Visiting CP with son who has special needs (autism)
Cedar Point: Interested in hearing experiences of people who have visited CP with a child who has autism.
From JP T
Posted May 8, 2007 at 2:43 PM
I am planning to take my two kids to CP for the first time this summer, having been there myself many times growing up in the 80s. I have one son who happens to have autism and I am curious if there are others who have travelled CP with children who have special needs? Does the park make any line-wait accomodations? Are CP staff generally empathetic to children who have special needs? My son travels well and loves coasters, rides, etc. but want to see what experiences other people in this situation have had.
I'll make this simple.
It really shouldn't make any difference wether he's Autistic or not. Cedar Point staff should treat him like any other guest at the park.
That aside, have fun at Cedar Point!
Mark, I'm afraid it is not that simple. If I understand the original poster correctly, his biggest concern is about the lines, and CP cannot simply treat him "like any other customer" due to the unique needs that autistic children have.
I would probably contact CP directly, and ask to speak with a customer service representative who works with disabled patrons. They would probably offer the best advice/assistance, and I'd hope they'd be accomodating to you and your family!
I was misdiagnosed as autistic when I was younger, but I am actually early onset bi-polar, and at school I am in a room for ASD kids. But I should be able to give you a nice perspective on the situation. Recently(okay like one year ago), the lines at the park haven't been too bad. Except for top thrill, the lines were all no more than 30 min. My suggestion would be to find a de-stressor that your son could keep with him to destract himself from the crowds in the line. I wouldn't recommend game-boys or PSP ect because it is difficult to see screens in the sun. I highly doubt that CP would give you special wait times unless if you have a more outwardly physical injury like having to be in a wheelchair(I know that autisim IS a physical disorder too). You should contact CP through their website about it. I personally understand how stressful it can be with lots of people around... but something to help him "zone out" should be extremely usefull. Hope I could help! >^_^<
Hmm while I was at valleyfair (cedar point's sister park) they gave a woman who had a kid with autism special ride access.
Was he physically disabled?
Well...was he? Please respond.
sorry haven't looked at this site for a few days. No, he was walking around just fine. I might have had a hard time knowing he was autistic if I didn't know a lot about it, or that I overheard them talking about it.
No problem. I haven't been here alot either.
If he wasn't physically disabled, then I don't see why he got to walk straight on. Hey, I could use that excuse, and maybe I'll get myself a couple of walk - ons!
From JP T
Posted May 30, 2007 at 1:43 PM
Interesting set of responses. Daniel Binder, thanks for the good advice and for clarifying the first poster's assumptions.
As to Mark Walker's comments, this is exactly why I work to increase awareness of autism spectrum disorders -- which can impact a person in cognitive, physical, emotional and behavioral ways. Many parks offer accomodations that ease an autistic person's visit - such as decreasing line waits - which is why I was trying to hear from Cedar Point visitors to begin with. (Incidentally, Mark, when that happens it also makes everyone else's experience in line much more pleasant. I'd love to hear your comments after standing an hour in line next to an autistic person struggling to get through.)
What we need less of in the US is attitudes like Mark's - people who think it's fun to disrespect the disabled by claiming it'd get you some free 'walk-ons'... get a life, jerk... god forbid you'd have to walk a day in my son's shoes, much less mine.
You just don't get it do you JP T (if that is your correct name)?! I already have been in your son's shoes! I apologize if you found my last comment disrespectful but you are also being completly ignorant. Why? Because I AM an autustic person, the chance of a normal life was gone when I found out I had the condition.
I'll try to keep this short. This condition barely affects me in theme parks, but that's because I let as few people find out about my condition as possible, otherwise I get treated differently. Now you know, but that's because you couldn't be bothered to check out past subjects (try IOA is the king...but for how long?). I visit this site because this is one of the few places where I get treated equally, and as it so happens I have an intrest in theme parks. Autism is the last thing I want to talk about on this site, which is why I tried to keep it simple in the first place. One last thing, for every autistic person in the U.S, you've got one of me. I don't expect you to understand, but at least try to get over it. I did, why can't you?
From Schmo Blo
Posted June 14, 2007 at 7:15 AM
Hey Mark,
You having Autism doesn't give you the right to speak for everyone with Autism. It's great that you don't/didn't need accomodations for waiting in line at a theme park, but some/many Autistic children without overt physical problems do need accomodations if they ever are going to have the chance to participate in theme park rides. I do agree that it's good for us to educate people that not everyone with Autism is going to be in need of lots of special accomodations.
I wasn't really speaking on behalf of everyone with Autism, so I don't know where you got that from, but apart from that I agree with everything else you just said.
Now, can we let this topic die down now? I don't really want to see it again.
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