Yes, you are correct. We were multiple year AP holders pre-diagnosis. The end of our last AP year was shortly after diagnosis, and we had a life-threatening issue on Splash Mountain - triggered by a very long wait in a direct sunlight DAS line. The Cast Member made a joke about the situation. It was beyond reprehensible.
When my DAS holder needed to call for her own DAS a few months later (still shortly after diagnosis - just turned 18), she was treated horribly and told she "didn't need a DAS" - despite the prior incident. Due to the recency of her situation, she may not have known exactly how to advocate for herself, but the CM could clearly see she had been granted the DAS twice before, and still gave her a hard time enough to leave her in tears. We called back together later, and it was granted immediately - different CM. This is clearly a Disney training/CM lack of quality issue, and I'm far too sensible with $ to risk spending almost $5000 for 3 AP's and not know if we will get a crappy CM or a good one. As out of state guests, I can't see buying airline tickets, and flying to Florida and then being declined. There simply has to be a better way. For the record, as Universal AP's, I can call 30 days before, provide our prior DAS/RAP number, and have the pass re-approved kindly in 2 minutes. Not sure why Disney can't figure this out - especially for those of us who are frequent visitors.
My daughter is already worrying about a trip she wants to take next year with a group of college friends. Until now, it's always just been the 3 of us on her DAS; she's worried that applying with a new group will cause a decline and she'll have to spend that trip alone in her room. Simply inexcusable.