Changes made by Disney theme parks to a disability access program have not met with unanimous approval as the company’s tightening would now exclude many conditions previously covered.
“Historically, Disney has been a symbol of inclusion, acceptance for people with disabilities who often face discrimination […] With these recent changes, Disney has eroded this heritage by removing amenities that have existed for years,” insisted a group defending the program, made up of more than 2,600 members, in a letter to Disney, according to NBC News on Friday.
Since May 20, the Disney World theme park in Florida has reportedly tightened its criteria around its Disabled Access Service (DAS), causing a stir among many concerned who had previously been able to take advantage of the program without problem.
This service allows those who cannot stay in line for an extended period of time, due to a disability, to obtain a pass to return to the attraction after the same waiting time as if they had is in the regular line.
Except that according to the new rules, the service in question would now only be limited to people with a “developmental disability such as autism or a similar disorder”, whereas it was previously offered to all those “who have difficulties to tolerate prolonged waits in a conventional queuing environment due to a disability.
Thus, since the change in policy, the American media has noted more than thirty online testimonies from disabled people, including some with prostheses or with medical conditions that can lead to loss of consciousness after several long hours in line. , who would have been refused access to the program.
“The new eligibility requirements really restrict the types of disabilities that can get this pass. This kind of change actually goes against the way the community […] worked to define disability policy,” lamented Maria Town, president and CEO of the American Association of Persons with Disabilities, to the American media.
This new policy should also come into effect on Tuesday at Disneyland in California.
Since April, an online petition calling on Disney executives to readjust the new policy has reached more than 18,000 signatures, according to NBC News.
