AIBU disabled parking and toilets

[sashh]

OK this is not exactly ATAT but, I have a disability and a blue badge. I just wondered how many other people have been given excuses by apparently (yes I know there are hidden disabilities, but people with genuine need tend not to mumble excuses) able bodies people using the blue badge spaces and the accessible toilet.

I've waited outside a toilet because someone was getting changed to go out after work(twice, different places.)

Been stopped from going in to the accessible toilet by a woman with a toddler and a very loud, "Excuse me..." looks at toddler, then notices my walking stick and says, "Oh go on".

Had someone rattle the handle to the extend I was scared to open the door because I thought I would break my wrist while the handle was rattled because their child needed to change.

Not be able to pay my rent because the only accessible bays near the bank were all taken by Xmas shoppers with no blue badges and my housing benefit was paid by cheque so I couldn't get the money i to my account before my rent went out.

Not able to shop if it's raining because then all the blue badge spaces are taken by cars without badges.

I'll probably remember a few more.

stickthat the picture of the person in a wheelchair is the international symbol of access.

From wiki - The symbol is often seen where access has been improved, particularly for wheelchair users, but also for other disability issues. Frequently, the symbol denotes the removal of environmental barriers, such as steps, to help also older people, parents with baby carriages, and travellers. Universal design aims to obviate such symbols by creating products and facilities that are accessible to nearly all users from the start. The wheelchair symbol is "International"

I think stick meant exactly that. As in, why do people think it's there for everyone when it is quite clearly signed

If you asked the store or wherever the loo is, what would they say?

DayMoth, the woman was not in a queue, she was standing by the loo doors and going through her bags. She only started yelling at me as I opened the door to the accessible loo, telling me I couldn't use it as she was going in there when she'd found her top that she wanted to change. She produced said top. I am told that she did actually change it after I'd left. (Small town).

empire that makes no sense. For example, If you look at a London tube map there are wheelchair symbols to denote that the station is accessible to wheelchairs, it doesn't mean only people in wheelchairs can use that station, so for that reason I can understand peoples confusion and sense of right.

But I imagine not all disabled people using disabled toilets have toiletting issues. What if a person with colitis has to wait for someone in a wheelchair or another physical disability to use the accessible toilet?

Trifleorbust You've had it explained to you already that accessible means accessible for people with disabilities. I'm not sure why you choose to ignore it - because it makes things more convenient for you?

I have occasionally used a disabled toilet with a toddler and have never encountered anyone waiting - should they just sit empty waiting for a suitable person to use it while other people are struggling? It just has a lower sink and support bars for people with mobility problems hence the accessible aspect.

If another disabled person is using the toilet of course you have to wait.

However that doesn't excuse people who don't have a disability which means they need that facility from using them. By using it when you don't need then you are making it more likely someone who needs it won't be able to access the facilities. The more people who use it without a disability the more risk there is that someone will have to suffer as a result.

It just has a lower sink and support bars for people with mobility problems hence the accessible aspect.. Did you miss the many many posts about people who need to access the facilities in a hurry due to continence issues

Yes it should sit empty unless a disabled person needs it.

For example, If you look at a London tube map there are wheelchair symbols to denote that the station is accessible to wheelchairs, it doesn't mean only people in wheelchairs can use that station,

no but it indicates to people with mobility issues that there is an extra facility (usually lift) at said station.

so for that reason I can understand peoples confusion and sense

Really? You think because the underground uses a universal symbol that explains people not getting to grips with the simplicity of a disabled fucking toilet

YANBU are the parking and I would report anyone not displaying a blue badge. It's bad enough when complete and utter fuckwits use the P&C spaces when they do not have children with them so I can glimpse what it must feel like for people who need the disabled spaces and can't use them because some lazy arse has parked there with no need. I am disabled (hidden disability) with 3 young kids and I do not have a blue badge. But I'd never park in a disabled bay, badge-less. The toilets are different and there was a massive never ending thread on here a couple of months ago. I agree that people who have no other option but to use an accessible toilet should use them and anyone who can use the normal loos should use them. They are often incorporated with baby changing etc and the Parent with small child should not be made to feel like they are abusing it because they aren't. There are queues to most public toilets so no one should mind waiting a few minutes. If you can't wait, disabled or not, you just have to ask politely to skip the queue, most people don't have an issue with that

Apple My dd's car has a wheelchair symbol on it. Does that mean anyone can use it?
I do wish folk would stop using logical fallacies.
JellyMuffin The answer to your question is yes. It's the kind thing to do.

empire dawndonna if you look back at my previous posts you will see I am in complete agreement with you that accessible toilets should be used only by people with disabilities. Please don't put words into my mouth that I haven't said.

I think that by the toilets using the ISA it doesn't give the impression that they are for disabled people only. If you read my above post, the symbol actually advocates help for older people, parents with buggies and travellers. By using the same symbol on the toilet (and someone's wheelchair) is where it becomes confusing, as it means something completely different to what it's advertising.

I was just trying to explain my opinion on why I think people might think they have the right to use them, without resorting to believing they're all 'entitled' and selfish.

Sorry, missed a bit out.

the symbol actually advocates help for older people, parents with buggies and travellers

As well as people with disabilities.

Accessible toilets are for Anyone who would have trouble accessing normal ones. Maybe it would be better to campaign for more accessible toilets instead of being nasty online about people who use them?!

ER how do you think those toilets came about? How do you think buses you can wheel a buggy on to came about?

How about all those people who make excuses to use the disabled/accessible toilet do some campaigning of their own?

DailyMailReadersAreThick

Because I disagree.

Apple apologies for misunderstanding.

Trifle, it's not a case of because you disagree. It's wilful misappropriation of the word accessible, using it to suit your needs and not the needs of others. Do try to be kind and think of those in greater need.

I agree with Trifle actually. I found the early years incredibly difficult in terms of accessing transport, toilet facilities and some of the treatment by other adults towards me pretty shoddy, too. I can still see it now my children are older. No one is saying young parents are disabled but they do have a need.

If they have a need then they should do what those of us with disabled people in the family did and campaign for facilities. Perhaps you could also bear in mind that whilst you found the early years difficult, some of us still have that need. I'm 58 and there are times when I have to lift a 5'6", 20 year old, 10 stone woman on and off the loo. There are many of us who didn't have the luxury of being able to witness from a distance because into our children's twenties and thirties we are still experiencing that shoddy behaviour that you see. Do try to understand that there are many times when the needs of the person with a disability really does take precedence. The use of a lavatory is one of those times.

No one is saying that having small children doesn't make life more difficult Gandalf. But for those with disabilities, they will face those challenges every single day, for the rest of their lives - with no choice about how to manage things differently. A parent can carry their child in a sling, they can have a baby on their knee while using the loo, they can change a nappy on their lap or in the pram.
If my mum needs the loo while out, she's probably already wet her pad, but getting to the loo quickly may mean avoiding a poonami (and if you think a baby poonami is a crisis, think about it in a 75 year old whose meds mean its not normal poo). We need to get her wheelchair alongside the loo, coax her into a transfer, wrestle her trousers down, sort her out, do whats needed, then get her to go back to the wheelchair, tidy up and so on.
She and her carers have no options at all. Waiting will involve a lot of shrieking (she has dementia as well as mobility issues) and probably a big clearup and maybe having to go home.
So you could be slightly inconvenienced by putting a baby on your lap in the loo, or she can be really distressed. Fair swap?

I agree with both the above posts that your needs are greater but I don't agree with the tone further up that a young mother should just suck it up and get on with it. I think facilities should be provided to make their lives a bit easier, too. One example I remember seeing at Legoland when mine were wee was a seat in a loo to strap a baby in.