AIBU to think that the disabled loo are not for people to have a private shit!?

[MrsSippy]

I use the disabled loo at work, because I am, well, disabled. I need the bars to help me on and off the pan (TMI??) Every time I go it absolutely reeks, and there's usually someone skipping out quite functional of leg (I know about hidden disabilities, don't worry) My thoughts are that it is used for private shitting purposes, not wanting others to share in the trauma of splashdown.

AIBU??

[WorraLiberty]

So your problem isn't that it's always engaged and you have to wait to use it, because you're unable to use the regular toilets?

Your problem is that you don't like the smell of shit?

No-one likes the smell of shit, no matter what toilet they use.

If you have a shit and a disabled person uses the loo after you, they won't like the smell of your shit either.

[ProudAS]

Could it be that the person has severe anxiety and cannot poo without extra privacy. Find it hard to believe that applies to every single person using the disabled loo though.

[Marynary]

Mary obviously we need common sense if there are two loos at a workplace and one of them is accessible there would need to be some sharing but the fact that there are no disabled people at you work just highlights the fact that getting and keeping a job can be more difficult for a disabled person, just like many other aspects of daily life, so maybe there is no need to begrudge exclusive use of a toilet if the event occurs of a disabled colleague at your work, also if its further away from the office and other toilets they could use then all the more reason to try and keep it free?

Actually my line of work is suitable for a disabled person and I am disabled to some extent although don't need to use disabled toilets. I don't begrudge disabled people exclusive use of the toilets where I work because they don't get it! I just agree with the fact that they wouldn't get exclusive use. It isn't necessary and I say that as someone who may need to use them in the future (I have a chronic disabling disease).

[Pettywoman]

DS uses the disabled sometimes when his ulcerative colitis is playing up. This is only if he can't wait for a normal one or if he wants me there for moral support if it's particularly bad. You have my sympathy OP because when it is bad it stinks to high heaven.

[Topseyt]

I have IBS and have very occasionally used a disabled toilet because of it - i.e. waiting for a regular cubicle to come free would have caused me an embarrassing disaster. You wouldn't know to look at me what my problem was, and I would have given you short shrift if you had taken it upon yourself to ask me for my medical history.

More recently I did have to use a disabled toilet for a more obvious reason. A severely broken arm held at right angles in a huge cast following surgery to repair it. I tried the regular cubicles available but literally could not even turn round in one. So I used the disabled toilet because I could see no other option apart from pissing or shitting myself.

I am sure that there are sometimes people who use the disabled toilets for no good reason, but it is risky to judge because you simply cannot always see what the problem may or may not be. You don't have to be registered disabled to use those toilets. As in my recent experience, it could be a temporary (hopefully) medical problem which has prompted the need.

[blankmind]

I don't think you'll be able to stop anyone using the disabled loo, but there are steps you can take to combat the stench as it's work-based as opposed to a public loo.

Could you ask management to fund an experiment of using the products that will kill the smell off at source?
Like these household-tips.thefuntimesguide.com/2015/01/poo-pourri-recipe.php

Chain the spray bottle in place if necessary, but make sure there's a memo sent around and big signs in the loo saying that it must be used before anyone uses the loo.