Disney Parks Get More Accessible for Guests with Disabilities

posted on Sep 07 by in the Disability News, Fun, Technology category

Disneyland Accessibility Device

Beginning the Summer of 2011, guests with visual disabilities have been able to explore the Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, California in a whole new way. Utilizing an enhanced, 7.2-ounce Disney-designed handheld device, users first hear an interactive audio menu from which they may choose the type of information they’d like to receive.

The assistive technology device’s options include: descriptions of outdoor locations throughout the park like nearby attractions, restaurants and entertainment, or detailed audio description of key visual elements inside more than 20 attractions. Guests with some hearing loss are covered, too — assistive listening features include captioning to read while enjoying specific attractions, and visual indicator door knocks in resort hotel rooms.

Disney Handheld Brings More of the Experience to Guests

“With their captioning systems for guests who are deaf or hard of hearing and now outdoor environmental description for guests who are blind or visually impaired, Disneyland park is now more inclusive than ever,” says Larry Goldberg, director of the WGBH National Center for Accessible Media in Boston, who partnered with Disney to develop this new assistive technology. WGBH, which has long been considered a pioneer in new media technologies that allow greater media accessibility for people with disabilities, has high praise for Disney Parks’ accessibility.

“I know of no other public space in this country, or anywhere else for that matter, that is as welcoming and accessible to people with disabilities as Disney’s theme parks,” affirmed Goldberg, although they hope to widen their latest project’s adoption, as Disney is licensing the assistive technology to a wide variety of retail, commercial, and industrial companies.

Disneyland Accessibility Handheld Device

Disney Parks continues to offer other services to guests with disabilities, like unique ride cars that enable guests to remain in their wheelchairs, American Sign Language interpretation at live shows, special equipment and facilities for resort access, and disability-specific pamphlets and guidebooks.

Due to limited quantities, a $25 deposit (as of this writing) is necessary to check out the new assistive Disney’s Handheld Device. However, if it is returned same-day, the deposit is refunded. Other than that, the device is completely free of charge! A similar policy remains in place for their Braille Guidebooks and digital audio tours. The new handheld device is actually currently available at both North American theme parks — Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA and Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL.

Have you experienced Disney theme parks with your disability? How would you rate your accessibility experience there?

Sources:

http://www.laughingplace.com/News-ID10043410.asp

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/help/access/

http://www.magicmusic.net/topic/4544-handheld-device-offers-descriptions-for-guests-with-disabilities/

One Comment

Karin, posted this comment on Jan 20th, 2012

Great info, we used the descriptive audio this summer when we visited Disneyland with my child who is blind. Note the hand-held is infrared, which we didn”t realize, so we thought it wasn”t working (my child is too small/weak to have it around her neck, so we would put it in my bag when we got on a ride). Also, when we checked it out, nobody in City Hall knew about it or had to set it up, waited 20 minutes to find someone that knew about the Descriptive Audio and the Braille book. The Braille book isn”t child-oriented, more just a guide book for the park, which is great, just not impressive to my blind kid. :) Love that Disney is making strides in these areas, just wish there was a little more communication. http://www.specialneedstravelmom.com/disneyland/disneyland-disappointment-for-my-special-needs-kid/

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