Additional Needs

The Sign Said, ‘Accessible’ - It Was Anything But!

Posted by Miriam Gwynne on 13th November 2016 Additional Needs, Disabilities

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I knew as long as he got to see the lift doors open and close a few times there was a slight chance I would manage a quick grab of a card and a very brief look at wrapping paper.

I was barely in the door when a familiar odour made me double back to the car for the changing bad.

I have yet to graduate from the baby changing bag to a handbag despite the fact my youngest is eight years old!

My son was most unimpressed at this sudden change of plans but with a lot of, 'first car, then lift', talk he sort of when along with me.

I held him tight while I reached into the boot for the nappy bag.

As we returned to the shop I looked him in the eye and whispered 'first change, then lift.'

I was treated to his wonderful ear piercing scream, the sort that rattles off your ear drum for minutes later and draws stares for miles around. For a child with zero words he can sure scream load!

Despite his obvious protest his needs needed attended too so I marched him quickly in the direction of the toilets.

It was a large supermarket.

We had just passed the electronic scooter trolleys, the wheelchair accessible trolleys and the various parent and child ones.

This was the very supermarket who had recently held a 'quiet hour' to help families like mine.

As I stood in the hallway of various bathrooms I looked around at my options.the usual ladies and gents, followed by a baby change room and a disabled bathroom with this sign.