to find it irritating when people use the larger fitting rooms when they don't need to?

[LILLYSHILLINGS]

I'm disabled. I have to use crutches and find it extremely difficult to move around in a small changing room. I've just waited 35 mins whilst two women have been trying on dresses for their do next weekend. One of them even said 'I hope there's nobody disabled outside' to which the other one laughed. I should have confronted them but I am extremely awkward in social situations. I suffer with social anxiety. It never bothers me when someone with a pram or children use them as it's a safety risk to leave them unattended. I am all for being sensible. I am just tired of wasting time because of people who are selfish. AIBU? Or is it just the norm to go straight to the bigger changing room even when the others are free?

What do you think all the bars, high flat padded seat and the red emergency cord are for

I have never seen that in a changing room in a shop, only in an accessible loo. In fact I've not even noticed bigger and smaller ones, although sometimes if the shop is a weird shape, as a pp said, they might be.

Stupidly I never realised there were disabled changing cubicles. However I tend to buy clothes from chains I know the sizes of so I rarely try something on anyway.

You are not being silly, to be honest though I've never been in a large changing room, definitely not any with equipment in it; but it makes sense and I hope all shops have them.

You are not being silly at all. They are usually very obviously disabled friendly changing rooms with a fold down seat and support bar. Clearly not just there for ornamentation.

I rarely go shopping with my kids (5 and 2 - they do not shop well) but on the very odd occasion I have and have taken them into a disabled changing room, I have always been prepared to dive back out if they are needed by someone who needs them.

I have never seen that in a changing room in a shop, only in an accessible loo. In fact I've not even noticed bigger and smaller ones, although sometimes if the shop is a weird shape, as a pp said, they might be
Same. I've not seen any signed accessible changing rooms in my town, though like you I also tend to buy where I know fits because I cba to wait in changing room queues with people trying half the shop on.

If a changing room is a designated accessible changing room then people who need it should be able to use it. If there's no queue then I don't see why it shouldn't be used and then the next person can use it.
Having to wait 2-5 mins for a changing room is in no way similar to using accessible toilets.

Ever thought the person using a larger cubicle may have issues which mean they require the extra room, ie get claustrophobic, or taking a child in to try clothes on so need extra room, or a bit overweight so needthe extra space? The shops I’ve gone to have some larger change cubicles, but have never been signed for the disabled, nor do they have anything different to other cubicles - never seen any with pull cords or rails.

I’d I’m shopping with my daughter and I don’t see a wheelchair user in the changing queue, I’ll naturally go for the larger room so we can fit more easily. When my three were younger is often being them in with me as well, even without buggies etc.

If something’s not marked for the disabled, it doesn’t always occur to me to think about it, and I’m extremely grateful you posted OP because it’s certainly raised my awareness. In future, I’ll think twice about it and behave more considerately.