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.

[nomorebooze]

My mother is disabled and has incontinence problems when she needs to go she needs to go!!!!!!!!!! her carers need to get her there ASAP to avoid accidents. If ablebodied people are using them for, changing rooms, to avoid queues, whatever! they should be ashamed of themselves. I am sure you would rather queue than be disabled?????? YABVU shame on you. Yes there are people, ablebodied and disabled without visible issues!!!!! you cant always tell from just looking, and yes there may be another disabled person using them before you but thats a damn sight better than someone using it when they shouldnt. These loos are there for a reason. use the other provided loos

[MmeLindt]

Mummydoit
I did not mean to imply that all people with disabilities are incontinent, or have little control over their bladders.

How often is a disabled toilet needed by several disabled people at the same time though?

I have a friend with MS and she was often caught short when out and about and she found it very distressing if she could not get to a loo in time because it was being used, either by a non-disabled person or by a parent changing a nappy.

IMO, there should be nappy changing facilities in the normal toilets - both Gents and Ladies.

And doubling up a toilet as a room for BF is disgusting.

[mumbar]

disabled persons have a radar key which opens the door so shouldn't have to wait for person to open it.

Depends on situation - I have bowel probs and sometimes could not wait in a queue and instead of pushing to front have used disabled but if not I would just explain I needed to go and couldn't wait.

Only once has someone complined about me pushing in and I showed her my medical card and she jsut blushed - some peop;le can't handle discussing the bowels!!!

Prob is if lots of people able to wait used it quickly someone who needs the space or quick visit may not get in. iyswim.

its a grey area!!!

[msrisotto]

nomorebooze - but what about the fact that 1. There are able-bodied people with incontinence problems too. 2. There are disabled people without incontinence problems 3. We're not talking about a situation where there is no queue for the non accessible toilets.

[darcymum]

"And doubling up a toilet as a room for BF is disgusting."

Yes I did feel really bad about keeping somebody waiting but in my defence it did have a chair and sign saying feeding room, I was a new mum without the confidence to BF somewhere more public and didn't want to ff even if it was just when I was out.

[HippyGalore]

MumInBeds, when I had ulcerative colitis (had surgery now) I had a radar key and a "can't wait" card that allows you to use staff toilets in shops. He probably knows that but it helps if he doesn't.

I think there is a limit to how long a queue should get before someone uses the disabled toilets. Usually the long queues block the access as well. I suppose, having been allowed disabled access based on urgency (and perhaps the embarrassment) I feel that someone able bodied who is bursting (but without medical reason) is suffering in a similar way, it is usually the most desperate that break from the queue to use the disabled. If you are first or the queue is tiny, then you shouldn't use it.

[MmeLindt]

Darcymum
That was not a criticism of your using the disabled toilet to feed your baby, but towards the shops that think that a loo can double up in this manner. If that was the only place available, then of course you should use it.

[WillowM2B]

How can a toilet be disabled? It is an inanimate object.

[castleonthehill]

I am disabled. But my understanding is that they are now called accessible toilets do if you have a access problem ( a child in a pushchair not fitting in the other loo having more children than can fit in a cubical) then I feel you can use them.

I also have a very disabled nephew I have never seen him use a public loo I just found out they toilet him in the car before they come in. They have everything there and have more people round that could help wouldn't fit 2 adults and a adult in a wheel chair in a loo. Strange I know.

[TulipsInTheSunshine]

I've had to use the disabled loo in the hospital as i couldn't fit myself, dd and the baby into the teeny cubicles of the non-disabled loos and both of them were too young to leave outside the cubicle (4 and less than a year)

Although on a couple of those occasions dd did have a broken leg and was on crutches so i think we were technically entitled but i'd done it once or twice before then too and would do it again if stuck in the hospital with buggy/multiple kids and desperately needing the loo.

[nomorebooze]

msrisotto: you could go on and on about this! but only the people using them know whether they need to or not! surely people should have some self morals.

[Morloth]

There was a feeding room sign on the toilet door? Did you complain?

[MmeLindt]

Those who use the accessible toilets (if the pedants prefer that) because they cannot get into a normal toilet with a pram/buggy, what do you do when there is no accessible toilet available?

I used to leave the DC outside the door of the loo for a moment, if there was anyone around I would ask them to keep an eye on the baby (not that she could go anywhere) while I had a quick wee.

[LittleMissHissyFit]

Oooh someone fancies a ruck.... (OP)



(not the disabled one, honest)

[MrsC2010]

There is a 'skeleton key' or something (can't remember thr name) that will open most disabled toilets. My mum has one, can't remember how you get them though.

[Butterbur]

I have used the disabled loos:

1. when Dcs were in buggies/too small to leave outside

1. when there was a horrendous queue for the ladies, and there are no disabled people in sight

And I still see nothing wrong with that when it's a quick wee.

Perhaps we should ask why designers of shops, theatres, restaurants and other venues still haven't worked out how many ladies loos are enough. The only place I've been where this isn't a problem is Disneyworld in Florida. Banks and banks of spotless loos, usually with automatic flushes.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

given that there is only usually 1 disabled toilet, and a queue in the Ladies, if everyone in the queue thought like you and used it, it would constantly be in use and people with disabilities would never get to use the toilet..how is that fair?

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

My local M&S also has a multi-use disabled toilet with signs on the door for disabled/baby change/ feeding

[SanctiMoanyArse]

10 year old dsw1 with asd regularly wets if he has to wait

Pretty embarassing at ten, no?

Toilet using disability wide: incontinences, IBS, siarrhoeaa from allergies, SPD all count IMO but if you have no need then wait, as teh rest of us do.

After all everyone ahead of you decided not to use the disbaled did they not? What amkes uyou mroe special than them?

[SanctiMoanyArse]

Ah butter

no disabled person in sight?

Pray, i;ve been studying disability for eyars now: if you have a way of telling by sight who hs disability please share!

[deeply]

A disabled toilet is simply a regular toilet to be used by all but can also accommodate a disabled person.
It is silly to have a long queue waiting when there is a disabled toilet standing empty.

It is completely different to disabled parking spaces.

[agedknees]

mumbar - I have a similair problem that is caused by medication. Sometimes when I have to go I have to go immediately. And do not get any warning.

So if all the loos where full and the disabled loo was empty I would have to use the disabled loo. I feel guilty about this, but the alternative would be horrendous.

[roundthebend4]

agedknees know one would quibble your right to us eok some might .I have a ds 13 who sometimes need sto us ethe disabled if the 2 or only one cubice is in use in the mens becuase when has to go has to go now,imagine soiling self at 13 becuase someone was using the loo becuase could not bother queing

Mind ds2 will not take he Piss and use them for a wee as he undertands what its like for anyone disbled as have ds3 in wheelchair

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