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?

Well said Pag.

Also, the OP had numerous small children with her and letting them wait outside whilst she went to the toilet wouldn't have been possible as she couldn't safely watch them. The choice she made was so that all of them could be with her whilst they all went to the loo.

But surely, if all the cubicles are taken up, and they disabled is empty with nobody waiting, why on earth wouldn't you go to that one?

I have read it differently to you then. I have seen many people saying that the OP was BU, but that the lady who was waiting was BU in shouting, because the OP may have had a hidden disability. That is why the various scenarios came up I think, rather than as red herrings.

Vintage may I suggest you read the entire thread and then maybe your questions will be answered,

"Changes to the Building Regulations have been extensive and now cover access for everyone, including- ? Wheelchair users, ? Ambulant disabled people ? People of either sex with babies and small children ? People with luggage ? People with learning difficulties ? People with visual or hearing impairments ? People who lack tactile sensitivity and are likely to scald themselves on hot surfaces. The new standard is required for all new buildings and major refurbishments, including extensions to buildings, or when an entire washroom or bathroom is refitted with new disability products. It also takes into consideration the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, which states that ?all suppliers of goods and services must remove all physical barriers where it is deemed reasonable to do so?, and this is probably why the new standard is so exorbitant."

So no, the rules are not just for wheelchair users but for ALL people who have specific accessibility issues.

[gavel]

That means people should be able to get into toilets etc- not that they should use them just because they dont want to wait!

Does disabled mean wheelchair users only? If it doesn't then how could the person in the wheelchair form a reasonable opinion of your entitlement to use the loos? In any case she was rude and obnoxious. You should have clamped her.

slightlymad I didn't have any questions

vintageteacups Wed 06-Apr-11 22:32:01

But surely, if all the cubicles are taken up, and they disabled is empty with nobody waiting, why on earth wouldn't you go to that one?

Let's just imagine that a building has renovated their toilets so that every single cubiclehas disabled access - does that therefore mean that able bodied people cannot use any of the toilets?

Do people really not know that disabled toilets are not just for wheelchairs and extra space?
Blimey.

I may start a "People with luggage" thread and get popcorn.

It's not a really a question that needed answering

I don't think they do, which is why some posters were feeling put upon and reprimanded, despite them having children with SN, and therefore in my opinion, entitled to use the disabled loo.

Pagwatch that's exactly what they're for. I'd be interested to know what evidence there is that they're for anything else tbh.

but do remember people in wheelchairs are people to, sorry just getting fed up with the comments, like the "wheelchair bound" one earlier.
disabled people are just people they come in all shapes and sizes, some use wheelchairs some don't, but a lot of them need to use a disabled toilet as waiting can cause pain/discomfort and loss of dignanty ,. (sp) but the one thing they have in common is they didn't choose to be disabled.
the op chose to take 4 dc's out, they weren't even all hers, so it was her choice,

i have used a disabled toilet with my daughter before, she is able bodied and perfectly fine looking however has autism, and has a fear of the hairdryers and the noise of the toilets flushing, she sometimes refuses to go in and as she is an autistic 7 year old i wouldnt be leaving her outside on her own.

so say that was me in that situation with her younger sister , and i then seen a physically disabled person waiting, i would feel bad but my daughter is classified as disabled and gets dla.

sorry am going off the point i dont think you were being unreasonable no, i think it can be very difficult for mums ut on own with lots of kids but would that disabled person have know if one of your children had autism like mine?

i think both parties need to be more understanding. and nothing you did justifies her to call you a bitch

Exactly Shoesy

Apologises, please ignore my last quote, I misread your post entirely. They're just normal loos adapted so wheelchair users can use them more easily. Not reserved loos for disabled people.