invisibledisablility
Sept 2018
0
Disability? What disability?
Staff who do not understand the nature of disability. WIll certainly not be going back.
As a cancer patient who has had most of my bowel removed and several other intestinal organs as well, I have periods where I struggle with getting to a toilet quickly enough and I also suffer from fatigue. I do try to use the able-bodied toilets whenever I can as I know how important a quick dash can be. After having a meal in Ciao Roma, I was exhausted and needed to use the toilet in a hurry and so made my way to the disabled toilet as the other toilets were downstairs.
A waiter knocked on the door when I was closing it and told me that it was for disabled. I explained that I have a disability. He looked me up and down, made me feel that I was lying and again said they were for the disabled. I told him again that I have a disability and then closed the door.
The toilet was being used as a storage area and there certainly wouldn't have been room for a wheelchair. There was no toilet paper available - despite this having been pointed out to them by another customer earlier in the evening (this customer was given serviettes as an alternative).
As I was visibly upset, my husband asked for the manager and was told he wasn't there and that everyone was equally in charge so he explained to the waiter that not all disabilities are visible and I needed to use a disabled toilet and was told that they couldn't know and they had to challenge everyone.
The waiter became very argumentative and then said the manager was there. Another waiter came over (who had been there the whole time so is he the manager or not?!?) and again reiterated that they have to challenge people. No apology - just arguments. Staff need to realise this is not the 19th century and not all disabilities are obvious and that it is embarrassing to be challenged, especially when you need to go in a hurry. A very distressing end to what had been a nice evening with the family.
Staff who do not understand the nature of disability. WIll certainly not be going back.
As a cancer patient who has had most of my bowel removed and several other intestinal organs as well, I have periods where I struggle with getting to a toilet quickly enough and I also suffer from fatigue. I do try to use the able-bodied toilets whenever I can as I know how important a quick dash can be. After having a meal in Ciao Roma, I was exhausted and needed to use the toilet in a hurry and so made my way to the disabled toilet as the other toilets were downstairs.
A waiter knocked on the door when I was closing it and told me that it was for disabled. I explained that I have a disability. He looked me up and down, made me feel that I was lying and again said they were for the disabled. I told him again that I have a disability and then closed the door.
The toilet was being used as a storage area and there certainly wouldn't have been room for a wheelchair. There was no toilet paper available - despite this having been pointed out to them by another customer earlier in the evening (this customer was given serviettes as an alternative).
As I was visibly upset, my husband asked for the manager and was told he wasn't there and that everyone was equally in charge so he explained to the waiter that not all disabilities are visible and I needed to use a disabled toilet and was told that they couldn't know and they had to challenge everyone.
The waiter became very argumentative and then said the manager was there. Another waiter came over (who had been there the whole time so is he the manager or not?!?) and again reiterated that they have to challenge people. No apology - just arguments. Staff need to realise this is not the 19th century and not all disabilities are obvious and that it is embarrassing to be challenged, especially when you need to go in a hurry. A very distressing end to what had been a nice evening with the family.
