Hi Charlie,
Walt Disney World Resort does a wonderful job accommodating guests and providing
services for those with autism and cognitive disabilities. You have several different options available to your family, depending on the specific situation. If there are attractions that your family wishes to experience, but your son does not wish to ride, you can utilize the
Rider Switch option. This will give the members of your party who wish to ride a chance to go on the attraction, while one adult waits with your son. You can then switch and the other adult will have the opportunity to ride without a long wait. You'll want to click the link I provided for further information.
For attractions that have a long queue and your son wants to ride, you will need to utilize Disney's
Disability Access Service. This service is intended for guests who have difficulty waiting in long lines. Essentially, you will be given a return time which is comparable to the current wait time for any given attraction. However, rather than having to physically wait in line, you can go visit a character, grab a snack, or otherwise occupy that time. Once the allotted time has passed, you will return to the attraction. While this doesn't shorten your overall time that you wait, it eliminates the requirement of physically standing in line.
In order to utilize the Disability Access Service, you will need to visit
Guest Relations once you arrive.
Wishing you magical memories,
Kaylene