To think its ok to use the disabled toilet?

[darcymum]

I am able bodied but it does annoy me that disabled toilets are often locked while a long line snakes outside the other toilets. Why can't we use it? what do they think we are going to do?

I was at gay pride once with really long lines outside all the toilets, including disabled and when a disabled person arrived (even without visible disabilities) they just went straight to the front of the line, no problem. In fact quicker than having to find a staff member to open it for them.

I'm sure I'll be flamed for my ignorance but go ahead, I might learn something.

Some persons with disabilites would be too embarassed to go to the head of the queue.

Are you new to MN?

This is one of the very contentious topics so you are likely to get a flaming.

It is not about what you are going to do, but simply that you are able to use a normal toilet, a disabled person is not.

If the disabled toilet is constantly blocked and it is needed urgently by a person with SN, then it might be too late.

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I suppose really what it is is that when a disabled person comes to use the toilet, its occupied because a non-disabled person is using it.

Okay so non-disabled people have to queue, but for disabled people, there might be reasons why they have less time before they need to go, and just generally if they have to wait, it should only be for another disabled person, not for people who are not entitled to use that toilet.

look at it this way, i am able bodied, and if i couldnt wait for a normal toilet and used a disabled one, then held up someone who might really need to get to the disabled toilet very urgently, i would feel absolutely awful. wouldnt you feel awful?

"Some persons with disabilites would be too embarassed to go to the head of the queue."

Yes you do have a point.

"If the disabled toilet is constantly blocked and it is needed urgently by a person with SN, then it might be too late."

But it often takes ages to get the fippin key anyway.

Perhaps the solution would be to have all public toilets disabled-friendly.

Has this been done to death already then?

I don't think it is too much to ask for people to just wait a little longer and leave the disabled free just in case.

I am disabled and have a radar key but even then I don't use the disabled toilet unless there is really no other option.

YABVU.

I had to wait for ten minutes a while ago to use a disabled toilet, whilst using a walking stick. My legs were this close to giving way. Eventually a teenage girl came out - she'd been using the fucking toilet as a changing room. I was fuming.

Wait your turn. Count yourself lucky you don't need to use them.

I thought that there was a special universal key for disabled toilets, so anyone entitled to use them would likely have a key.

I don't think it is too much to ask for people to just wait a little longer and leave the disabled free just in case.

Yes I agree, except I have three very small children who also sometimes can't wait, and we are right in front of an empty toilet that we are not allowed to use.

i use them atm because our local public loos (inc asda) have really tiny cubicles and i struggle (at 35 weeks pg) to get in and out easily

My DH has a radar key meaning he can use disabled toilets. He doesnt have a disability in the toileting department, but on occasions, his mobility is such that standing at a urinal is bloody uncomfortable and he needs to sit down (apparently the stalls in a mens toilet are often blocked/disgusting). He does not take the piss though, and will use a mens toilet if he feels he is able.

If I have all 3 children on my own, I have been told on occasion to use the disabled toilet by staff members, as it is easier for us all to be in the same toilet.

I totally agree with the previous poster about making ALL public toilets disabled friendly though..... would save a lot of hassle.

I also like to use them because it means I don't have to leave my toddler in the push chair outside.

YANBU. They should disabled access not exclusive. Obviously using them to change in is unreasonable but the time thing doesn't stand up as you say because they are often locked anyway so someone has to be alerted and go and get the key etc. And able-bodied people might need to use the loo quickly too.

All toilets should be disabled access.

Don't really want to get involved in this argument (have seen other threads on the subject!) but I've always queried the argument that the able-bodied shouldn't use disabled toilets as a disabled person might need one urgently. Surely a disabled person would have to wait if another disabled person were already using the toilet? Or, as many are doubled-up for baby-changing, for a parent and baby? I also think it's slightly insulting to imply that all disabled people have little control over their bladders! My MIL and mother are both disabled and need to use disabled toilets but are perfectly capable of hanging on till someone else has finished. If your disability means you need to go that urgently, what do you do if there isn't a toilet nearby?

I have a disabled son who can't cope with the noise of a normal toilet so use the disabled toilet when out and about with him. I don't mind waiting if the toilet is already being used but my son doesn't understand the concept of waiting and usually if he needs to go he needs to go

Obviously if there is another disabled person in that toilet then fair enough, but it would annoy me if someone who was capable of queueing in the ladies/gents was using it. Usually the disabled toilets are free/empty anyway so not normally an issue.

My son has an invisible disability though, as do alot of other children/adults so one can only assume that whoever is using the disabled toilet i using it for a reason. I certainly woulnd't challenge anyone coming out of them, but I have been challeneged on a few occasions by people in wheelchairs as I often have my younger son in a pram with me as well.

If there is no disabled person waiting, I use them. I wouldn't take the mick and use it as a changing room, though , but I'd have a quick wee. Why not? Most disabled people are capable of waiting 2 mins to use the loo. They are there because they are accessible for people with mobility difficulties 9and people with babies in buggies, who cannot just leave their child outside when they want to use the toilet!), not because people in wheelchairs can't hold their wee for a few minutes

If you are out shopping with a little one there isn't an option sometime. Buggy too big for ladies loos and dc too small to stand and wait for you to pee if you leave buggy elsewhere.
I hate doing it and am always as quick as I can be.

I know I may well get flamed for it but I can't think of an alternative.

At my local morissons the disabled toilet is also where the baby change is.

As if that's not bad enough there's also a chair in there with a little sign above it saying "feeding room"!

So you're supposed to sit in the only disabled accessible cubicle, feeding a baby for 30 mins or however long, whilst a long line of disabled people patiently wet themselves outside!

My poor younger brother is in that situation MummyDoIt, he has ulcerative colitis and lives his life moving from toilet to toilet, sometimes with great urgency. Most of the time he can and does use the regular toilets but he finds it highly embarrassing.

He makes sure he knows where the nearest toilet is at all times but when they re all busy when he needs them... well... he has to get changed.

So you're supposed to sit in the only disabled accessible cubicle, feeding a baby for 30 mins or however long, whilst a long line of disabled people patiently wet themselves outside!

My local M&S had this and I went in to feed DD1 when I came I a man was waiting outside and furious with me. I was so sorry but had been told by the staff that was the feeding room.

Good point about the ridiculousness of having baby changing in disabled toilets!