to use the disabled toilet in this situation?

[dolldaggabuzzbuzz]

I took mine and my sister's DCs for a nice day out to the cinema. There was just me and 4 kids aged between 3 and 5. After we bought our tickets I took them to the Ladies toilet, they were all engaged and there were a few people waiting.

I decided not to wait and took the DCs out to the disabled toilet as there was no one using or waiting for it. When we had all finished we were washing our hands when someone tried the door, one of the DCs had unlocked it and this woman in a wheelchair came in with her partner, I said I won't be a minute. She glared at me and muttered some things.

I was really embarrassed that I had been caught out using the disabled toilet and I wanted to apologise to the lady for keeping her waiting (for less than a minute!) but she was really, really angry. The DCs ran out in opposite directions and I quickly said sorry to the lady and as I walked off she screamed "Bitch!" at me. I never turned back to look at her. I don't think the DCs noticed anything!

I was so upset I couldn't get it out of my head throughout the film, and it ruined my day. I don't think what I did was that bad. I thought that woman was really horrible. AIBU?

HipHop - I remember beign heavily pregnant and being unable to actually get into some teeny toilet cubicles!

Peaches - you took the words right out of my mouth re troll. Self-righteous is another word I was thinking of.

Im inclined to think we have an influx of trolls posting on this thread.

Yes, I agree. That Gemsy is the worst.

A troll is not someone who disagrees with you, no matter how abusive and patronising you get.

Yes I was thinking that. S/he is like a dog with a bone.

Spoc if you are registered disabled you can use a disabled toilet. If you aren't you have NO entitlement, which is the crux of this discussion. The OP and other people saying they would because they have a pushchair have no such issue. So what the fuck you are wittering about that for I dunno.

If a troll is someone who considers others less fortunate than myself then hell yeah im happy to be whatever you call me.

Gemsy, there is no such thing as being registered disabled.

That's not what a troll is.

Perhaps I live in a quite quiet area, but all the places we go, the disabled toilets are rarely used. If there was no-one else about (which there never was), I used to use them with the children (nice low down sinks) when they were little and needed the space. I don't now they are not babies. I've never come out to someone waiting, and I've never had to wait to use one. I'm starting to see now why this is such a big issue!

And my husband got a key for the disabled loos from the council as there were no changing rooms accessible for men in our area. Perhaps we are all a bit backward in more rural areas.

Actually, I think that a disabled loo should be available for anyone who has a permanent or temporary illness that makes waiting for a loo to become available difficult.

Not for those who cannot be bothered to wait, or don't want to leave their children outside the cubicle for a moment.

No Gemsy - the crux is these toilets are made in a way to make it easier and suitable for people in wheel chairs BUT EVERYONE can use them. Do you get it know

And I think Gemsy is being unfairly treated. She has stated her opinion, in the face of heated debate, a lone voice for most of the thread.

Sorry, I think I missed something.... why does being disabled automatically mean you cannot wait for the toilet like everyone else has to if there's a queue???? Just because they're disabled, surely this doesnt waiver their need to queue like the rest of us?? Personally I'm all for equal rights where it's due and equal rights goes both ways IMO, the positive aspects should be taken along with the negative!!

Unless, of course, that their disability interferes with bladder control etc but I believe then other "precautions" are taken anyway.

YANBU

I think disabled loos are underused and therefore a waste of public finances. Under the new cost-cutting measures they should all be decommissioned and turned into mini night-clubs, then the disabled people can work as bouncers and earn enough to build their own toilets.

Gemsy83 doesn't sound like a troll to me, just sounds like a person who cares about something

Thanks Mme. Thats what this place is like though atm, doesnt bother me though luckily got skin like a rhinos hide!

And I think Gemsy is being unfairly treated. She has stated her opinion, in the face of heated debate, a lone voice for most of the thread

Really? I think she has been far from a lone voice, she is the one who has heated the debate and has not only stated her opinion, but been rude, offensive, patronising and insulting to anyone who disagrees with her.

Quite why she doesn't understand that people can disagree civilly is beyond me.

I don't have time to read the whole thread and I apologise if this has been said already, but some disabilities are not visible but still necessitate using the disabled toilet. For example many people who have colostomy bags find the privacy more conducive to changing their bag yet this would not always be obvios once clothed. Unless the woman had some sort of mental illness too she had no right to be so downright presumtious. Imagine how you would have felt had my example actually been the case.

Because if disabled people NEED bigger toilets/lower sinks etc in order to make thier life easier and they cannot access them because people who do not need them insist on using them that puts them at a disadvantage. I dont believe in this day and age people need this explaining.

They are not there to make it easier for wheelchair users, they are there to make it easier for disabled people, which does not necessarily mean they have to be in a wheelchair.

Jazmyn
You are missing the point.

An accessible toilet is reserved for disabled people. Because they do not have the option of going into one of the other [howevermanythereare] cubicles, as you can.

If I were absolutely desperate for the loo, I could nip behind a bush, something that a disabled person could not do.

Notalone- it wasnt though, thats the whole point! If the OP DID have a hidden disability peoples views would be different.
I have not heated the debate whatsoever, ive been called a dick, told to fuck off and had all sorts implied about what ive said. Ive stated my point and challenged ignorance.

i like speedys plan, turn them all into mini disco's. No prams aloud, them pesky kids taking up all my space. Grrrr

And, yes of course that extends to hidden disabilities.

Or to families whose children have SN, such as Aspergers or ASD - and sometimes need to use disabled loos to keep their children safe.

But what if they are also the baby changing rooms (which are often the case)?
You dend up keeping them waiting much longer.
That's the thing I find really odd

I usually encounter long toilet queues in urban situations like the theatre. Not many bushes and I don't think weeing on the large rubber plants would go down well.