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?

Lol at a wiki link. What about being inclusive? There is literally no reason on earth why someone shouldn't use the disabled toilet if it's available. No one is doing anyone a disservice or taking something away from someone, we are talking about going for a quick pee!!

So making it so someone can't use the one toilet available because someone can't be arsed walking a few more steps to the half dozen toilets they can use is being inclusive?

Inclusion doesn't mean treating everyone the same!

Oh, yes let's lol at the link which shows you're wrong Meadows. . There are thousands more if you don't like the source!

There are a million and one reasons why you shouldn't use a disabled toilet if you are not disabled.

So making it so someone can't use the one toilet available because someone can't be arsed walking a few more steps to the half dozen toilets they can use is being inclusive? . I'm quite sure I mentioned when the toilet was available? People seriously need to get a grip. I would never go in a disabled loo if someone else wanted in, but I wouldn't leave my baby unattended for anything in the world either.

Oh, yes let's lol at the link which shows you're wrong Meadows. hmm. There are thousands more if you don't like the source! I don't mind being wrong, I was loling at the sheer laziness of a quick Google followed by posting up one of the, if not the, first links! As for the wrong thing, I never mind being wrong, it's all about learning. My opinion will always be though that a toilet is a toilet and if you need you need. It's fab that bigger and more equipped toilets are provided for those who need them, but let's not be anal about it and start leaving babies in the middle of Tesco

But what happens when the disabled person arrives just as you shut the door so you don't see them and you end up spending ages in there? They can't use the ONE toilet available to them because you CHOSE to use it over the 6 or more toilets you could have used

Exactly ica.

Exactly Ica, I cannot understand why people don't realise that all the 5minutes add up.

The trouble with leaving babies outside loos though... It might be a million to one chance someone will take them, but I would not want to be that unlucky one. All it takes is being in the wrong place at the wrong time, really.

No, everyone shouldn't be elbowing disabled or less able users out of the queue, but I find it hard to begrudge anyone if there's not a suitable alternative.

Wanting to use the toilet that is provided for you is not being anal. If we used your logic you won't mind when men traipse in and out of the women's loo will you? I mean we can't be anal about who uses which toilet!

You don't know who you are preventing from using the disabled toilet when you use it, that's the point. You don't know how many accidents you've caused or how much pain or upset you've caused, because that is the reality of able bodied people using disabled toilets when they shouldn't.

But what happens when the disabled person arrives just as you shut the door so you don't see them and you end up spending ages in there? They can't use the ONE toilet available to them because you CHOSE to use it over the 6 or more toilets you could have used just so you know, I don't use the disabled toilet, I mean I have done a handful of times with baby but I don't choose it over 6 others ordinarily. Funnily enough my teenage son with autism never uses hem either, there is no need for him to use them so he goes to the gents. I just think the suggestion that people shouldn't use them if it makes their toilet experience easier is ridiculous. Mums with baby should of course use the disabled rather than leave baby alone. Also the spending ages in the toilet thing, I would only ever nip in for a quick wee if I HAD to go (when I had pram) thee int anything I would ever choose to do in a public toilet that takes ages

But what happens when the disabled person arrives just as you shut the door so you don't see them and you end up spending ages in there? They can't use the ONE toilet available to them because you CHOSE to use it over the 6 or more toilets you could have used

You could say that about anyone using it

What if a more disabled person arrived at the toilet just as one with a less severe disability was using it?

Do they get to say I need it more than you because I'm more disabled or do they do what everyone else does and wait? Well they have no choice but to wait do they?

IME the "usability" for want of a better word of the accessible facility changes as to the setting.

Case 1: Our local library - there is only one loo. It is set up as a facility with extra space, hand rails etc but there only one loo in the buiilding therefore that is a shared facility and quite clearly reasonable that anyone can use it.

Case 2: Our local public loos - entered via turnstiles, accessible loo is on the outer side of the turnstile. No gate to get a pushchair through - therefore reasonable that a mother with a pram can use the accessible loo.

Case 3. The usual set up of public loos - lots of cubicles, with one being larger. Absolutely not reasonable to use the larger one with a pushchair. Do what I did - end cubicle, pram in front of door, door ajar.

All this nonsensical "oh my babies are so precious" - well yeah, so is mine. But she isn't going to get stolen from her pram in a public loo whilst I am the other side of a questionably thin door.

OP - you are perfectly reasonable to be using the loo as you need extra space/the handrails

Yes but the chances of that happening are far reduced if only those who are entitled to use it do.

I don't understand why you can't take a toddler/baby in with you to a standard toilet.
I managed to with three under five.

Also, there is an argument that being disabled doesn't give people an exemption from waiting. The toilet is provided to be accessible, not to be a queue avoider. Now while I know some people have conditions that mean they can't wait, and of course some disabilities mean that standing for a few minutes is impossible but all the arguments against anyone else using the toilet seem to be centred around the disabled person not waiting rather than ease of use of the actual toilet. My auntie is in a chair and doesn't want to be discriminated against in this way, if anyone ever approached the disabled when she is waiting she ushers them in first. It's positive discrimination, but discrimination all the same.

All this nonsensical "oh my babies are so precious" - well yeah, so is mine. But she isn't going to get stolen from her pram in a public loo whilst I am the other side of a questionably thin door. No, but in the situation I was referring to the baby would be left outside that thin cubicle door plus another 2 doors as the pram would not get through the doors to the ladies in the first place.

I am so tired of 'positive discrimination' being bandied around. It's on another thread too about disability.
It's almost as if there is jealousy

Well i have used them,when i had my double buggy plus an energetic 3 1/2 year old.I couldnt leave them outside ,so i brought them in.

I am so tired of 'positive discrimination' being bandied around. It's on another thread too about disability It's almost as if there is jealousy. Yeah, I'm so jealous of disabled people. Get yourself a fucking grip. No one is jealous. I was providing another viewpoint, not even my view, just a different one

Its positive discrimination , not your thoughts then. My apologies, it read as if it was.

If you could come up with a more intelligent argument than 'get a fucking grip'. That would be great too.

Are you often on these threads? I have been here for 13 years and am sure I recognise you.

First time I have posted on a thread about toilets tbh. Just don't see what everyone feels so strongly about who uses them.. it's not like there is a massive queue

As a wheelchair user I'll be there with my radar key opening the door for you so you can use the disabled loos OP :)

Apologies then.
I feel strongly about it as I see it as another erosion of the few facilities that are set aside for people with disabilities. Like blue badge spaces being used just for five minutes.

You will often see comments on here comparing them to P&C spaces.

SPD is agony, I would agree that is a need to use them though.
I wish they would take changing tables out of disabled loos.