disabled toilet (radar?) key

[Hamandcheese]

Hi,

My DS (nearly 5) has AS and co-ord difficulties (middle rate DLA). He is pretty flakey using toilets, but it's not normally a problem - we live and mainly do things in the countryside, and can wee behind a tree when needed. However, we occasionally visit London, which is quite an expedition (I have younger children too). The biggest problem last time was using toilets - waiting / queues, smell, urgency. A couple of violent tantrums and changes of clothes.

I noticed last time a number of locked disabled toilets - esp at the train station. I was wondering whether we would be entitled to use these. Would we be entitled, and how do we get access?

I do feel as if we have so much fewer challenges than most of you - I know we are very lucky to be able to take the children to London at all - but OTOH if it would be acceptable to use these facilties, it might make the trip easier.

i think but am probably wrong that you can only have a radar key if you are registered disabled ie have a blue badge and recieve DLA however, it might be worth ringing to see if, in your circumstances, you would be allowed one. Ringing who though i don't know!

I know my gran wasn't allowed one as she wasn't on DLA but my grandad was because he had mobility issues. (he got banned though because he was forever losinfg them but thats anothjer story!)

I googled who is entiteld and cam up with this prob not your area but may be useful ?

look up your local council and they will have a number listed. I seem to remember that we just had to show the blue badge.

we get DLA - middle care and just awarded low mob on renewal ( and ) - but not blue badge (no probs using normal parking).

I'll check out council website. Anyone know if one key covers the country - we don't live in London, but it would be a London key I would want?

as far as i can remember from being out with my grandad, the keys are universal to allow for ppl going onholidays or visiting ppl in other boroughs. I know my g'dad used his(when he had it) in Wales and the North West.

You are of course allowed to have a radar key- your son is registered disabled as he has DLA at the middle rate. lots of people with ASD don't have mobility (my 2 with ASd and dla at higher rate don't), and are entitled to use the toilets. Take your DLA notice to a mobility shop, or even look on ebay.

I know how you feel- I feel terible when i use disability facilities for the boys even though ds3 still in nappies at over 4 and hence needs space etc (and ds1 has urgency issues), but that's an adjectment thing. FWIW I am entitled to use lifts at Uni atm (have SPD and cant do stairs without help) but I cant make myself do it as they say 'disabled only' and I am not disabled. Silly huh? yet it takes somebody to help me on the staiors. Guilt- tis a funny thing!

ANd being refistered disabled btw MOM doesn't mean a blue badge- that bit is dependant entirely.

(NB When I bought mine I just ahd to show we were DLA entitled)

And yes they're universal- we only tend to use them when away as at home we know the alternatives and rarely take them all out at once, however with 2 ASD children we're becoming more dependent as they age iyswim?

thanks.

phoned county council - unhelpful - phoned local council - helpful: turn up at office with DLA letter and £2.50. Easy. Can then use toilet in london train station on arrival and then before getting on long train home. doesn't smell funny, no queues etc. small things make the difference.

The first times we went he was in nappies. Last time wasn't and it hadn't occurred to me how hard toiletting would be.

oh peachy - use that lift!

Can't - am an odd bugger!

(especiallya s lectureres use it all the time with books to carry- hey ho!)

I got mine from Fledgelings as I was ordering some other stuff and hadn't managed to negotiate my way round the local council, so it came in the post. Wonder why it took me so long to get round to getting one as it's very useful.

radar-shop.org.uk/

you can buy them here for £3.50 plus delivery

my mum gets one as a carer, so i think you can apply for one as long as you can prove you need it

i got one for ds who doesnt have a diagnosis but suspected autism. Just had to show dla letter and also show i get carers allownce. They can be used everywhere! RADAR is univeral.

agree with Joggeroo, easiest place to get them is Fledglings. You do not have to have any disability at all to order one THEY DO NOT CHECK!!! Suppose it is just assumed that people without disability don't know about them and wouldn't have the front to use them. Thre is also a guide to RADAR toilets in the UK, prob from Radar Shop posted by Midorimum. I have 3 keys, one goes with DS, one with me and one spare.

yeah the guide is available from the radar shop, listing over 7,000 keyed toilets throughout the uk for £10.25

I was surprised to hear that my local shopping centre actually sells them in security office,
i did have my w/chaired daughter with me so don't know if they would have asked for proof if i was on my own.

Hi, i have a radar key and I have ASD not the only reason I have it I also have IBS but I do know radar keys are the same for the whole U.K. if you go abroad to Europe it’s often a eurokey and idk about outside Europe but I just asked at my local shopping centre if they had like disability services (like the place they rent wheelchairs for shopping and that) and if they’d have a radar key there 20 minutes later I had one for £5