Lego Land and DDA

Flyboy152

Googlewhacker wrote: »

I think the point is that the able bodied people complained at the positive discrimination that existed.

Is it fair that an abled bodied person has to queue for say an hour each ride but a disabled person can go on 2 or 3 rides in that hour?

No, so the fairest thing is to what they are doing.

This was no positive discrimination. It was about allowing disabled children to have the opportunity to enjoy the facilities at the park the same way able-bodied children do. It is about equal consideration.

We are not talking about swathes of disabled children abusing this facility. We are talking about no more than about four or five children at a time, being able to use their exit passes at the ride. Four or five of them is hardly making much of a difference.

Can you explain to me how it is fair that, even if the ride's queue is only half an hour, that the disabled person now has to wait one hour, before going on that ride?

Flyboy152

pwales wrote: »

? y comment i am talking about adhd word being over used to get extra rides at theme parks ?

y mention u got cancer , ?

Have any inkling how this is administered?

Flyboy152

dmg24 wrote: »

I do understand what you mean, but you are misunderstanding the OP's situation. Yes, there are people that claim their children have ADHD when they do not, but there are also those who have been clinically diagnosed and this is the situation here. True ADHD is not 'naughty child syndrome', it goes far beyond that. Indeed, many ADHD children are not naughty at all, but rather will get distressed and upset in busy situations.

The point you made regarding the OP expecting too much is spot on, nobody disagrees with you. As you know I will not condone or encourage anyone that is playing the system, but you need to get away from assuming that everyone with certain conditions falls into this category. Otherwise you'll start to sound like a certain other poster who just thanked you ... and you're far better than her.

How much do you imagine I am "expecting?" What I am asking for, is for son to be treated with dignity and fairness, why is that too much to expect?

Flyboy152

munchings-n-crunchings wrote: »

As a parent of 2 autistic children, I would like to respond.

I can understand if able bodied people feel agrieved if they are queing for long periods of time, when disabled can have a quick queue, with as you say four or five people, and then maybe go to the back of their line and start again having multiple rides in the time that able bodied persons have just one.
If the system and concessions are abused, then I can understand why people have comaplined. I'm sure any theme park making changes, would not take the decision lightly, and would evaluate the situation, and witness for themselves to see if the complaints were justified.
It's about all being treated fairly and equally.

The arrangement for 4 people to use the advantage of express queue if far more generous than just the disabled person and carer.
You also have a discounted entrance fee, so the carer goes free.

So, do you think he should have to go on the rides by himself and then wait for everyone else whilst they have their go? What should he do in the meantime, should I just let him wander around by himself?

Big deal you need to get a Big Yellow Card signed. Fold in in half, or quarters, it's not discriminating so don't search for complaints. It allows you to use the express queue in a fair manner.

It is not a case of folding the card, it is the fact that we have to have a conspicuous label which defines his status. Do you have one of which shows your status as an able-bodied person?

Queing is a pary of everyday life, and like it or not, our children are going to need to cope with it, in one way or another. There are not always going to be express queues. So it's very noce where there is such a thing, but more important, is coping strategies for when there are not.

Queuing may be a part of everyday life for most children, but try to imagine it from the perspective of a child who is trapped in his own nightmare of ASD, CAPD and ADHD etc. The mass of people who surround him are a confusing and frightening living hell and he can only cope with that for a limited time. Sadly, those limits change every second of every day.

As for the statement about 'not being many advantages in life', is possibly the route of the problem.
It's such a defeatist attitude.

Oh really, what advantages do you think he has then? Do you know him?

I'll never let my kids use their autism as an excuse. Yes, there are things that are difficult, and hard to cope with, but the minute they give in, then the autism has beaten them, and got the better, and as their parent I don't want that to happen.
Autism doesn't have to be a negative. Turn it around, and use it to their advantage.

Regards
Munchie

Who the hell is saying that my son is using his autism as an excuse? An excuse for what, for goodness sake?

I am sorry, but I really don't believe you have any children with ASD, with remarks such as "Queing is a pary of everyday life, and like it or not......." Or, if you do, they are not old enough yet to experience such difficulties, in which case you have a very rude awakening ahead of you.

Flyboy152

GlasweJen wrote: »

Well no, I just get a pass for people who aren't using rides (most places do this) but I do know several people who will get a pass for a disabled person and then proceed to use this to skip queues even though the disabled person can't use the ride.

Given that this is happening you can't really blame theme parks for tightening up criteria.

Do you know how the scheme is administered?

jetta_wales

Flyboy152 wrote: »

This was no positive discrimination. It was about allowing disabled children to have the opportunity to enjoy the facilities at the park the same way able-bodied children do. It is about equal consideration.

We are not talking about swathes of disabled children abusing this facility. We are talking about no more than about four or five children at a time, being able to use their exit passes at the ride. Four or five of them is hardly making much of a difference.

Can you explain to me how it is fair that, even if the ride's queue is only half an hour, that the disabled person now has to wait one hour, before going on that ride?

If you're quite finished.

You had it extra cushy because you could use the big rides many more times than regular visitors, it is not about being equal if you get use such rides more than able bodied visitors that does then become positive discrimination. You could still use the ride with a half hour queue by joining the half hour queue with everybody else and not sung the pass but since this restriction only allies to the 6 biggest rides you know such a scenario is hardly ever likely to happen anyway.

The new changes are what have made it about being equally enjoyable for disabled visitors, there is nothing equal about disabled people being able to use the big rides as frequently as they like whilst then making the able bodied folk wait longer as a result.

munchings-n-crunchings

Flyboy152 wrote: »

So, do you think he should have to go on the rides by himself and then wait for everyone else whilst they have their go? What should he do in the meantime, should I just let him wander around by himself?

Just pointing out, that to allow the whole family group on at the same time, is very generous. Most places, it would be the disabled person and carer.
Nobody is even remotely suggesting the child goes on alone!


Queuing may be a part of everyday life for most children, but try to imagine it from the perspective of a child who is trapped in his own nightmare of ASD, CAPD and ADHD etc. The mass of people who surround him are a confusing and frightening living hell and he can only cope with that for a limited time. Sadly, those limits change every second of every day.

The world is not going to change to fit the needs of autistic people.
It's what we do as perents that help them to cope and adapt to the world around them.
With the terms 'own nightmare of ASD etc' and 'frightening living hell' it's no wonder you're unhappy with the theme parks policy changes.
All these negative terms you choose to use, are what makes the difference.

I am sorry, but I really don't believe you have any children with ASD, with remarks such as "Queing is a pary of everyday life, and like it or not......." Or, if you do, they are not old enough yet to experience such difficulties, in which case you have a very rude awakening ahead of you.

My son is now 21 and daughter is 16. Both have had enough years coping with their autism.
In fact, my daughter has participated in a number of magazine articles, including specific special needs magazines about living and coping with her autism, and all the additional extra labels she has with that.

My rude awakening, as you so nicely put it, came at a local support group, which can only be described as moaning mothers.
I realised I wasn't going to improve things by being confrontational and negative.
Look for the positive outcome, and take small steps to reach that.
If that means wearing ear defenders to cope with noise, then we've done that, or wearing sunglasses in a shop so the colours of clothes are not offensive, then we've given that a go.

But even though I feel anguish at some of the things I see happening to my daughter, it is wrong for me to put my emmotion onto that situation. To her, it's normal and she knows no different. My daughter is quite clear that, even if there was a 'cure', she would not want it, because it's part of who she is.

My job as a parent is to support them both through difficult situations, and give them the life skills to be able to cope, and at some point, be independant adults.

Munchie

dmg24

Flyboy152 wrote: »

How much do you imagine I am "expecting?" What I am asking for, is for son to be treated with dignity and fairness, why is that too much to expect?

You are expecting to be able to queue jump the top six rides all of the time. This is unrealistic, and it is unfair on those who are in the regular queue. There is nothing to stop you using the other rides in the hour in between the popular rides.

I fail to see how their decision is unfair, and I have no idea how it impacts on your dignity. You are bothered about having to carry around a yellow card, which could easily go in a bag, yet you expect to be able to walk straight up to a ride and get on? I know which one makes you stand out more!

LilacViolet

Legoland are offering this scheme out of thier own goodwill. There are plenty of themeparks which dont have such a scheme and you have to queue like everyone else or miss out.

You cannot honestly think that it would be fair for your party to keep going back on the same rides over and over while other people have to wait.

Life with a child with special needs is hard enough without stressing the small stuff.

poet123

Flyboy152 wrote: »

This was no positive discrimination. It was about allowing disabled children to have the opportunity to enjoy the facilities at the park the same way able-bodied children do. It is about equal consideration.

We are not talking about swathes of disabled children abusing this facility. We are talking about no more than about four or five children at a time, being able to use their exit passes at the ride. Four or five of them is hardly making much of a difference.

Can you explain to me how it is fair that, even if the ride's queue is only half an hour, that the disabled person now has to wait one hour, before going on that ride?

I think that a system which allows up to four people to get such a concession is generous. The child and a carer would be sufficient to satisfy the DDA, so the park are actually going beyond what they need to do. I am assuming that if it was small the child and carer could join the normal queue if they wished?

So, it seems emminently fair that there is a restriction on how many times the concession can be used in an hour so that others get a chance to get on the ride without a long wait. If four or five children each have up to four additional people with them, that number would preclude others getting a seat.

I work with autistic children/adults and the ones who cope best with adulthood are the ones whose parents have not made too many concessions for their disability (depending on severity) but tried to de sensitise them to the stimuli which can affect their everyday lives so badly.

I suspect that was what Munchi was explaining.

To return OT I think the system you outline is quite fair.