Monday has rolled around again, and that means it’s time to
join in with the lovely Sian and
share something that I’ve learnt over the weekend.
***
The term inclusive doesn’t always mean that it is.
The gym where I am a member is also the place where
The Boy Child has his weekly swimming lesson.
Officially, now that he is 9-years-old, he is not allowed in the female changing rooms.
Which is fine, if The Brainy One accompanies him to his lesson.
But on those days when he is unavailable, where is The Boy Child supposed to go?
Autism precludes The Boy Child from changing into his swim kit, securing his belongings, not losing the locker key, drying himself properly, and repacking his bag without supervision.
There are no disabled facilities in the gym and the Swim Manager says that she has never been asked that question before.
You can see what Sian discovered over the weekend here.
You can see what Sian discovered over the weekend here.
This West London Life 
such a ridiculous situation they have created I hope they find a solution fast
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In the meantime is there a disabled toilet you could use? Or a mother and baby room?
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Oh my goodness, some serious lack of thought and planning on,their part :(. I like Bernice's suggestions. Or,just go ahead and do what you have always done – is anyone likely to know his age? Or mind?
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Bernice and Alexa have good ideas. To be honest, I wouldn't have trusted my son at 9 to do all that himself, it seems a very low age limit. Maybe once they get to secondary school age it would be a sensible time. As Alexa says, who's to know his exact age? And I know for a fact that if I were a parent of a girl having lessons, I would have no issue with a young boy being there. Stupid rules like this make me so cross.
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I hope that the swim gym does not take to long to figure this one out. At our local YMCA, they have Men, Ladies & a Family change room for this very situation.
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For this and many other reasons, I think all public places need to have at least one family bathroom in addition to the mens and ladies. I hope you find a solution.
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Sounds illegal to me. I hope you can work to find a solution very soon because it's obvious how much he enjoys it!
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I agree with Sian this has got to be illegal. No disabled facilities? I don't have boys but I am really not sure I would have let my 9 year old in men's changing rooms on his own. For a start you never know who might be lurking or am I just of a suspicious nature?
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Oh gosh, Ruth, that is an unfortunate situation! :o\ On a good note, it's fun to see him swimming in that cute video. Good luck with this new predicament! xo
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