Disney Changes Rules for Disabled Kids After Families Abuse Special Accommodations

maandag 23 september 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Jeanne Sager 1 hour ago

It's supposed to be the happiest place on earth, but Disney World and Disneyland are anything but for members of the special needs community at the moment thanks to rumors spreading round the Internet. The theme parks are changing the "guest assistance cards" that parents of children with special needs have come to count on to make vacations with their kids possible. The GAC or GAP program (as its known) has long provided accommodations for children and teens with physical as well as cognitive, developmental, or behavioral challenges.

But rumors that the GAC had been stopped entirely, coupled with a huge petition to get the program back, has parents scared ... and their kids upset.

How would you explain to a child that their favorite vacation spot doesn't want them?

If you've got a neuro-typical kid, you probably haven't thought about it. I'll admit I didn't, even with a future Disney trip on my schedule. It wasn't until I stumbled on a post from one of my favorite bloggers, Shannon Rosa of Squidalicious, that I even knew parents worried that Disney was penalizing kids with special needs because of folks who have been abusing this privilege.

Maybe you heard about the rich jerks who were hiring disabled "family members" to come on vacation so they could get special perks at the parks? There was an expose on the practice a few months back, and then, suddenly, came the rumor that Disney had ended it all.

And parents freaked. For them this isn't a minor inconvenience. It's a full-blown problem. As Rosa, whose son Leo is on the autism spectrum, said on her blog:

You have to understand: our love of the GAC is not because we get to skip lines and blow raspberries at all the chumps who don't. Skipping lines is not a convenience but a necessary accommodation for our boy. Because he is autistic. Because of his specific disability.

Leo can wait in lines, but not always. Not lines of Disneyland length. Not without melting down due to the crowds, the noise, the expectation based on previous experience that he will not have to wait in lines longer than 20 or so minutes. Without the GAC, Disneyland is effectively barred to my son.

And it's not just kids with autism who are affected, here folks. Moriah Bettencourt's son, Alex (the cutie pictured above), has CHARGE Syndrome and he's considered to be deaf/blind as he has serious deficiencies in both areas. Alex, his mom says, "lives for Disneyland."

The family, which hails from the northwest, goes to the California amusement park two to three times a year, and they've found GAC isn't just helpful for them -- it helps the other folks in the park have a pleasurable experience BECAUSE Alex's needs are being met. As Moriah told The Stir:

When Alex was about 7 he was finally tall enough to ride some of the larger rides. At that point my husband was uncomfortable with the special needs pass and thought that we should try to stand in line to see if Alex could do it. About 10 minutes into our waiting in the Splash Mountain line Geoff was horrified when Alex suddenly grabbed two handfuls of the hair of the little girl in front of us. He didn't want to hurt her he just was fascinated by her hair that she kept swinging around but as you can imagine when a stranger suddenly grabs the hair of another stranger things get tense really quickly. 

We made our profuse apologies & promptly stepped out of line, since then the GAP has been a necessity for us. Alex is unable to be that close to strangers without wanting to touch them, it's a serious issue.

Needless to say, the Bettencourts, like the Rosas, were swearing off Disney for awhile. As are hundreds of thousands of families who have been cut off. They're among the nearly 20,000 that have signed a MoveOn petition to get Disney to roll back the changes.

But they may not have to.

The good news? The Stir reached out to Disney, and they say the rumors aren't true. They ARE changing the GAC process ... but it's still in place for now, and they're working with disability groups, including Autism Speaks, to make sure the new program will truly meet families' needs.

According to Michele Himmelber, a PR director for Disneyland Resort:

We have an unwavering commitment to making our parks accessible to all Guests. Given the increasing volume of requests we receive for special access to our attractions, we are changing our process to create a more consistent experience for all our guests while providing accommodations for guests with disabilities. We engaged disability groups, such as Autism Speaks, to develop this new process, which is in line with the rest of our industry.

The new program starts on October 9, and you can be sure parents will be watching, hoping that they make the right choice for their kids. As Shannon Rosa said:

In a fair and just society, you don't take away (or complicate) accommodations for people with disabilities just because non-disabled people are taking advantage of them and making other non-disabled people mad.

Do you use the special accommodations at theme parks? Are you concerned about the changes?

Image via Moriah Bettencourt

Click "Like" for more about parenting kids on the spectrum. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jeanne Sager

writes articles for The Stir by day, slays closet monsters and bounds through bedtime stories with her elementary schooler by night. The Phineas and Ferb soundtrack reverberates through her brain.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton Accept a Gift That Makes a Huge Difference for Special Needs People

zaterdag 14 september 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Adriana Velez Yesterday at 6:30 PM

Of all the gifts Prince William and Kate received for their new son, George, this has to be the sweetest. Tazia Fawley, a 43-year-old woman with Down syndrome, painted a depiction of the Bristol Balloon Festival. It's a brightly-hued, joy-filled painting perfect for a child's room. And Fawley spent six months creating it. Will and Kate make it a practice to turn down most gifts, but they had to make an exception and graciously accepted Fawley's gift. Accepting the painting sends a strong message about fighting the stigma against Down syndrome. 

Heart and Sold, an organization that promotes art created by people with special needs, sent a photo of the finished painting to Will and Kate to see if they would accept it. And how could they not? It's adorable, for one thing. But it was also a chance for the couple to embrace the Down syndrome community and draw attention to Heart and Sold.

But more than that, Will and Kate are setting an example for recognizing and valuing the contributions of people with special needs. Suzie Moffat, the director of Heart and Sold, says "In England, there always has been a stigma attached to (Down syndrome), and now that is washed away by the fact that the Duke and Duchess have accepted that painting. For this to happen, it’s kind of turned that negativity around.” The acceptance of the painting also has the power to encourage other people with Down syndrome to pursue their passion for art.

Will paintings from other artists represented by Heart and Sold start flying off the shelves now, just like every dress Kate wears? I don't know -- it would be amazing if they did! But at the least, I think it's probably their hope that this gesture helps change a few people's perspective.

Do you think accepting this gift will change how people in the UK think of people with Down syndrome?

Image via Pacific Coast News

Click "Like" for more on the Royal Family. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Adriana Velez

is a staff writer who dabbles in food, parenting, news, entertainment, molecular biology, and anything else that that pops into her head. She lives with her elementary school-aged son in Brooklyn, land of urban farms and artisan everything.  

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8 Special Motherhood Moments I Took for Granted

vrijdag 13 september 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Mary Fischer 16 hours ago

After hearing that actress Tiffani Thiessen misses the baby phase now that her daughter is 3 years old, I couldn't help but nod my head in agreement. Our kids grow up so fast, and the time we have with them while they're infants is priceless -- and we can never get it back.

But sadly, most of us don't realize just how precious that period in time is until we're well out of it -- or at least that has been the case for me.

I won't lie -- the first year of my son's life was HARD. I was exhausted to a point I never believed a human being could be exhausted. And I was so overwhelmed at times that I thought I'd never make it through the whole parenting thing in one piece.

And that's why I wished away so many special moments with my baby.

My mantra seemed to be, "I can't wait."

"I can't wait until he can talk and tell me what he wants."

"I can't wait until he's potty trained and I don't have to deal with diapers anymore."

"I can't wait until he eats normal food and I don't have to warm bottles or try and get the orange stains from mashed sweet potatoes off his little nose."

"I can't wait ... blah, blah, blah."

But now that my little guy is 7 going on 30 -- I could kick myself for not taking a deep breath and savoring the time when he was a baby. If time machines really existed, I'd hop into one in a heartbeat to go back to the first year of his life, and this time, I'd appreciate ALL of it. The good. The bad. And most of all, the irreplaceable stuff.

With that being said, here are eight moments I really regret not embracing a whole lot more. (Man. I had no idea just how good I had it.)

Rocking him back to sleep -- I can't tell you how many nights I sat in the glider chair trying to get him back into dreamland -- when all I wanted to do was go back to bed myself. And now? I'd give anything to hold him in my arms and feel the warmth of his head on my shoulder and his breath on my neck. He needed me. And I needed him. I want that kind of closeness again.Carrying him -- Sure, my arms were tired. But when I was ready to head out the door, all I had to do was scoop him up and put him in the car. Getting him out of the house as a 7-year-old is a much bigger battle. "Just one more minute Mom!" "Can't I just finish doing xyz, Mom?" It's kind of tough to lug a 50-pounder around, so I'm outta luck in that department.Changing his diaper -- Yes, I actually miss diaper changes. Because even though they were a mess sometimes, I never had to frantically search for a rest stop on the highway in the middle of nowhere when he had to go. And I also never had to hop out of the shower mid-shampoo because he'd taken a poop and needed me to wipe him. (Diapers rock.)Getting up super early in the morning -- I saw 4:30 a.m. on the clock almost every day until he was 3 years old. But looking back on it now, waking up before the roosters was a gift -- because he'd light up like a Christmas tree when I walked into his room to get him. I know he still loves me, but nothing can touch the excitement a baby feels simply by seeing his mother coming toward him with open arms. It really is exhilarating.Playing with him -- It sounds so awful to say it out loud, but there were days I dreaded sitting on the floor and playing with my baby because I just wanted to take a nap or read a magazine. I really took for granted how awesome it was to make him erupt into fits of laughter simply by playing peek-a-boo or putting a couple musical toys in front of him. I swear it's 1,000 times harder to impress that kid now. If I hear "I'm bored" one more time, my head might explode.The days before he started talking -- Oh, how the non-verbal thing used to drive me nuts! I was convinced that life would be easier once he could communicate. And I guess in a way it is, but it also has the opposite effect, because now he has absolutely NO problem telling me exactly what he wants, when he wants it, how he wants it -- you get the idea. Crying and fussing out of frustration is so underrated.The luxury of riding in the car -- Going for a drive always seemed like a pain because, well, infant car seats are such a pain, particularly in winter. But I had no idea what a privilege it was to be able to jam to whatever tunes I damn well pleased because my baby didn't know the difference. Unless I'm alone, my 7-year-old controls the radio. We're in a One Direction phase right now, which is cool with me. But I hope it doesn't change to something unbearable anytime soon.Feeding him -- Whether it was giving him a bottle or trying to get some solids into him while he sat in the highchair and protested, there were so many times I longed for the days when I didn't have to put any effort into mealtime. But it's so much harder to get him to eat now that there are times when I really wish I could strap him back to the highchair, pour some Cheerios on his tray, and call it a day instead of trying to get him to sit still and finish his dinner. (And at least when he was having his bottle, he was cuddled up in my arms -- something else that seems to be occurring less and less with each passing year.)

Sigh. I may not miss the baby phase enough to want to have another baby. But if someone ever offered me a do-over with my little dude, I'd jump at the opportunity. And this time I'd treasure it.

Are you guilty of wishing away moments with your baby? (Don't be me!)

Image via Mary Fischer

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mary Fischer

is the writer behind The Mommyologist, and the mom of a future famous comedian. Her current loves include Pinot Grigio on ice and Harry Styles -- in that order.

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$1.00 off Kellogg’s Cereal Coupon: Special K, Only $1.10 at Albertsons!

donderdag 12 september 2013

$1.00 off Kellogg’s Cereal Coupon: Special K, Only $1.10 at Albertsons!

We have a rare, high-value coupon for $1.00 off any one Kellogg’s cereal! This coupon makes Kellogg’s Special K only $1.58 at Walmart.

Even better, combine two of these coupons with a current promotion at Albertsons INW and get Kellogg’s cereal for only $1.10 per box! Remember, in a buy one get one sale at Albertsons, you may use two coupons (one for each item).

To print zip-code specific coupons like this one, go to print.coupons.com. Enter zip code 99501. Then return to this post, click on the link below and the coupon will be already selected.

Kellogg’s Special K Chocolatey Delight, 13.1 oz $2.58, regular price
Use $1.00/1 – Kellogg’s Cereals, any, 8.7 oz or larger, limit 4 like coupons in same shopping trip, zip code 99501 – (coupons.com)
Final Price: $1.58USD

Buy 2 Kellogg’s Cereals, 10-14 oz $4.19, regular price
Buy One Get One Free through 9/17
Use two $1.00/1 – Kellogg’s Cereals, any, 8.7 oz or larger, limit 4 like coupons in same shopping trip, zip code 99501 – (coupons.com)
Final Price: $1.10 each, when you buy 2 USD

Get Kellogg’s Raisin Bran for only $2.00 at Rite Aid!

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'Teen Mom' Maci Bookout's Fans Get Her a TV Special -- Can They Get Her a Spin-Off Too?

vrijdag 16 augustus 2013

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AppId is over the quota

For Teen Mom fans, it has officially been way too long since Maci Bookout was on their television screens. But this weekend marks her return to MTV! The mom from Tennessee will update fans on her life in a special dubbed Being Maci on Sunday night. Technically this is a spin-off of Teen Mom, which got us wondering: is MTV considering a whole show devoted to the now adult Maci Bookout? There have certainly been rumors!

But are they true?

Who better to ask than Maci herself? The reality star chatted with The Stir from her parents' house this week and filled us in on what she'd be willing to do on TV ... and what she wouldn't.

On her decision to do Being Maci:

After Teen Mom finished airing, we got a lot of feedback from the fans. Everyone was wanting to know what was going with me and Bentley and kind of what we'd been up to since we stopped filming for Teen Mom, so it's like a little update for everyone.

On filming again:

It was actually pretty strange. It had been let's say about a year since I'd filmed.

It was weird getting back into the groove of filming a show. I'd kind of forgotten how much work it actually is. I was still kind of used to cameras being around -- that wasn't the weird thing -- but it's pretty exhausting. It was a rough week or so of filming.

On Bentley dealing with the attention:

At first -- up until he was about 3, 3 1/2 years old -- he thought that this was normal and that everyone had a camera crew all the time and everyone knew everyone and everyone had a TV show because they were filming the day that he was born, and up until he was 3 1/2 years old, they were filming him.

More From The Stir: Sneak Peek at Maci Bookout’s Upcoming Special: Sparks Are Gonna Fly!

Once he turned 4 the past year ... it really sunk into him that we aren't necessarily normal. Not everyone knows everybody. Because when we go out in public, everyone knows us and knows our name, and I think that now he understands. He's like, why do these people know us but we don't know them?

On whether a spin-off is coming:

There's no word about that right now. I honestly have no idea. It has to be up to the fans and what they want to see.

On including Bentley in a spin-off:

It would all depend on the direction of the show. I don't want to make this type of decision for him. He is in Pre-K, next year he'll be in kindergarten.

I'm not sure if I'd be so willing to put him out there in the public eye at such a young age because I'm not sure if that's something that he would want. I wouldn't know the answer to that for a very, very long time.

If any spin-off did happen, I'd say that probably the only things I would want him to be involved in would be the things that go on at home. I wouldn't necessarily want him at school being covered and stuff like that.

I do want him to be as normal as he can be and I don't want to make any decisions to take away from his normalcy -- even though he'll always be Bentley.

At this point, as much as I can slow it down, I will try to slow it down.

******

I guess for now fans will have to make do with Being Maci. The show airs this Sunday, August 18, at 10 p.m. on MTV.

Would you watch a Maci spin-off that didn't include Bentley?

Image via Instagram

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