Rent a Disabled Child for Disney?

Yes. You read that right. Some people are actually hiring a child or adult with a disability to go with their family to Disney so they can take advantage of the accessibility pass offered to children with special needs. I hear it runs a $1,000 a day. Not bad for families struggling to pay for the care and therapy their children so desperately need. Has it really come to this?

Why does it bother me so much? Because it's confirming one of my fears. That people are begrudging a child with a disability the rare occasion that his or her life is actually easier than yours. Yes, you and your children, who have the privilege to never have multiple surgeries, hospital stays, procedures, tests, therapies, and medications have to wait in line at Disney. Boo hoo.

Tom is blind but he walks so maybe he would be considered a good candidate for this sort of "loan-a-child" work? But he does not drink enough water orally so he would surely dehydrate himself and require a tube feed of hydration. I'm sure that's too much work for the busy, well-to-do folks that can afford this type of modern child renting.

A child with a trach? Never. They can't be bothered to do the real job of parenting children with special needs. Yes, this type of parenting often means working hard just to keep our kids out of the hospital or even just keep them alive. These are the realities of actually parenting a child with complex health problems or disabilities. It's not always skirting lines. Our amazing children are the perks.

Now I have never been to either Disney park and it is financially not in the cards for our family so we won't be going anytime soon. Having a child with special needs can really do a number on your finances! I stopped working for three years to care for my son through his many surgeries and therapies. I know he would not be half orally fed and doing so well if I hadn't. I also know that being out of the workforce really affected my career and the financial stability of my family. It was just what needed to be done and I feel lucky that we were able to do it.

For the families with children who have disabilities, I hope you will hold your heads up high as you use your guess assistance pass. You deserve a day where your life is a little easier. All the better that you can enjoy an easy day in such a magical place.

I really hope this is just sensationalism. I hope to god this never actually happened. It was reported in The Atlantic and Fox News.