Should an autistic person use the disabled toilets?

[ofwarren]

I'm autistic but manage fine in the women's but I was wondering if it's ever suitable to take my 7 year old DS into the disabled if he frequently freaks out at the hand dryers and starts thrashing around and hitting himself if it's busy in the women's?

It’s always suitable. I wouldn’t think twice.

Thank you.
I have taken him in when there is a queue but felt a bit bad about it. Not sure why to be honest.

Possibly because you fear being judged as jumping the queue because neither of you look disabled? You don’t need to justify yourself you need to do what’s best for you and your DS. Let’s face it the same people who would judge you for using a disabled loo will be the same ones who judge you if your DS has a meltdown, a few Dyson hand dryers going off at once is really loud.

You are right, that's a really good point.

I take dd into the disabled for that reason.

Why cause your kid pain to save a bit of embarrassment? apart from being autistic and liking to follow rules and threads on Mumsnet that say you can only use the disabled if you have certain disabilities similar to only use a and e if you are missing more than one limb and a head or have not breathed for at least a week

Exactly this

So glad you grinned...
Was worried I hadn't phrased it right, you know, because, communication disability

My favourite moment was just after emerging from the disabled loo with two disabled children and an elderly disabled parent and disabled me to find people waiting. They were slightly confused when they found it was just one cubicle and not a TARDIS.