to politely decline to use the disabled loo?

[MsIngaFewmarbles]

I was waiting in a long queue for the loo in a coffee chain and saw a lady with crutches head into the disabled toilet. She came out while I was still queueing. Another lady further back in the queue caught my eye and offered for me to go in first. I declined saying that I wasn't disabled so wasn't entitled to use it. She then countered away to her friends telling them that she was going to use it as 'it was the law' that if it wasn't being used you could use it. I couldn't face an argument so just ignored her. It's still bothering me that I should have said something to her and corrected her.

Nope, YANBU. Someone with a genuine medical need could require use of it at any time. And unless you're mind readers, you have no way of knowing how immediate their need is.

Have a think about people with the disability that is Crohn's. Would you really want to be the person unnecessarily preventing them from accessing the disabled toilet quickly so that they have a major bowel accident in public?

Unfortunately, four I've been arguing with her on these threads since 2011. I looked. She's real, and she always peddles the same line.

Could be a he. Really don't know.

I genuinely can't see the point in a toilet sitting unused with no visibly or identified disabled people being around if there is a queue.

I get it for parking spaces, but toilets you are in and out in a minute.

Uneducated? Knowing that disabled loos aren't for the private use of people with disabilities? What are you on about?

I agree with one thing- there are too many twats on this thread. Am also off.

I just don't think it's reasonable to use a toilet specifically provided for those who need it when you don't have a need to. I don't have the best pelvic floor in the world after 3 large babies but I wouldn't use them.

craic and bernice I'm not claiming to be an expert in these situations. But as far as I know, if the only toilets are accessible ones, such as at my local library, doctors, sure start, etc, then it is fine to use them (and I would include craic's situation where the other toilets are on a different floor several minutes away).

However, if you have a choice about which toilet to use, leave the accessible toilet free.

Oh dear, you really are uneducated....

Bye!

I would have used the loo. I have problems with my bladder and ibs

I get nasty looks all the time when I use the loo but I don't give a damn.

Wow. I have never seen a disable loo post go like this on mn!!

Normally everyone is saying that of course we shouldn't use them and they should be left free for those who need them. Then there are usually a few unthinking or intentionally hurtful people who say it's their right to use them and get shouted down by everyone else.

An almost unanimous vote for anyone using disabled loos???? Feels like a parallel universe.

Oh, and YANBU (unless it was one of the aforementioned mens/ladies/disabled - which are just weird because disabled people are generally either men or women too!!)

Can I take this opportunity to link to the Changing Places Campaign

here

Many disabled adults and older children have to be changed on the floor of many disabled toilets, as they are not truly accessible.

I used a changing places toilet the other day with ds, it was great to be able to use a large height adjustable changing table, rather than my cut up old picnic rug on the floor of the toilets.

I get it for parking spaces, but toilets you are in and out in a minute.

It only takes a minute for someone to have an unnecessary accident.

PenelopePitstop, I doubt that any woman is only in the toilet for one minute. But even if they are, that one minute may make the difference for a person with a major bowel problem between making it and soiling themselves.

Serenitysutton beware karma might bite you on your goady bum

Knowing that disabled loos aren't for the private use of people with disabilities?
Except of course for the fact that people here have been trying to educate you for a good number of years and you have chosen to ignore them.

I genuinely can't see the point in a toilet sitting unused with no visibly or identified disabled people being around if there is a queue

The people most in need aren't going to be hanging around for you to spot them because if they were there, they'd proceed directly to the toilet in question.

I would have used the loo. I have problems with my bladder and ibs
In which case the loo is as much for your use as it is for anyone with a chronic illness.

OK ici, but what if a disabled person is in the toilet?

Friends with chrons mostly use non disabled toilets.

The sheer stupidness of the sentence Knowing that disabled loos aren't for the private use of people with disabilities? I mean come on, how thick can you get! If you don't laugh, you'll cry.

Thanks, Chronically.

I was thinking of lots of small cafes and restaurants which have Two loos, one loo marked m/w and one marked m/w/disabled.

I would always use the one marked m/w if possible, but there have been odd occasions (usually small child related, that or end up with a puddle) when we have used the one marked m/w/d, but I always feel as though we shouldn't be doing so.

wow must be a full moon

Patrick, surely if you have IBS and sudden onset diarrhea, you have a good reason to use the loo.

no visibly or identified disabled people being around if there is a queue How do you know? Is there some sort of 'look' that only disabled people have?

OK ici, but what if a disabled person is in the toilet?
Then there will be an accident, but why would a non disabled person wish to increase the chances of an accident when they don't need to. When there are frequently ten to fifteen cubicles available, when they have the ability to wait a few seconds longer, when they just don't flaming need to use a space that is designated for the use of those with disabilities. It's rude, it's greedy, it's selfish.

but what if a disabled person is in the toilet?

then the other disabled person would have to wait, obviously. But if you aren't disabled then why would you make life more difficult?

It just comes down to Doing The Right Thing.

Dawn since I have no idea what you're on about I also checked. There was 1 other thread in 2011, which ended up virtually identical to this.
1 thread in 3 years... You just be exhausted with all that arguing (and have a slightly stalkerish memory)