adults with learning difficulties on small childrens' play area.

[Bethshine82]

Took DS to the play area on Friday, it is not a huge play area and has one of those signs saying it is designed for use by children 14 and under.
Whilst we were there a group of around eight adults with learning difficulties and their carers arrived. The adults proceeded to go onto the playground.
AIBU to think this isn't very fair? They were adults and they weren't really aware of their strength and size. The carers weren't supervising brilliantly and twice I saw one of the adults just shove the children out of the way. Also some of the adults were shouting and screaming which frightened some of the toddlers. Many of the children left. I'm not in any way suggesting that adults with learning difficulties shouldn't be able to go out and enjoy themselves or that they shouldn't be part of the community, I'm just not sure a small childrens' play area is the place for an adults' afternoon out.

I think that the playground should only be used by children, it isn't safe otherwise really. AIBU?

The lady who got on the bus has as much right to be using that public facility as anyone else. She wasn't a threat to babies and children because the carer was using distraction techniques in order to avoid any situations. No-one needs to be scared of adults with disabilities because they are different. Fear breeds ignorance :(

Awkward, how do you know that these people in the park may behave unpredictably?

My ds behaves unpredictably all the time, but he isnt violent or aggressive.

So i assume by 'may behave unpredictably' and by the example you gave, you are assumming that these people who used the park could be violent and aggressive. As i said they would not have been taken to a childrens play area if they could be violent and aggressive.

"Because I was in the majority kladdaka"

at that statement

The more I think aboutn the bus istuation the angrier I get....why the eff should a person with SN have more rights than a small child?? If a person has a tendancy to lash out at small babies then they need to be kept away from them. Since buses are often full of them then it makes sense to get a taxi.

The lady on the bus didn't do anything did she?

why the eff should a small child have more rights than a person with SN?

fanjo dont make me out to be the baddie here....I have every respect for ALL people to be treated fairly and equally but if that is meant to include putting others at risk then that's not faair or equal.

fanjo their safety is as important as the peron wih SN's right to travel on a bus...where does the buck stop?

I dont think were talking about learning disabilities such as dsylexia, dsypragia etc here. That the individuals are in a children's soft play centre, making involuntary loud noises etc implies a certain lack of normal cognition subject to their chronological age such that may render them unaware of their actions. If not then why bring them to a children's play area, wouldn't a musuem or library be more suitable and stimulating if they were suffering mild LD's

While not all will be inherently aggressive or violent granted, although can be a feature of the more severe forms of LD's but nevertheless a push or a shove from a fully grown adult is a bit different from that of a younger child isn't it

if people think you are a "baddie" it's not because I am making you out to be, I was shocked at your statement.

Small kids have a tendency to lash out at other kids too, should they therefore get taxis everywhere?

making loud noises does not imply that people are unaware of their actions, it implies they cannot produce clear speech, for a myriad of reasons;

AwkwardMary - so you are basically advising segregation of people with SNs from the rest of society

rather than inclusion?

Because I was in the majority kladdaka. I know that when my cousin, who has a severe mental health problem comes out with me and my family for the day, I don't put her in situations which will make her feel threatened and scared and that includes public transport, crowded cafe's and restaurants.

Do people from minority groups have less rights than those in the majority then? Missed that bit in the Disability Discrimination Act.

Fanjo yes...my DD did sometimes lash out but she was a few months old and about as big as a large turkey....this woman was an adult. It's not comparible.

I am NOT saying people with SN should be segeregated....I am NOT.

I AM saying that in some cases, the carer needs to weigh up the risk factors...if there are none then fine...but if I were in charge of an adult with SN who lashed out at babies then no way would I take them on the bus.

My job would be to care for the adult and not to put them in that situation....ass well as not putting other members of the public at risk.

I NEVER said all adults with SN should be locked away or anything.

no you are saying that THAT woman should have been

Baking, my ds has ASD and doesnt have a 'severe' learning disability, in fact he has a very high IQ, he makes involuntary loud noises, also has a few tics, flaps his hands, shakes his head etc. He also has a limited understanding of social rules. So 'severe' LD's has nothing to do with involuntary noises.

The op didnt say anything about children being pushed to the floor or shoved with force, so im assuming it was a gentle shove.

I got the impression that the children were scared, due to an adult not acting in a 'normal' way, rather than these adults running about hurting everyone.

it doesn't sit well with me..you say you don't take your cousin on the bus but wouldn't it upset you if someone became ANGRY (as you said you were about this lady) and basically DEMANDED you did not take her on the bus.

Yak I do share....I do supervise...I am NOt some Nazi person and we have friends with children who have complex needs....I don't disallow my DC from being their friends! I understand that not all people with SN are violent fgs.

but I just did not like being put in that situation on a crowded bus thank you. The woman was very close to me and I spent the journey scared. the carer did take some care to keep the lady away but it was hard on a moving bus....the lady did keep trying to edge closer and it was a very hard journey...staggering around with a baby in a sling and trying to keep a distance wasn't easy at all.

I AM saying that in some cases, the carer needs to weigh up the risk factors...if there are none then fine...but if I were in charge of an adult with SN who lashed out at babies then no way would I take them on the bus.

Or you could take them on the bus and warn parents of babies of the risk so that they can keep the baby away and then everyone gets to use the service.

I have a question AwkwardMary. What did the woman on the bus actually do to harm your baby?

Fanjo NO...I never....I said she should have been in a taxi. That would be both fairer and safer. Fanjo No.....if I DID take my cousin on the bus then in all likelyhood she would have a meltdown and firghten people so I wouldn't DO it!

You didn't say the carer said she lashed out at babies, she said she lashed out and that could be involuntary. She asked you to watch because she wanted to limit your risk. It doesn't mean she would have necessarily have done anything really as most carers risk assess before they partake in activities with their clients anyway. Check suitable times to go places, plan routes, transport, plan distraction techniques etc etc