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?

I have a blue badge and use a mobility scooter, but I don't need to take the scooter in with me or use the grab rails. My problem is walking far enough to get around a large womens toilets eg ones in big service stations, or standing in a queue, neither of which I can do. I use normal ones where possible.

I've been challenged once, when there was a queue for the ladies and the area around entrance to all the loos -ladies/mens/disabled was too crowded for me to take my scooter. I parked it a bit away and hobbled to the disabled loo, which was the only one I could walk as far as, and got challenged as i came out - healthy looking 32 year old until you see me walk more than about 3 steps or i start to get tired, dizzy etc. I was really upset.

Meadows. They really aren't accessible to all. Can't see what you found amusing about my statement. You can try and defend your position all you like, it won't wash. More and more councils are going back to using Radar keys because of people like you. This is something that many of us fought long and hard to avoid, we didn't want people with disabilities to be seen as other, so we asked for lavatories without key systems. But along came the entitled and the fantastists (referencing the it's accessible to all crowd) and here we are, back where we started.
As for people leaving their children in buggies in shopping malls, of course we don't, we go to the end loo and leave the door slightly propped so we can keep an eye, or we use slings. We are no better or worse as parents than you, we just choose to parent in a slightly less selfish fashion.

More and more councils are going back to using Radar keys because of people like you. People like me how? Did you actually read my posts? I said I have only used the disabled a handful of times, when with baby, rather than leave baby unattended in a scenario where the pram would not fit into the actual toilets block. Also I mentioned my autistic son who doesn't use the disabled, he uses the gents. I do actually have a radar key due to my sons disability, but I don't use it.

meadows Apologies if I've offended you. However they're still not available to all. They really aren't. I did say earlier that I understood that when you can't get a buggy into the loo fair enough. The point still stands, councils are having to go back to using radar keys so that people who don't need the accessible loos when they have no need to.
Accessible loos, no matter what you think are not there for the use of all and sundry.

I ended up using disabled toilets when I had SPD. Partly for heaving myself around on the hand rails, partly because after 6 months pregnant, I often couldn't close a cubicle door around my bump without having to straddle the toilet which was not a good combination with SPD.

The only comment I got was at a Christmas party at 38+6. There was a massive queue for the ladies (none for the gents) and the women were queuing up for the disabled too. I shuffled to the front of the queue as I was at the stage where my legs were barely supporting me. Some women were about to get indignant about me "queue jumping", but I stood my ground as there was no way I could get into a regular cubical or get myself off public toilet or queue from the back for either toilet.

Personally I don't think it's a problem to use the disabled loo if there isn't a queue .. I may be in the minority though . I do have a disabled son but I don't have a blue badge or a radar key . He does have a wheelchair but can walk . Disabled toilets do make life easier though .i wording mind waiting to use one as it doesn't take long to have a wee does it .

Anyone can use the disabledaccessible toilet. They are not there for the exclusive use of those with disabilities.

I'm on crutches at the moment, sometimes in a wheelchair, it's temporary.
One thing that fucks me off with the accessible toilets is there's hardly ever a mirror.
Am I expected to not give a shit what I look like?

You are perfectly entitled to use them. Accessible toilets are for whoever finds other toilets inaccessible. No blue batch required.

I think you would be perfectly entitled to use a disabled loo if you are in so much pain. If anybody says anything to you,jyst tell them what the issue is. Most people would not start arguing with you about it. Just for the record,I have never really witnessed this apparent hostility towards able-bodied people using a disabled loo. I am registered disabled myself (bad mobility problems due to rheumatoid and osteoarthritis) and will admit that I do get irritated at having to wait ages to use a disabled toilet because an able-bodied person is hogging it. Don't get me wrong,if all the non-disabled loos are engaged,I don't really have a problem with someone using a disabled one if it is free. But very often,it seems to be young men who want a number 2 and a leisurely read of the newspaper that keep me waiting for 20 minutes. But I don't start shouting or ranting at them,even though they very rarely apologise for keeping me waiting. And to be honest,I don't think I have ever witnessed an altercation between an able-bodied person and a disabled one,regarding using the disabled loo.

Sorry forgot to add,no,you don't need a blue badge to use a disabled toilet. That s only for disabled parking bays although the amount of time some people spend in a public toilet,a parking permit might be a good idea.

The public needs educating that disabled does not mean in a wheelchair.

There are lots of reasons why someone might need a disabled loo or to use one in an emergency.

Some people have IBS or bladder problems where they cannot wait. If all 'normal' loos are full, then it's use a disabled one or have an accident, for some people.

The worst that can happen is that a disabled person might need to wait for the loo to become free, but they'd need to do that anyway if another disabled person in a wheelchair was in it.

Anyone can use the disabledaccessible toilet. They are not there for the exclusive use of those with disabilities.

Yes they are.

Actually you can kinda plan around so you only use the mixed accessible/ parent and child toilets or the parent and child ones that have a toilet there as well.

That's what I did as quite frankly there's no way in hell I'd leave my baby/ toddler outside and didn't want to use the accessible loos when I didn't need them.

On the other hand, the lower toiled seat in the accessible loos were absolutely murder when I had SPD so I hated when they were the only option like at the GP.

You'd have to be a total cunt to use a disabled toilet if there's no barrier to you using the regular ones.