How do you handle situations?

[SoonerSarah]

We recently went to go see a movie. This particular theater is not one that we frequent often, I know the layout of the other better, and it has a lot of seating options for those that are handicap.

We went to sit down about 30 minutes before the movie began, it was during a weekday and more crowded than what I had expected. There was a little girl sitting in one of the seats in the handicap section, so we went to the other end od seats. The set up was one seat, room for two chairs, seven seats, room for two chairs and then one more seat. The nearest row that could otherwise accommodate some family members was more than 20 rows below (you enter at the top and work your way down innthis theater). As we started discussing how we would sit, the girl (10-12 I think) said that the seats were reserved for her family. I then asked her if her family had a handicapped person, she looked at me oddly, and I said that the row of seats was for handicap people, and she said yes. So then asked her how many people in her family needed to sit there, and she said they were using all of the seats. I repeated that she said they needed all of the seats, and then said it was because they had handicap people in their family.

She then admitted that they did not have anyone on their family that was handicap, and left quickly.

I wasn't the least bit harsh with her, I was speaking very quietly, and I was trying to determine how many of my family could sit in the handicap section, and how many were going to have to sit elsewhere. I'm not sure if she left because she was caught in a lie, or if she was somehow confused by my question.

But in a situation such as this, if a non handicap person refuses to move out of a handicap section, what do you do? All i needed was a seat for myself, my Mom (she currently is not able to walk up or down such a large number of steps), and a space for my daughter, who as in a stroller. how could I have handled the situation differently?

 

[videogal1]

We recently went to go see a movie. This particular theater is not one that we frequent often, I know the layout of the other better, and it has a lot of seating options for those that are handicap.

We went to sit down about 30 minutes before the movie began, it was during a weekday and more crowded than what I had expected. There was a little girl sitting in one of the seats in the handicap section, so we went to the other end od seats. The set up was one seat, room for two chairs, seven seats, room for two chairs and then one more seat. The nearest row that could otherwise accommodate some family members was more than 20 rows below (you enter at the top and work your way down innthis theater). As we started discussing how we would sit, the girl (10-12 I think) said that the seats were reserved for her family. I then asked her if her family had a handicapped person, she looked at me oddly, and I said that the row of seats was for handicap people, and she said yes. So then asked her how many people in her family needed to sit there, and she said they were using all of the seats. I repeated that she said they needed all of the seats, and then said it was because they had handicap people in their family.

She then admitted that they did not have anyone on their family that was handicap, and left quickly.

I wasn't the least bit harsh with her, I was speaking very quietly, and I was trying to determine how many of my family could sit in the handicap section, and how many were going to have to sit elsewhere. I'm not sure if she left because she was caught in a lie, or if she was somehow confused by my question.

But in a situation such as this, if a non handicap person refuses to move out of a handicap section, what do you do? All i needed was a seat for myself, my Mom (she currently is not able to walk up or down such a large number of steps), and a space for my daughter, who as in a stroller. how could I have handled the situation differently?

1. Don't do anything differently. Do just as you did.
2. Summon the manager.
3. Get tough.
4. Wait for her family to arrive and then call the manager, as appropriate.

I encountered a similar situation only it was two teenage girls trying to share the same accessible seat in a balcony full of empty seats.

I told them to go away(I believe my exact words were BEAT IT), that the seat was reserved for disabled people, and pointed to the sign to assist their comprehension. It probably also helped that I was accompanied by an extremely tall black dog whose cuteness, in the near darkness, was impossible to recognize. I would have ratted them out to the manager in a heartbeat, though.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

First mention politely that the area is reserved for disabled and their families.

If that doesn't work go out to the nearest employee and ask that they either handle it directly or get a manager to handle it.

 

[of2dbeach]

I would do as you did or as for help from a manager. Also on the funny side I would let DS sit next to her he is 18 Autistic / Epieltpic and hand her his rectal Gel for seizures and tell her to enjoy her movie

 

[a1tinkfans]

First mention politely that the area is reserved for disabled and their families.

If that doesn't work go out to the nearest employee and ask that they either handle it directly or get a manager to handle it.

 

[Ashton7]

I had a similar situation once -- my companion and I sat down in the empty handicapped seat/companion seats. The row was empty except for two people at the far end. As we sat down, one of the ladies at the end said that the entire *row* was reserved for their group. Apparently the others were at the concession stand. We pointed out that these seats were reserved for handicapped. The woman argued with me a bit but when she could see I wasn't going to get up and move (where to?!?!) she angrily informed me that *I* could stay but my companion would have to move! I told her if she had a problem with us sitting there she could go and get a manager because the manager would surely tell her that my companion and I had the "right of way" in this situation.

She sat in her seat and huffed until her friends came back whereupon she angrily told them that we sat in "their" seats and wouldn't move. They looked at us, smiled at us when they saw I was handicapped, shrugged and said they would sit one row back behind her and the others. LOL!

I think the OP did the exact right thing and I wouldn't have hesitated to get an usher or a manager involved if necessary. I have had ushers tell me before that they *will* ask people to move if they are sitting in the handicapped seats and they are needed (and presuming other seating is available, of course).

 

[Mama Who]

We recently went to go see a movie. This particular theater is not one that we frequent often, I know the layout of the other better, and it has a lot of seating options for those that are handicap.

We went to sit down about 30 minutes before the movie began, it was during a weekday and more crowded than what I had expected. There was a little girl sitting in one of the seats in the handicap section, so we went to the other end od seats. The set up was one seat, room for two chairs, seven seats, room for two chairs and then one more seat. The nearest row that could otherwise accommodate some family members was more than 20 rows below (you enter at the top and work your way down innthis theater). As we started discussing how we would sit, the girl (10-12 I think) said that the seats were reserved for her family. I then asked her if her family had a handicapped person, she looked at me oddly, and I said that the row of seats was for handicap people, and she said yes. So then asked her how many people in her family needed to sit there, and she said they were using all of the seats. I repeated that she said they needed all of the seats, and then said it was because they had handicap people in their family.

She then admitted that they did not have anyone on their family that was handicap, and left quickly.

I wasn't the least bit harsh with her, I was speaking very quietly, and I was trying to determine how many of my family could sit in the handicap section, and how many were going to have to sit elsewhere. I'm not sure if she left because she was caught in a lie, or if she was somehow confused by my question.

But in a situation such as this, if a non handicap person refuses to move out of a handicap section, what do you do? All i needed was a seat for myself, my Mom (she currently is not able to walk up or down such a large number of steps), and a space for my daughter, who as in a stroller. how could I have handled the situation differently?

Go speak to the manager. A couple nasty girls at the Harry Potter opening found themselves on the verge of being ejected for refusing to move their heinies when asked politely. Their "but we waited in line!" was not impressive to the manager- who was disabled himself.

 

[IrishIz]

I don't think you did anything wrong. I never sit in those seats. The way I see it is that if a handicap person comes in I would need to move...so I sit where I want so I don't get stuck somewhere I don't want to be because I needed to move.

I think if somebody won't move...you just get a manager. I wish those seats were marked better.

 

[DopeyDame]

Its sounds to me like you handled it perfectly. The girl was probably confused/frazzled at first, but she moved to somewhere her whole party could fit sitting together and you guys had a place where you could sit together. And no blood was shed and no higher-ups were called. Win-win to me!