To use the disabled loo to avoid sitting on turds?

[HellHathNoFury]

I was in Sainsburys earlier and in the queue for the loo. I was desperate and waited for a while. Eventually it was my turn, and this little old lady hobbled out and so I went in and saw she had left a whole actual nugget of a turd on the toilet seat.
At the back.

I am PG and it was not something I needed to see so I backed out and legged it off to the disabled loo.

When I came out I was told off by a man in a wheelchair for using the disabled loo. Couldn't be bothered to explain turd incident. Just walked off.

AIBU?

No. It would be unreasonable for non-disabled people to get heated too.

didn't the op worry that the people outside may have thought she'd done the poo on the seat?

Ah, now I was assuming there was only one. If there were more than one, then of course waiting for the next one free would be the way to go...

So if the "Disabled" sign means 'designed for the disabled but anyone can use them', does the "Ladies" sign also mean 'designed for women but anyone can use them'?

didn't read that in the op. life's really too short to read pages of posts.

anyway disabled loos are for the disabled. the end really.

Coppertop - silly question. The disabled is unisex.

this thread makes me really sad. the reality is that the world isn't divided into disabled and non-disabled people. I'm sure it would be simpler if it was but it's not. I have certain problems which mean it's not all that unusual for me to find myself faced with the choice of (and maybe I should have namechanged here but sod it) using a disabled loo or having a pretty unpleasant accident. guess what? I use the disabled loo. and i'm sorry but I don;t feel guilty for doing so. and I challenge anyone here who would claim they would do differently.

There are a lot of people here saying no-one can understand their particular situation - well that extends way beyond those who are disabled. none of us really understand what it's like to be someone else - so here's my plea for just giving things more of a thought and people more the benefit of doubt.

it's a different issue than the one the op raises but relevant to some of the responses. I am not registered disabled. I do not use disabled loos unless unavoidable. I'm sure my gp would get me a radar key (if that's how it works - I've never looked into it).

With reference to the OP, this is simple:

Unless you are actually disabled, don't use the disabled loo and no there's no excuse for non-disabled people, people with small children and pregnant ladies to use the disabled loo.

It would be much easier to use a disabled loo from my point of view, with 2 smallish kids in tow, but I never do because the facility isn't meant for me, being an able-bodied person!

Just as an aside, when we went to the Natural History Museum last week, the queue for the ladies was horrendously long and we waited 20 minutes! Lots of able-bodied people were in and out of the disabled loos while we were in the queue and DD asked why we couldn't just use that toilet instead. I told her in a loud voice that it was wrong to use a disabled loo if you're not disabled and I got a few starnge looks, let me tell you!

Right so toilets with a disabled sign on are for the disabled, not for anyone else.

Some people defining disabled differently, but bottom line is that if it has a disabled sign on it and you do not have a disability (whether permanent or temporary) then you may not use it.

Is that right and final?

And should my DH talk to his employer about policy as him and his colleagues do let people with children into the disabled toilet if they are asked.

Oh, and I agree with Lockets, if I was the OP, I'd have either got a tissue and knocked the turd nugget into loo, and wiped the seat with the baby wipes I always keep in my bag, or have waited for the next available loo to become free.

BigBellasBeerBelly how can that work, you are still presuming that a person is only disabled if you can see it. i might need to use the loo and have dd with me, so would your husband say no or would i have to give him gory details of my bowel conditions?

I think Amber has summed up the definitive answer, Eve:

'Legally, no 'accessible loo' is only for the use of people with a disability. It is simply there to ensure that those of us with a disability can access a loo. If it fills constantly with people who could use the other loos and therefore causes disabled people a problem, then that's the point where something has to be done.'

Perfect. Can this stop now?

Well he just says yes at the moment so that is the right thing to do? It's just that people are very upset about people who are not eligible using disabled facilities so thought it best to check.

And definitely never use a toilet with a disabled sign on it - is that right too?

I feel I am going round in circles with this, I just want to know the answer so I don't get anyone at me when out and about.

Bella you won't get facts, just opinions. I don't see it as a clearcut issue. There's no absolute right or wrong with this imho. it all depends on circumstances.

Clement but is there a difference between an accessible toilet and a disabled one? And how do you tell which is which?

Clement, obv what I posted was just my opinion and I did not look at the legality of the situation. I wonder if you did not mean to reference me, but got me mixed up with BigBellas?

I have been forced into disabled loos at one place while v heavily pg through not actually being able to get into the cubicle of the 'normal' toilet!

The doorway and the sheer tinyness of the loo in question meant I would have damaged myself or baby while squeezing in! I still do not think I was unreasonable as it is not my fault that the loos were too small (it was a pub/ reastaurant and they were taking the piss (scuse pun) by fitting as many loos as they could in the space.

Personally I think all loos should be accessible but as that ain't gonna happen - I have to plan my itinery carefully when taking my 3 children under 5 out for the day alone as toilet trips become a nightmare.

Basically what I am concerned about is where there is only one or two toilets and it/they have disabled signs on.

Earlier on it was agreed that in this situation you should look elsewhere for non disabled facilities, or ask someone if in the sort of place where there are people to ask.

For eg my example at the hospital, the bit I go to there are two toilets but they are both disabled, the idea is that the non disabled toilets on the ground floor would be the place for people without disabilities to go.

Too expalin the predicament - the lock on the door was large and protuded out into the doorway iykwim if I was merely well rounded then I would have squeezed in though probably scratched my belly/ back in process but with baby belly the logistics were not good _ I spoke to council about pub and had to leave it at that as we were moving that week.

BigBellasBeerBelly, in a situation like in a hospital if all the toilets are accessable then i am sure you are fine to use them. i think the issue is when there are 10 non accessable toilets and 1 that could be used by a person with a disability. fwiw the hospital that i go to only have accessable loo's, there are no others, they certainly wouldnt expect you to leave the building to find a non disabled loo.

hatwoman, they cost £5 and you can buy them direct from Radar or Shop Mobility sell them if you are disabled you don't pay VAT on them.

Accessible toilets aren't just for disabled people, people are confusing them with parking spaces! Accessible toilets aren't in use all the time like parking spaces so if you need it for a particular reason then as long as there's not a queue outside use it - I've had to queue for an accessible loo, it does happen but not often. If they were only for the disabled all of them would have Radar locks on them, you would have to prove you need a key and you there wouldn't be two prices for them either.