temperament and respond very differently. My niece is sarcastic and sometimes just plain rude, and with her it's the noise which sends her over the edge. My DD can't cope with crowds and excessive noise (of the random type, ie loud music/people laughing/shouting). She can also flip at the slightest little thing and on the occasions when we've been queuing up for ages for a train ride or to get on the Backlot Tour tram thing and we were told to wait while the CM checked to see if there was any space left and a couple of people just walked past us and got on, well! I can't begin to tell you the volume and the language which came out of that girl's mouth!!! I'm surprised she didn't get us banned!!

She's 22 now, and will be 23 the next time we go. We will still get the DAS, though. It makes her feel in control and keeps her calm. We don't abuse it, incidentally. If it's a ride we really like (eg TSM) we'll get a return time before riding our FP so we don't have to wait hours to go and ride it again.

Regarding buying things, she still has trouble telling herself she really doesn't need an item and will just buy it anyway. This is why she always burns through her holiday money and then expects me to sub her! This is why I get her 'Disability Living Allowance' paid directly into my own bank account. If it was paid to her, she'd blow the lot - and £300 a month is a lot of money to waste. I put it towards our family holidays to Florida!

 

[wendylovesdisney]

Get the das. I look at my daughter as having a specific amount of money in her bank. Every wait in line, every crowd of people, deducts a certain amount. She WILL hit zero at some point in the day. If I use the das we have more time to enjoy our day. After the planning and scrimping and saving to get here, I want to enjoy our trip. It truly hits home for me when people say they would gladly exchange the das if their child COULD wait in lines, etc. a lifetime of concessions we've made I think we deserve a break at Disney and I'm thankful it's available.

 

[jvz82]

Get the das. I look at my daughter as having a specific amount of money in her bank. Every wait in line, every crowd of people, deducts a certain amount. She WILL hit zero at some point in the day. If I use the das we have more time to enjoy our day. After the planning and scrimping and saving to get here, I want to enjoy our trip. It truly hits home for me when people say they would gladly exchange the das if their child COULD wait in lines, etc. a lifetime of concessions we've made I think we deserve a break at Disney and I'm thankful it's available.

This is very true. Because he's high functioning, I do forget how much of a struggle all those lines are. We all get drained at Disney, but the crowds and noise affect him more than other kids and like you said, he will hit zero at some point. And you're right, I'd give anything to be able to just stand in long lines without the anxiety of wondering what's going to happen and when something is going to trigger a meltdown.

 

[jvz82]

Also many Jersey kids have off for Election Day as the voting is often in the schools...so you only have class on Monday and Wednesday of that week (plus the next monday off for Veteran's Day).

Re: giving your son a gift card..
I am not saying this is a bad idea, but here are pitfalls I have seen with NT kids:
1) Cannot make a decision on what they want at all...analysis paralysis
2) See something they like, buy it, but then see something they like better.
3) Wait to see if there is something better but then it is gone

So strategies might be that
1) No pressure on buying things...don't go to a store and say "pick out something"...but rather let it happen organically as you see items.
2) Try to have them be selective, but then buy things they really want if they see it but be willing to return the item if they find something better. (if he can understand that he can't have everything).

Also practice at home having a set amount of play money and then "buying" cars/stuffed animals/whatever he likes and then practice what you do when you run out of money "That's all the money we have...we can't buy any more. Let's play with the car you "bought"!"

It's a tough call. He really does understand the concept of money and is very thoughtful and smart about it. However, he gets easily disregulated and all the stuff in those stores can send him off the deep end and all his reason and thoughtfulness goes out the window. He loves stuff. I know that no matter how much money we give him, it won't be enough and I'm not sure the best way to deal with it. But we've been talking a LOT about the gift card concept and that when the money is gone, the money is gone. I think letting it happen organically will be the best strategy.

Last time we went, there was this toy Zurg from Toy Story that he found in Tomorrow land that he really wanted but we didn't want to haul it around the parks all day so we said we'd get it later at one of the big stores on main street (this time we're staying on site so that won't be such a problem, we can just get it sent to the resort). Anyway, at the end of the day of course there was not a toy Zurg anywhere in sight on main street!! They said it was only in Tomorrow land. So we had to haul our tired butts back to tomorrow land to get that stupid Zurg because he was going to lose it! This time around if there's something he loves, I'm just going to let him buy it but be very clear about how much money he has left, and if he find something in another store he really likes he may not have money for it. He gets pretty set on something, so once he commits to something he wants, there's no changing his mind so I think it'll be ok!

 

[hanscarlet]

Hi, my daughter has HFA and we're going to DW next year, what is the DAS card and how do you get it?

 

[Denise W]

Hi, my daughter has HFA and we're going to DW next year, what is the DAS card and how do you get it?

There is a very detailed "sticky" post at the top of this board that will give you most of the information you need.
Denise

 

[bopper]

Also don't approach the DIsney experience with "My daughter has HFA" but "These are the issues my daughter has and these are the accomodations that would work."
What issues do you think your daughter would have at Disney?

 

[hanscarlet]

thank you

There is a very detailed "sticky" post at the top of this board that will give you most of the information you need.
Denise

Thanks will check it out!

Also don't approach the DIsney experience with "My daughter has HFA" but "These are the issues my daughter has and these are the accomodations that would work."
What issues do you think your daughter would have at Disney?

I don't approach Disney with a "My daughter has HFA" nor do I only see her as an ASD kid... I simply wrote it that way because it's a message board and I was trying to be succinct. We have cruised Disney many times but this is our first park visit. She's no fan of lines and on the fence when it comes to rides in general. Some rides she loves, the more basic ones, and other more complicated ones will be a definite no. Our plan is to have a non rider wait with her while other members of our party go on a ride that we know she won't like. She's really into restaurants and shows so my main concern is ride lines because she's not done well in the past with amusement parks and those lines are much shorter than Disney.

 

[LovePug]

I know he often wears head phones because too much noise disregulates him so we will look into bringing head phones.

The noise cancelling headphones are a lifesaver for my DS. So far, we haven't had to use DAS. Good luck to you!

 

[gap2368]

thank you

Thanks will check it out!



I don't approach Disney with a "My daughter has HFA" nor do I only see her as an ASD kid... I simply wrote it that way because it's a message board and I was trying to be succinct. We have cruised Disney many times but this is our first park visit. She's no fan of lines and on the fence when it comes to rides in general. Some rides she loves, the more basic ones, and other more complicated ones will be a definite no. Our plan is to have a non rider wait with her while other members of our party go on a ride that we know she won't like. She's really into restaurants and shows so my main concern is ride lines because she's not done well in the past with amusement parks and those lines are much shorter than Disney.

how old is your DD if she is young enough for a stroller you can get it tag as a wheel chair and take in in the lines with you.

since she like show most show have a holding room that you wait in with a group of people all going in for the next show some of them you can ask the CM if you can wait in the wheel chair line ( much more space but still in the same area) I do this for laughs floor at MK

here are tow links form Disney

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/cognitive-disabilities-services/


this one talks about the DAS some, break areas in the park, what the rides are like ( like are they fast slow, lift off the gourd ,loud, dark.


https://wdpromedia.disney.go.com/me...lities-services/wdw_cognitive_guide_ilove.pdf

 

[lanejudy]

Hi, my daughter has HFA and we're going to DW next year, what is the DAS card and how do you get it?

The WDW - Disability Access Service thread pinned near the top of this forum (or click for link) will explain DAS.

The DAS is need-based, not diagnosis based. So you will have to think about what are her NEEDS related to waiting in a standard queue environment, then discuss those concerns with Guest Relations. Not every person with HFA will have any need for the DAS.

I also suggest thinking about other challenges she may have outside of queues -- does she have sensory issues? Maybe earmuffs would be helpful to block out a lot of sound. Or sunglasses and/or a lightweight hoodie to block out visual stimulation. Plan breaks, stay hydrated, bring along something to help keep her occupied (depending on age maybe an ipod or small toys, fidgits or other easy-to-pack stuff). Depending on length of trip, I suggest a non-park day at least once per week, I think we usually do one for about every 3 park days. Feel free to ask questions as you plan.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[PatMcDuck]

I find that I use the DAS rarely, with the system at WDW and the 3 FP+ set up in advance. I combine that with rides that do not really get long lines, and arriving very early at the parks. I do use the DAS at Epcot, because there are less attractions there, and the Tier system. My son is an adult with Downs and Autism (non verbal), but the DAS is for other reasons as well. He also uses a chair at the parks.

If you need the DAS, you should get one. Don't feel awkward about it. Some parents struggle with it because their kids are high functioning, and are aware of what it is and do not like being singled out etc. But have a good trip!! We return in March, cannot wait!

 

[5kidsmommy]

I made a post back in October on this thread about thinking we'd get a DAS on our next trip and after this weekend it is definitely going to be a must. We went to a wedding and wow I realized how difficult being around people is for him. He really like his headphones though so we will bring those into the park so he can have his own noise to block out the noise. Shopping though is always an issue that I don't have an answer for. If he is really focused on a souvenir I'll get him one but usually his focus is on food and we have that planned in the budget.