What do you think of this? I am not sure how Disney is violating the ADA when they are issuing Disability Access Service Cards (see bolded paragraph below).
Lawsuit: Disney parks don't do enough for autistic kids
ANAHEIM – How do you let visitors with autism, who sometimes have great trouble waiting in line for theme park attractions, go to the front while thwarting other guests who cheat?
Disney said it tried to solve the issue in October with a new policy, igniting furor from some quarters.
Last week, 16 families with autistic children filed a lawsuit against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, which includes Anaheim’s Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, saying the new policy violates the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The suit, which was filed in Los Angeles, seeks an unspecified amount of money and a policy reversal. It says the current policy has become too narrow and doesn’t even allow individualized exceptions for some guests, based on the severity of their disabilities.
Disney officials dispute that take, saying other disabled guests have said that they can work with the new policy.
Other Southern California theme parks have similar policies.
Previously, Disney guests with disabilities and their groups would get a pass allowing them to skip the line on most rides. But at least some people apparently cheated, hiring disabled tour guides or using Disney cards that had been given to someone else – an issue highlighted by NBC-TV’s “Today” show.
The new system, which Disney says is meant to stop such abuses, gives guests a Disability Access Service Card, with a photo ID. It works somewhat similar to the park’s FastPass system: Guests get assigned times and can come back for the ride, bypassing the traditional queue.
Disabled visitors, and up to five guests, can get one special pass with a specific time to board, as well as the regular FastPass tickets at the same time.
“It does (violate the law), because the new system doesn’t provide an individualized assessment,” said Eugene Feldman, one of two lawyers representing the plaintiffs, who are not named in the lawsuit to protect the children’s privacy.
Disney officials say they do assist visitors, depending on their specific needs.
“Our Disability Access Service is designed for guests who, due to certain disabilities, cannot tolerate extended wait times at attractions,” Disney said in a statement. “In circumstances where the service might not meet guests’ needs, we work individually with guests to ensure we are able to accommodate them.”
“Disney Parks have an unwavering commitment to providing an inclusive and accessible environment for all our guests,” the Disney statement said. “We fully comply with all ADA requirements and believe that the legal claims are without merit.”
When the policy change prompted discussion on unofficial Disney blogs, many disabled guests, and especially parents of autistic children, complained and started petitions to dismantle the rules.
Disney officials reached out to the Autism Society of America after the complaints began, said Scott Badesch, the society’s president and chief executive. Some members were chosen at random to go to Disney parks to give feedback without knowing how their reports were being used. He said Disney was open to input.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/disney-608785-guests-policy.html
If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. ~ Desmond Tutu
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