I apologize if anyone thinks that I am trying to downplay the struggles that children with autism face. That is certainly not my goal. This is obviously a very sensitive topic and I am in no way trying to say that an autistic child should be forced into a situation that is likely to cause them to shut down, be in physical pain from sensory overload, etc. Absolutely, if someone has doubts on their child's ability to function through a queue, then get a
DAS. But in regards to the question of whether or not the goal should always be to work toward getting the child off assistance, I think that should always be the goal. Not everyone with autism will ever make it to that point, and just because they can make it through certain queues doesn't mean they will make it through all. But I do feel that it is always important to gently push those children who are tolerating things better to continue progressing. Of course, if you find that it isn't working, then employ the DAS for that ride, but as many on here have acknowledged, there's often a fine line between determining that assistance is truly needed for a particular queue and using that assistance as a crutch.
My comments on enjoyment were in regards to the comment of:
"I simply meant that if utilizing the DAS makes his vacation experience more like a typical person's experience (measured by enjoyment level, not by actual experiences), then it is still appropriate for him to use it as needed. Because let's face it, it's not really just for "access to the attractions for people otherwise could not access the attraction through the queue" because that would limit DAS to just people with mobility difficulties. We can force our kids through the queue, but it would significantly reduce the enjoyment level of the child, the family, as well as all the other guests in the vicinity."
I understand that that comment may not be meant how I interpreted it, but it sounded like trying to justify using the DAS to better the enjoyment of the child and family. If the child is unable to wait in the queue without issues, then of course, use the DAS and yes, it will probably make the experience more enjoyable. But if the child is able to manage a 20-30 minute line without issues while playing a video game (and there's nothing in that queue itself to set the child off), then it does seem like using the DAS on THAT PARTICULAR ride would be done solely for enjoyment purposes, and not because it was actually needed.
If the child cannot manage the length of the line, the queue itself, etc without breaking down, then DAS becomes a need for that particular attraction. When the child has gotten to the point where they can handle the length of the line and the queue without having issues, but you just like the flexibility of being able to do something else while waiting for the ride, or being able to schedule a return time when fastpasses are gone, or just enjoy not standing in line, the DAS appears to be a want, and not a need, since at that point, for that ride, the assistance is not needed for the child.