Young deaf boy who felt left out at Disneyland gets the best surprise from Mickey and Minnie Mouse

Children with disabilities find it hard to accommodate a world designed for the able-bodied. Inclusion is extremely important to help them feel comfortable and experience life in all ways possible. A touching video of a small child with hearing loss interacting with Disneyland employees has gone viral on social media. The workers are dressed as the characters Pluto, Minnie and Mickey at the theme park in California. According to Goodable, the child was sad because "he wouldn't be able to speak with the Disney characters." However, to his surprise, Minnie and Mickey Mouse responded to his greetings in American Sign Language. The wholesome video, which was initially taken in 2017, shows the boy greeting the characters, according to Indian Express. Minnie responded in ASL and said, "Nice to meet you" and "I love you." The child then hugs them with love and joy.

The video was posted on Twitter with the caption, "A young deaf boy went to Disneyland but was sad because he wouldn't be able to speak with the Disney characters. When Mickey and Minnie saw he was deaf, they walked over — and gave him the best surprise ever. Everyone belongs." 

Disney has been recognized as the best place to work for disability inclusion for the fifth consecutive year. According to its website, it has earned "a top score on the 2022 Disability Equality Index (DEI), the world’s most comprehensive benchmarking tool to measure disability workplace inclusion."

All of Disney's theme parks have Disability Access Service (DAS) in accordance with its "unwavering commitment to providing a welcoming, inclusive environment and accessible experience" to people with disabilities. DAS allows people, "to request a return time for a specific experience that is comparable to the current standby wait." This aids them in experiencing other attractions of the park instead of waiting in long queues. 

People planning on visiting the theme park can set up a live video chat with a DAS member who will help make their visit accommodating. People who use wheelchairs and have other mobility disabilities don't have to register and will automatically be given a return time for attractions. Latondra Newton, SVP and chief diversity officer, The Walt Disney Company said in a statement, "At The Walt Disney Company, we are committed to ensuring that the stories we tell, the immersive experiences we create, and the products and services we offer celebrate the unique abilities of everyone." She added, "Being recognized as a ‘Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion’ is an incredible honor, earned in large part by our employees around the world who are focused on creating a culture where everyone feels a sense of belonging."

 
The video now has more than 3000 retweets and several comments. A Twitter user commented, "We watched a large group of deaf & developmentally delayed kids attend the Festival of the Lion King. We thought it would be visually interesting. But Disney brought out singing & dancing interpreters for the show and included the kids in a parade at the end. Inclusion matters." Another person shared their experience, "My daughter is blind and she was at Disneyland and they had no qualms whatsoever about her using her hands to see them. Some of these people don’t get the recognition they deserve. X" 

Another user appreciated Disney for its inclusive efforts, "I’m a Disney advocate for life. They know how to create that magic in incredible ways!" A user added, "Good job on those two character actors. Signing in those gloves can't be easy but it means so much that they make the effort."