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?

theborrower I know you are working in Royal Opera don't you It is the same story there every time I go iwth my disabled dh.

my aunt has a catheter, my mother has complications from bowel cancer, neither get around using a wheelchir and don't look disabled. Both require quick use of the toilet. When I go to the toilet I use the disabled ones. They are not for exclusive use for disabled people.

The OP may not have been disabled but she had a (golf style) handicap and was right to use the toilet IMO. The disabled person has a problem bigger than her disability-shes a bittter mannerless old bint!

disabled toilets are for disabled people. simples.

why in ''able bodied'' toilets is there normally 10 or more cubiciles but there is normally only 1 ''disabled'' toilet?

serious question
as there must be more than 1 disabled person allowed to shop/theatre/cinema etc at any one time

and why put baby changing in the disabled toilet as it obviously causes problems

Pamelat - in that scenario I tookus all into the cubicle and left the pushchair outside

or I left 10 month in pushchair strapped in outside cublicle

nothing bad ever happened

bemybebe Nope! But they sound smart ;)

Well said lili2010.

"and why put baby changing in the disabled toilet as it obviously causes problems"

Because obviously whoever installed it intended the toilet to be used an accessible toilet for all.

of course we dont do what people tell us all the time fgs but it was either leave or have a showdown with a man in front of the children.

puddingface "why in ''able bodied'' toilets is there normally 10 or more cubiciles but there is normally only 1 ''disabled'' toilet?"

I think its worked out on percentages/likely users. In some older public sports facilities there are less female toilets than male.

"and why put baby changing in the disabled toilet as it obviously causes problems"

Lack of infinite space and money?

Some disabled toilets DO NOT have baby changing facilities- so by your reckoning Mrs Ryan if there isnt able bodied people have no right to use it? Kind of pisses (scuse the pun) on your whole argument really doesnt it...

In the Trafford Centre they have radar keys fitted to disabled toilets. I had a double buggy and was on my own desperate for a loo. I spoke to one of the attendants and the unlocked it for me. Never once questioned me. Strange.

Gemsy

So once you have children they must always be the lowest and last because you had an element of choice in bringing them to the world? I think most people (should) realise that going out with children is not always so easy and children are necessarily able to wait.

A bit of consideration from everyone goes a long way - even from people with disabilities.

Well puddingface, I suppose because of lack of funds/ space. There are more than 10 people without disabilities too in any cinema. I suppose the problem is the shortage of loos in some places. Personally I would not use the accessible toilet, unless I really really had to e.g. a stomach bug coming on, sudden need to vomit, or indeed if a 2 and a half year old was about to wet themselves. Surely a bit of common sense is needed.

There are plenty of disabled toilets in my local town centre- no baby change facility, no radar key. So are people still in their eyes 'entitled' to use them purely because they have x amount of children/a buggy?

Not really Gemsy83 - Would you like some salt with your chips?

children are NOT necessarily able to wait

Yanbu poor you she sounds like a complete cow !

compo I have been known to wee with the toilet (non disabled) door wide open in public whilst talking to DS in his buggy

Its not pretty.

I am not happy to close the door with him outside. I would rather risk offending someone for a mere minute (thats all it takes, I do rush if using the disabled toilet) than have someone steal my son. I appreciate its not very likely but its arisk I cant take. My aunt had her son stolen as a baby, not in this scenario and he was "returned" but seriously, I cant close the door on my non talking child. I could ask/make my 3 year odl wait outside because she can shout me.

Marianne- people with children should wait their turn. People shouldnt push in front of them but they should not be a priority over those less fortunate. Its human compassion. If a child wets themselves waiting for the loo its no biggy, its not a permanent thing, wont mentally scar them and they will get over it. For a disabled person who has to wait because of someone else using the only disabled toilet because it suits them better its just something else in a long line of daily problems for them.

Surely a bit of common sense is needed

So true itsalarf - it's all about respect for each other...something that seems to be lacking in this day and age sadly. Disabled loos SHOULD be for the disabled, visable disability or not - we should only use them if it is an absolute emergency and not just coz we dont want to queue.

Human compassion works both ways.