Disabled priority in lifts?

[harshbuttrue1980]

I had a disagreement with a friend this weekend and genuinely want to know if I am BU. My friend can't walk, and uses a mobility scooter. She isn't in any pain at all, and has no other health issues. She has a great job and a really active life.
We went to a shopping centre this weekend, and the lift was full, so we had to wait to use the next lift. She said afterwards that I should have asked the other people already in the lift to get out so she could get in. I said that I didn't agree with this, as she is equally able to wait as everyone else. She was a bit taken aback.
To clarify, if there was someone on crutches, heavily pregnant, a child having an autistic meltdown or someone else who would struggle with waiting, then I think they should have priority.
Am I being unreasonable to think that someone in a scooter shouldn't ask everyone else to vacate a lift so they don't have to sit in their scooter and wait their turn?

[Alisvolatpropiis]

The only time I'm ever use lifts is if I have my baby in the pushchair or am shopping with Grandmother, who is blind ergo disabled.

I would not get off the lift and try dragging either of them up or down stairs or escalators, no.

However as an able bodied person, when not with either of those two I would use the stairs or escalator, because I don't need the lift.

[witsender]

I agree Birds. People get pretty feisty on here about offering seats in buses to the elderly, why is this any different?

[FabFiveFreddie]

This is similar to all those threads where people with (say) nut allergies assert that omnivores shouldn't be allowed to eat the nuy-free options at a buffet. The omnivores can eat everything, those with allergies can only eat some things, ergo the omnivores should only eat the stuff other people can't eat, unless there are leftovers which they are permitted to have.

In this case, able bodied people can use the stairs and the lifts, wheelchair users can only use the lifts, ergo able bodied people should leave the lifts for wheelchair users, unless there's space in which case everyone can use them.

This means that those people in the minority (suffering from a nut allergy, wheelchair users etc) restrict choice for the majority. It's something most people don't think about and, often, take offence at having to think about.

I blame Maggie "there is no such thing as society" Thatcher. It's all me me me. There's no regard for, let alone appreciation of the wider community. The worst of it is that it doesn't take a lot. Just a little consideration.

[twelly]

I think she should wait in the queue as everyone else in a mobility scooter - there is no need for her to take priority.

[witsender]

Have you read any of the comments on this thread Twelly?

[Owllady]

Yabu and I think using terminology such as mobility scooter rather than motorised wheelchair is inflammatory and minimising. She can't walk, she's not being entitled, she has a NEED to use the lift
Whether you want to make that point on her behalf is up to you though as that's a bit like, does she take sugar?

[LarrytheCucumber]

I agree that when queueing for a lift people should give priority to anyone who can't use stairs, so that would include your friend in her scooter, but also parents with buggies and elderly people, but asking someone who is already in a lift to get out is unreasonable.

[VoldysGoneMouldy]

Anyone using the lift without an actual reason makes life harder for disabled people. Because I have invisible disabilities, I don't ask people to move if they are in the lift and look perfectly capable of using the stairs of escalators (think gangs of teenagers giggling as they see a VI person waiting here), however it is absolutely INFURIATING. Waiting to use a lift because you haven't got a choice, and having to wait for twice the timr due to people who can't be arsed, when frankly I'd LOVE to be able to jump on the escalator without a seconds thought, is absolute crap.

However.

I can't imagine asking people to move, and if I got to a point where I needed to (because I urgently needed to get to the toilet or something), I would do it myself, not expect a friend who was with me to do it.

So, whilst I completely understand how infuriating it can feel, she was BU.

[SauvignonBlanche]

I think she should wait in the queue as everyone else in a mobility scooter - there is no need for her to take priority.

Quite right twelly, she should wait in the same queue as everyone else that can't bloody walk, or use stairs or an escalator. Only an idiot would suggest that she didn't have priority over those that are using a lift merely out of choice or convenience.

[twelly]

Just to clarify I think that there is no reason in this instance for someone to have priority, lifts are used for a variety if reason not just because people can't be bothered to walk. The act of waiting in a queue does not require priority

[ohtheholidays]

No I think that's really strange of your friend to be honest OP.

And I'm disabled,seriouslly ill and constantly in pain and we have 5DC and 2 of our DC are autistic,our youngest is physically disabled on top of being autistic as well.

We usually get it the other way round we'll be in a lift first and parents that have buggys and adults with no children expect us to get out of the lift were already in so they can get in there.We get that quite a bit with people that are able bodied as well.We never ever leave the lift and I do give people like that a lesson in how to bloody behave normally!

[Owllady]

I'm sure she could have used an escalator if the people behind held the scooter on or she could be dragged backwards up the concrete steps
The disabled, so entitled

[HopelesslydevotedtoGu]

If lift space is limited then those who are least able to use the stairs/ escalator take priority. If a lift was busy with a big queue and I could use the stairs I would get off for a wheelchair user.

Some places have tiny lifts and plenty of stairs and escalators, e.g. many tube stations- I definitely think these are intended to be used by those with mobility problems, prams and big luggage, in that order. It really fucks me off when perfectly healthy looking people fill up these lifts (I am aware they may have hidden disabilities of course but I doubt they all do).

If there were sufficient lifts, e.g. the person would just be waiting for one or two lifts, I probably wouldn't get off, but I may let the wheelchair user in before me. Some places do have enough lifts that there is clearly an expectation that the majority of people will use them.

I think it depends on the availability of lift space.

[lalalalyra]

I think it's fair enough if you have to wait for 4 or 5 lifts with no space to say "Is there anyone who can take the stairs as we've been waiting ages?" but 1 lift being full then taking the second one is no drama imo.

[Slowlygettingthehangofthings]

Haven't rtft, only skim read the first couple of posts, so am answering the OP here.
I do think your friend was being a bit unreasonable about taking priority in the queue for the lift. If there was some reason why she couldn't wait then that would be one thing, but asking to cut in just because you are in a scooter is a bit off. I get the whole "she doesn't have other options" argument. With a pram in tow I am in the same situation, but I would never dream of asking to jump the queue for the lift if I could wait. The thing is, other people in the queue may have an equally compelling need to use the lift, despite not being in a wheelchair/scooter. For example, my mother is terrified of escalators - cannot go near them without breaking into a sweat. It stems from an accident she had where she fell the way down one when she was heavily pregnant with me. In our local shopping centre, thr stairs are located near to the escalator, where as the lift is at the opposite side of the courtyard thing. So imo, her need to use the lift is just as great as a person in a wheelchair.

[andintothefire]

It's really just about being considerate, isn't it? In some situations I would definitely get off a lift I was already on. I would not be at all offended to be asked in a situation where (for example) a wheelchair or pushchair user has been waiting for a lift and there has not been enough space for them to get on. I agree that I would not use a lift in the first place unless I needed to (or it was very quiet and there was plenty of space).

I don't see it as people with disabilities having priority. I think lifts are there for people who need them. It's a bit selfish to use them when there is no need. However, I don't think you can really start having a hierarchy of need between people in wheelchairs, people with heavy bags or suitcases, people with prams, perhaps even people who need to go up lots of floors when there is no escalator etc.

[MsMims]

Has been interesting reading these replies. I don't usually use a wheelchair but I do have a hidden disability which means I can't walk very far without being very fatigued and in pain. The other day, I was waiting for a lift when a person in a wheelchair joined the queue behind me. It was a small lift and there wasn't room for them as well. I did feel apprehensive even though I knew I had good reason to need the lift incase comments were made.

OTOH when I am in a wheelchair I'm much more able to wait for lifts etc. I'm more comfortable and don't feel as dizzy/ light headed when sitting down.

[harshbuttrue1980]

Owllady, my friend calls her scooter a scooter. Therefore, I call her scooter a scooter. She calls her wheelchair a wheelchair and her scooter a scooter. Where's your problem??

[BishopBrennansArse]

Ah ok. People's dislike of 'special treatment' was the reason we were forced to wait so long for a lift that DS soiled himself. Now I know.

Never mind there were escalators right next to the lift which wheelchair users can't use, people who CBA to use a moving stairway have priority over a wheelchair user.

That picture posted up thread is pretty much what I expected tbh. After having started using s wheelchair myself recently I've realised that any adjustment made certainly isn't reasonable unless people it wasn't provided for can freely abuse it meaning those it's there for can't use it.

[Comeonmommy]

I have an invisible disability and can't walk far without pain and fatigue. I feel guilty as hell if I am in a lift and it is full so others can but get in. For a while I would get out to allow someone else in and would wait for another lift - has taken me a while to come to terms with my disability and now hold my ground - I would not like to be the person in the lift your friend asks to get out - I would be mortified!!!! Just because your friends disability is more visual doesn't mean she would have had more right to be in that particular lift than me for example.

[Skittlesss]

MsMims, I have a hidden disability as well and I absolutely hate how people just assume you're ok because you look ok when you're stood still. It's really embarrassing. I'm in constant pain also and it isn't nice. Though I did think you couldn't tell I had problems until I saw myself walking on cctv :(

[witsender]

Maybe she has a scooter not a wheelchair, they are different things. My mum for example, has both.

[Skittlesss]

Comeonmummy I was just thinking the same as you about being asked to get out. Sometimes the lift in the car park back to the car is the worst. For example today I went into town with the hubby to go to one shop. We were 15 mins max. In the lift back to the car I was hanging on because I was at the end of my pain tolerance and I knew that I was close to tears. A further delay or being forced to climb the stairs would have absolutely agonised me. It's awful when you're young and can't even walk round town properly.

[BishopBrennansArse]

I know all about hidden disability, previous to the RA which means that I can't manage without the hair I had Fibro & CFS for many years. That's fair enough.

But enough full lifts to stop us getting access for 20 mins? Can't see how they all had hidden disabilities.