disabled loos

[ohgoodlordthatsmoist]

I am 20weeks pregnant and suffering from SPD, it has really flared up over the weekend and on Saturday I got stuck on the loo in the local m&s eventually managed to heave myself up but think I have caused it to be worse.
Would I be unreasonable or selfish to use the disabled loo in future if I'm struggling and out and about? I was shouted at when 42 weeks gone last time for using the doable loo in a coffee shop rather than climb the stairs, woman argued that if I was able to be out enjoying a coffee I should jolly well climb the stairs and not use loos im not entitled to.

Any thoughts? Do I need blue badge to use them?

Yanbu I had to use the disabled toilets during the last week of my pregnancy after I got stuck on a toilet in debenhams and had to ring my sister to come and help me up.
As an aside why are the baby changing facilities in disabled toilets? Would it be so difficult to stick a fold down thing in all the toilets?

I have a radar key too nmg85 and look 'fit and healthy'.

My mil has a radar key and uses the disabled toilets when she needs to attend to her stoma bag, only one person has ever said anything, I think they regretted it, she can be very blunt.

You dont hqave to explain yourself to anyone, and no one has any business being judgemental just because you look fit and healthy.
They are not pro disabled activists, they are judgemental people who are looking for an excuse to have a go at someone.

I thought they were 'accessible toilets' rather than 'disabled toilets'? With the purpose being that anyone who needs the additional space, handrails, seat height, sink, etc can access them?

They are accessible toilets. They are for use by anyone who requires them. Not just for people with physical disabilities. That is why the symbol on these toilets in many places is getting changed, people seem to think only wheelchair users are allowed to use them. They are also not legally enforceable like parking bays.

My mil sometimes uses them as she has A bowel condition and if she has a flare up she needs a toilet fast and also at times to clean herself up if she has had an accident. (Try doing that in a regular toilet)

If Op got stuck on a toilet due to spd then she is perfectly entitled to use the accessible toilets as they have extra hand rails ect. To aid her temporary mobility issue.

As an aside why are the baby changing facilities in disabled toilets? Would it be so difficult to stick a fold down thing in all the toilets?

It's usually an issue of space. Not everywhere can afford to give that much ground space to toilets, and as baby changing required a bigger space, it's often put in with the disabled loos. Bigger places like supermarkets and department stores have got the space so usually have separate, smaller places like coffee shops don't.

I have a stoma, and it is a really fiddly one, involving putting catheters through a hole in my tummy. Using normal toilets is pretty much impossible because I need space to put things down and a sink. However, because I only occasionally use a wheelchair, the anount of dirty looks, tutting and downright nastiness I get for using disabled toilets is amazing. But, according to some peoplem if I am able to go out and, god forbid, socialise....obviously there isnt anything wrong with me.

Op, YANBU

As an aside, it hacks me off no end that the changing facilities are usually in the disabled toilet and are unsuitable for people who use wheelchairs (too high) to change their babies and are unsuitable for disabled older children and adults to be changed on, meaning they have to be changed on the floor.

www.changing-places.org/ campaigns for properly accessible facilities, if anyone is interested in reading.

As an aside why are the baby changing facilities in disabled toilets? Would it be so difficult to stick a fold down thing in all the toilets?

When DS was a baby, this used to drive me crazy. I always felt terrible having to use the accessible toilets to change him. I left the door unlocked so that if someone needed it urgently they could kick me out, and I became a master at the speed change.

Moved to a new school. It's very small, I know for a fact that there are no disabled children or staff. There are multiple disabled use toilets on every floor plus lifts. AIBU to use the disabled toilets given I have mobility issues, but no 'official' disability?

Minute I'm the same, always leave the door unlocked. I can sort of understand in smaller establishments the disabled loos doubling up as baby changing but there are a few places near me that have plenty of room in the other toilets yet still have the changing table in the disabled toilet (I'm looking at you wetherspoons and debenhams)

*Midnite ... Must start proof reading.

Perhaps one day, in the future, architects/designers will make all toilets fully accessible unisex ones with baby changing facilities.

Just use the disabled toilets if you need to.

Like others have said, the disabled/accessible toilet is for all who require it.

It's sad that some people are so judgemental.

Would it be so difficult to stick a fold down thing in all the toilets?

DS hated them from quite a young age as well as being terrified of hand driers, and was impossible to change in those circumstances so really needed a separate space.

People always amaze me when they think disabled toilets are exclusive to disabled people. Especially in this day when we have so many people shouting to make everything for people with disabilities 'inclusive' well the toilets are just that. Anyone can use them, it just so happens they are better equipped for people with disabilities, but that doesn't mean you have to have a disability to use them.

No anybody can't use them. They are there for people who can't access the "normal" toilets not just for use by anyone who wants to use them!

Yes you do have to have a disability to use them; it may be a temporary thing but that is still a disability at that point.

I could run up stairs, I'm pretty fit, i weight lift, do a lot of cardio and I look fit.

I also have a condition that affects my bladder meaning if I need to go, I need to go now so sometimes I use the disabled toilets. Just I don't look like I need it doesn't mean I don't need it.

I don't think YABU actually, spd and pregnancy bladder is awful

You can absolutely use the disabled loo - ignore anyone who says otherwise. You don't need a blue badge. They are there for anyone with a permanent or temporary disability, visible or invisible.

You for the moment are disabled use the toilet you need it.

The disabled dont go round with badges on saying im disabled the tutting about toilets is getting a bit out of hand imo.

some disabilities are invisible.

hypermobility syndrome: urgency. mobility issues
ibs: urgency
stoma bags: needing sinks etc
autism: not coping alone, or with hand-dryers.

You don't have to have a disability, you can also use them if you have a health condition such as IBS. You can get a radar key for this too. If you have a health condition including something pregnancy related you are entitled to use the disabled toilet.