I come from a large family and my youngest sister has a rare medical condition that caused blindness after a difficult first year of life. She is also on the autism spectrum and requires a lot of care and support, so I help take care of her regularly.
Because she is blind, she enjoys experiences that involve sound and touch. She especially likes Star Wars themed toys and characters because of their voices and textures.
During a recent family trip to Disneyland for my brother’s birthday, we were in Galaxy’s Edge when Darth Vader and stormtroopers were doing a character interaction. My sister recognized their voices and immediately wanted to go closer. A cast member helped arrange for her to participate, and she was able to touch the stormtroopers’ armor and Vader’s cape, which she really enjoyed.
After that moment, the same cast member later approached us again and offered something special, asking if she would like to meet Chewbacca. We agreed, and a few minutes later Chewbacca arrived for a more private interaction.
At first my sister was unsure and wanted to sit down, but once Chewbacca gently interacted with her hand, she became curious. She started exploring his costume by touch, feeling his belt, face, and fur. She quickly relaxed, smiled, and even hugged him, which is something she has never done with any character before. They played together briefly, and she looked extremely happy throughout the experience. Chewbacca also showed a very warm and caring response.
The moment lasted only a few minutes, but it was incredibly meaningful for our family and easily the happiest I have seen her at Disneyland. I shared positive feedback with the park staff afterward because it was such a memorable and thoughtful experience.
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