To be annoyed at being told to be considerate of disabled people

Lots of people with visible disabilities also have invisible disabilities. It is not a clear dividing line.

Sorry but you kind of did say it. You made it very clear that you think the majority of people claiming to have invisible disabilities are faking it.

I'd get a Sharpie and write underneath it 'then give us separate baby changing facilities (with a toilet) then'. Hate Tesco who seem to think parents with tiny babies still in a pram don't need to pee. Don't know if all Sainsbury's are like the one where I used to live, but the baby changing unit was massive and had a toilet in it.

I guess the bottom line is that you could change a baby elsewhere, if you really had to, but many disabled folk cannot just use another loo.

There’s a current thread on MN where the OP thinks that pregnancy should be treated as disabilty !!

I can see why small businesses do this but it would be good if they made clear that disabled people have priority.

Before disability I used to think that equality laws and so on had made improvements in the way people with disabilities were treated. And in some ways they have. But what I now feel is that some of the progress made is actually begrudged by some able-bodied people. We see it on here all the time. Despite evidence showing that people with disabilities are disproportionately in the poorest segments of society, we all apparently live on benefits, have six foreign holidays a year and own mansions. Pushing someone in a wheelchair out of the way is the thin edge of the wedge. I regularly have the door slammed in my face by people who hold it for the next (able-bodied) person but then see that I am slow and have both hands using sticks or other walking aids, so they let it go to slam in my face! And I mean that it's rare a week goes by without that happening.

I used to take an elderly friend shopping and many times at the till the assistant would converse with me and I’d have to say my friend is buying these goods not me.

I mean, it's not hard, is it?

It's saying don't take fucking ages over changing your kid, because for some reason we think lumping disabled facilities with the baby change is a good idea.

As a wheelchair user I can tell you it’s not unusual for me to be out with friends, and instead of people addressing me directly, they will assume I’m with a carer and talk over me to them.

The point is that baby changing facilities shouldn’t be combined with disabled facilities. They should be separate. Disabled people shouldn’t have to wait for a baby to be changed before what for some, will be the only facility they can use.

It is common. As is being talked down to as if you are a young child, or servers asking anyone with you questions about what you would like.

@MerryMaker yeah, I agree. I just wouldn't think someone would be lingering in there any longer than strictly necessary!

This is actually shocking. It is unbelievable how rude and selfish humans can be.

That IS NOT what I said. I said that I was very much aware of invisible disabilities, but I am also very much aware of the fact that changing out of your winter clothes is not a disability. Able bodied people regularly abuse the systems in place to support disabled people, and if you spend any time on threads here you must know that. "I have a right to park in the disabled space even though I am not disabled - AIBU". Obviously not, say most of the answers, you go ahead. But try parking in a parent and toddler place and you'll be crucified.

I would suggest that you re-read my comment before accusing me of saying things that I DID NOT SAY.

It’s a straightforward sign but I doubt it will have any impact. The type of people who are inconsiderate are not going to change their behaviour by reading this sign.

The sign is inside the toilet; it can’t be about queuing

Then it's about making sure that you don't spend longer than needed, as a disabled person might be waiting outside. Surely that's obvious?

It is about being reasonable. Waiting while someone does a quick nappy change fine. Waiting ages while someone breastfeeds or plays with their baby while changing its nappy is not okay. That is the one place someone disabled can use the toilet. They should not have to wait ages to use it.

I think it’s a straightforward sign. It’s just saying be considerate.

Firstly it’s a restaurant. They likely don’t have infinite space to offer separate spaces for disabled people and baby changing. And legally they may not need to provide designated space for baby changes, so it’s likely disabled people are the priority. Essentially they have tacked on baby changing facilities onto the disabled loo to help customers like you out OP.

Let’s be honest doing things with children can take some people ages, meanwhile someone with a medical need to use the disabled toilet might be struggling waiting.

No. I'm sorry, but that's not what the sign implies at all.
And yes, I'm afraid that a disabled person desperately needing the toilet DOES come before me changing my granddaughters nappy, or a mum who likes to take her time and wash down her baby and change its clothes after a nappy change.

I've not seen a sign like that. Surely once someone is using it then it's occupied, whoever has to wait, disabled or otherwise.

I am really surprised, although pleased for you, that you have never had any issues.

Seems pretty pointless because it indicates you’re either a parent, or you’re disabled. When in fact there are many disabled parents, and many parents of disabled children.

All parent and child facilities should be disabled friendly to cater for this.

We need to move away from a world where we pop people firmly in one bucket and stereotype their needs on that basis.

Really just quite an odd sign.

I’m a wheelchair user. Are you a fan of ‘The Office’ ? If so do you remember the sketch where Dawn, the wheelchair user was in the pub having a meal and someone yanked her wheelchair away from the table ? I couldn’t tell you how many times this has happened to me. I’m wise to it now and slam the brake on so that they’re can’t move me. It’s just bloody rude.

@EmmaMaria So to you, nobody else is genuinely disabled but yourself and everybody else is faking it?

Thanks. I have Parkinson's disease... You can’t see it - I look fine when I'm not tremoring, but I can fucking feel it and need the disabled toilets and my blue badge thank you very much.