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Original poster

How wrong is it to use the disabled toilet when you are not disabled?

192 replies

emkana · 08/09/2006 19:38

And does it make a difference whether you have small children or not?

I nearly always use the disabled toilets when I'm out with the children, I just don't see what to do otherwise, where to leave the children while I'm in a tiny cubicle.

Wrong or not?

OP posts:
WishICouldGiveUpWork · 10/09/2006 22:02

Haven't read thewhole thread but I have no probem with it-at most,as disabled person would have to wait 2 minutes.

However.......I have a BIG problem with non-disabled people using disabled parkign spaces-my big,big bugbear (grrrrr)

misdee · 10/09/2006 22:06

i cant go in the mens loos with dh, and wouldnt be able to hear him beep through the two sets of the doors that most loos have.

to the people who have older disabled kids who need changing etc, would a larger sturdier changign area (not baby nappy changing) make a big difference in your lives?

i know dd2 went over the weight limit for the wall mounted units at 1 year old so i took to changing her on the floor in most places, and it was awful.

christie1 · 10/09/2006 23:15

if there was a disabled person in the loo, of course I wouldn't use it, if not, I go with as I am with small kids and won't leave them outside to wander around. I have to confess if my 40 odd years, I have never actually seen a disabled person in a public washroom. I think common sense must prevail, if not needed and it's free, use it. Even if a person comes in, the wait would not be long.

nits · 10/09/2006 23:22

I moved up to the Wirral 10 years ago from Kent and often go back but my hubby works away so myself and the four children go down to Kent! However, when I stop for a loo break halfway, I am afraid I will not send my 8 year old son into the mens loo on his own - worried about clientel- or my 6 year old daughter into the ladies and what am I to do with the 3 year old and 1 year old whilst I go to the loo. My mother-in-law has MS and I have asked her this question many a time. She agrees with me, if no-one is waiting then in and out is fine. We always use the disabled toilet when travelling! Wrong or not, it is just not practical to do anything else! (blush)

Nits
x

housemum · 10/09/2006 23:37

Not read whole post but had to rant here as I have the chance!!

Was at Waterloo station once - DDs aged 10 and 1 at the time, so 1 year old was in pushchair. The ladies are down a steep set of steps, they have a disabled loo and baby change area that you buzz for entry. Changed DD2s nappy and DD1 needed the loo, so I told her to use the disabled as there was no lock on the kiddy loo in the baby change bit.

Old lady with stick came in as DD1 came out (DD1 politely holding door) and she pointed at DD1 saying "What are you doing in here you're not an old lady" at which point DD1 is in tears and I was too shocked to respond, when I should have asked if she would carry a pushchair down a flight of steps and over the turnstile or would she send a 10 year old to the loos in a big London station on her own??? GGRRRRR!!!

housemum · 10/09/2006 23:45

And if anyone out there knows a loo designer, could they either:

a) make a couple of slightly bigger cubicles in the ladies
or,
b) at least make the doors of the end ones open outwards - some cubicles are long enough to fit a McLaren type buggy in, but only if you are an exhibitionist as you can't close the door!!

Full marks to our local shopping centre for having 3 or 4 "family" toilets - also 1 in Debenhams. Huge cubicle with 2 toilets & a changing mat.

ghosty · 11/09/2006 00:42

Many places here only have changing tables in the disabled cubicle in the public loos ... so, if DD needs changing we go in there and I have a quick wee when she is done ....

If we are only to leave them for disabled people then why have the changing table there?

Bucketsofdinosaurs · 11/09/2006 09:25

Are disabled loos more prone to vandalism and wee on the floor than normal ones? (I do get Murphees point about non-wheelchair users not having to get so up-close and personal so am pondering this point separately.)

MrsFio · 11/09/2006 11:20

I think julienetmum that designing ALL toilets so they are acessable to the disabled AND able bodied would be better. I dont think anyone is saying it is unreasonable to use a disabled toilet if you have a pram with a baby with you but the sole intention of the disabled toilet is that someone who is in a wheelchair can get in them or the carer can accompany the disabled person inside the cubicle. It isnt there so people who have drank too much fluid can access the toilet quicker. I have taken my small children into normal toilets and I have even used a public toilet with the door open when they were babies.

The lack of changing facilites for older children is pretty dire aswell and needs to be looked at imo.

Jimjams2 · 11/09/2006 11:43

Yes that's true fio. I took ds1 into a disabled loo a couple of weeks ago, and there was nowhere to dispose of nappies (when of course lots of disabled people need them), so one had been dumped in the sink ewwweeee (it was adult sized, not a child's one).

Jimjams2 · 11/09/2006 11:44

Of course ds1 programmed "sink wash hands dry" was trying to dry his hands on it. bleeurgh.

SoupDragon · 11/09/2006 11:45

Ewww!

MrsFio · 11/09/2006 11:47

poor you jimjams but yes I have often noticed there are no bins either and alot of people HAVE to use incontinence products

mrs2shoes · 11/09/2006 11:55

i have at last rung the council seems the radar keys are free so will go and get one later in the week
(AS DD CAN'T USE A NORMAL LOO)
So thanks to this thread for reminding me

Murphee · 11/09/2006 20:29

The sole intention of a disabled toilet is not so that that wheelchair users can get in and out of them quickly. Disabled loos are also used by people who need to have access to a clean water supply next to the loo instead of outside the cubicle i.e. people with bowel disease - should I elaborate? Disabled loos are also used by people with diabetes. There are probably a bunch of other disabled users out there I don't know about myself. There seems to be a consensus on this mothers' site that 'it's OK, we're not getting in anyone's way'. Would it be the same if this were a site for disabled people who might also be mothers? Surely the answer is that there needs to be more mother and child loos (and then how would we feel if they were busy because they were full of disabled people?).

MrsFio · 11/09/2006 20:42

totally agree with you murphee

nappyaddict · 11/09/2006 22:15

i used one of those family rooms - i think it was morrisons it was really handy. i wish more places had them!i have used disabled toilets once when we were at the motorway services and the queue was MASSIVE as we had jus got out of a 3 hour traffic jam. i had 3 yr old twins with me desparate for the loo so took them in the disabled loo, when i came out there was a disabled person waiting - not in a wheelchair but with a stick and i think needed assistance. i felt very guilty and apologised. lady was quite alright said it didn't matter and said she understood how hard it was and had done the same when looking after her 3yo and 5yo gdd's - still felt V V guilty though!

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