**Denied use of DISABLED toilet in jobcentre

TenerC_2

i have to agree with the job centre, having a relative in a wheelchair it makes me mad the number of people (disabled or not) who can walk yet HAVE to use a disabled toilet, while the person in a wheelchair who need the extra room has to wait, as somebody else said was there not another toilet he could have used? and not have to put up with all the stress. a "disabled toilet" should be for wheelchair users only, after all i have a friend with an ostomy pouching system, that is a disability but he would never think of using a disabled toilet, yet according to nearly ever poster here he has every right to use it, last week i hurt my leg and had a limp, so i have a limp i can use it. some places now have normal/disabled and fat toilets (with extra room) so now lack of space isn`t an issue as much. and don`t even get me started on baby changing room sharing the disabled room!! or the guy who`s wife shops at asda blackburn on sundays, he parks in the disabled parking bay (outside the cafe) she gets out, he sits there reading a book with his little blue badge on display , WHY USE THAT BAY!!!!!! now to wait for the abuse.

Indie_Kid

TenerC wrote: »

i have to agree with the job centre, having a relative in a wheelchair it makes me mad the number of people (disabled or not) who can walk yet HAVE to use a disabled toilet, while the person in a wheelchair who need the extra room has to wait, as somebody else said was there not another toilet he could have used? and not have to put up with all the stress. a "disabled toilet" should be for wheelchair users only, after all i have a friend with an ostomy pouching system, that is a disability but he would never think of using a disabled toilet, yet according to nearly ever poster here he has every right to use it, last week i hurt my leg and had a limp, so i have a limp i can use it. some places now have normal/disabled and fat toilets (with extra room) so now lack of space isn`t an issue as much.

I am disabled and have as much right to use the disabled toilet as a wheelchair user. No, I'm not a wheelchair user; but have been close far too many times recently to having an accident. For many of us, we need to be close to a toilet.

Also, like it has been said, some people need someone in the toilet with them. It can embarrassing if this person happens to be a member of the opposite sex.

Just because I don't use a wheelchair; doesn't mean that I'm not entitled to use a disabled toilet. Would you be happy if I, as someone with bowel (and possible bladder) problems soiled myself on the floor of your shop, because you refused to allow me to use the disabled toilet? Somehow I don't think so.

Shashasha - glad you got a response.

qwertyuiop12345

TenerC wrote: »

i have to agree with the job centre, having a relative in a wheelchair it makes me mad the number of people (disabled or not) who can walk yet HAVE to use a disabled toilet, while the person in a wheelchair who need the extra room has to wait, as somebody else said was there not another toilet he could have used? and not have to put up with all the stress. a "disabled toilet" should be for wheelchair users only, after all i have a friend with an ostomy pouching system, that is a disability but he would never think of using a disabled toilet, yet according to nearly ever poster here he has every right to use it

You cannot have read this thread very carefully as there are several posts explaining a few of the many reasons that disabled people need to use these toilets. Needing extra space because of a wheelchair is just one possible reason.

Anyone who is not currently experiencing an incontinence problem etc. is quite capable of waiting a couple of minutes to use a toilet. Being in a wheelchair (in itself) is not a reason why it should not be possible to wait.

Fortunately the attitude of this jobcentre manager and yourself is illegal in this country and hopefully education will eventually put a stop to the verbal abuse that disabled people sometimes have to experience from people who share your views.

[Deleted User]

TenerC wrote: »

SNIP last week i hurt my leg and had a limp, so i have a limp i can use it. SNIP

No you could not use it but your wheelchair bound realative could.

Having 'a limp' temporally comes nowhere near meeting the definition of disability under the act.

"The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) defines a disabled person as someone who has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities."

So wether you like it or not someone, wheelchair bound or not can use that loo if they meet the condition above.

jazabelle

It's not always a question of needing more space - in the particular example of this post, the disabled toilet was the only toilet available, so no, he could not go and use any other toilet.

Secondly - disabled toilets are often located nearer than other toilets, so while me with my walking stick doesn't need more space, when every step is agony, the nearer the toilet is the better. If it is the same distance to the other kind of toilet, of course I'd use that one. Another reason I'd use it is if there is a queue at the other toilet - I'd be left in agony all day if I stood in a queue, so getting to sit down quicker would really help me.

There have been many examples raised with reasons why someone may need a disabled toilet that aren't in a wheelchair such as needing a carer with them, or issues such as IBS where you may need to go right there or then, and again the toilet might be nearer.

Please don't be so blind and narrow minded.

clarissa

TenerC wrote: »

i have to agree with the job centre, having a relative in a wheelchair it makes me mad the number of people (disabled or not) who can walk yet HAVE to use a disabled toilet, while the person in a wheelchair who need the extra room has to wait, as somebody else said was there not another toilet he could have used? and not have to put up with all the stress. a "disabled toilet" should be for wheelchair users only, after all i have a friend with an ostomy pouching system, that is a disability but he would never think of using a disabled toilet, yet according to nearly ever poster here he has every right to use it, last week i hurt my leg and had a limp, so i have a limp i can use it. some places now have normal/disabled and fat toilets (with extra room) so now lack of space isn`t an issue as much. and don`t even get me started on baby changing room sharing the disabled room!! or the guy who`s wife shops at asda blackburn on sundays, he parks in the disabled parking bay (outside the cafe) she gets out, he sits there reading a book with his little blue badge on display , WHY USE THAT BAY!!!!!! now to wait for the abuse.

I have an ileostomy and although very rarely use a disabled toilet it makes my life so much easier if I do - without meaning to sound crude you need elbow and bending room to empty from a height without splashing it everywhere:eek: The reason I try and struggle is because of other peoples ignorance of hidden disabilities. I really do think that it is rather mean to begrudge someone with a leaking stoma bag a bit of room and privacy to try and mop up and change.

Why do people who don't need to use these sort of facilities get so jealous, a toilet is a toilet at the end of the day, disabled ones are just a bit bigger, they don't tend to have a gold seat. I know I'd give anything to have my health back and not have to plan everything around toilets, steps and distances.

[Deleted User]

TenerC wrote: »

i have to agree with the job centre, having a relative in a wheelchair it makes me mad the number of people (disabled or not) who can walk yet HAVE to use a disabled toilet, while the person in a wheelchair who need the extra room has to wait, as somebody else said was there not another toilet he could have used? and not have to put up with all the stress. a "disabled toilet" should be for wheelchair users only, after all i have a friend with an ostomy pouching system, that is a disability but he would never think of using a disabled toilet, yet according to nearly ever poster here he has every right to use it, last week i hurt my leg and had a limp, so i have a limp i can use it. some places now have normal/disabled and fat toilets (with extra room) so now lack of space isn`t an issue as much. and don`t even get me started on baby changing room sharing the disabled room!! or the guy who`s wife shops at asda blackburn on sundays, he parks in the disabled parking bay (outside the cafe) she gets out, he sits there reading a book with his little blue badge on display , WHY USE THAT BAY!!!!!! now to wait for the abuse.

Here we go...Here we go.....Here we go....!:rotfl:

magicstrawberry

i have to agree with the job centre, having a relative in a wheelchair it makes me mad the number of people (disabled or not) who can walk yet HAVE to use a disabled toilet, while the person in a wheelchair who need the extra room has to wait, as somebody else said was there not another toilet he could have used? and not have to put up with all the stress. a "disabled toilet" should be for wheelchair users only, after all i have a friend with an ostomy pouching system, that is a disability but he would never think of using a disabled toilet, yet according to nearly ever poster here he has every right to use it, last week i hurt my leg and had a limp, so i have a limp i can use it. some places now have normal/disabled and fat toilets (with extra room) so now lack of space isn`t an issue as much. and don`t even get me started on baby changing room sharing the disabled room!! or the guy who`s wife shops at asda blackburn on sundays, he parks in the disabled parking bay (outside the cafe) she gets out, he sits there reading a book with his little blue badge on display , WHY USE THAT BAY!!!!!! now to wait for the abuse.

I have Psoriatic Arthritis and I am young and over the last two years my condition has just gone downhill. I now walk with a walking stick and I DO use the disabled toilets due to the following

1) standing queuing is not a option due to the massive amount of pain I have to deal with
2) I use the disabled toilet as they have either raised seats and grab rails because the extra pressure by not using them trying to get up using a stick is harder and hurts a great deal more especially as its only using one hand instead of having a bar where the weight is evening distributed across and you can use two hands.
Also if I ever had a person in a wheelchair in front of me or needed it badly they would defiantly go first and I would wait and try and find somewhere to sit.

There are extremely rare occasions where I have found toilets in with the normal cubicles which will have one or two cubicles with grab rails but this I’ve found depends on what part of the country you live in.

If there were more of these I’m sure people that could manage would use these but there simply not widespread enough and small areas don’t have the space to put all these different toilets. Furthermore more disabled toilets are desperately needed where space can allow.

And when you live with pain as a constant factor to whatever degree in your life you want any small thing that helps lessen this in anyway.

I just love it how people can be so clear cut on these things? it’s not simply black and white and when did everyone become doctors and are therefore able to dictate what people can and cannot use?

I agree it’s open to abuse but most disabled people that can manage won’t use it and the people that are disabled and need it will. The abuse of this system seems to come from the able bodied!
For example trying to push into the disabled toilet with her shopping trolley because she couldn’t be bothered to lock it up !?

And to the OP I’m so sorry it’s just a disgrace and a show of how human decency has just gone downhill.

[Deleted User]

magicstrawberry wrote: »

I have Psoriatic Arthritis and I am young and over the last two years my condition has just gone downhill. I now walk with a walking stick and I DO use the disabled toilets due to the following

1) standing queuing is not a option due to the massive amount of pain I have to deal with
2) I use the disabled toilet as they have either raised seats and grab rails because the extra pressure by not using them trying to get up using a stick is harder and hurts a great deal more especially as its only using one hand instead of having a bar where the weight is evening distributed across and you can use two hands.
Also if I ever had a person in a wheelchair in front of me or needed it badly they would defiantly go first and I would wait and try and find somewhere to sit.

There are extremely rare occasions where I have found toilets in with the normal cubicles which will have one or two cubicles with grab rails but this I’ve found depends on what part of the country you live in.

If there were more of these I’m sure people that could manage would use these but there simply not widespread enough and small areas don’t have the space to put all these different toilets. Furthermore more disabled toilets are desperately needed where space can allow.

And when you live with pain as a constant factor to whatever degree in your life you want any small thing that helps lessen this in anyway.

I just love it how people can be so clear cut on these things? it’s not simply black and white and when did everyone become doctors and are therefore able to dictate what people can and cannot use?

I agree it’s open to abuse but most disabled people that can manage won’t use it and the people that are disabled and need it will. The abuse of this system seems to come from the able bodied!
For example trying to push into the disabled toilet with her shopping trolley because she couldn’t be bothered to lock it up !?

And to the OP I’m so sorry it’s just a disgrace and a show of how human decency has just gone downhill.

Well said.

I'm afraid posters like TenerC just like to write such posts for the wind-up. Note the goad in the last sentence "wait for the abuse".

He/she is even rolling out the old chesnut of blue badges and supermarket parking bays in an attempt to disrupt the thread.

I'll say it again, thank goodness for the "Ignore" button.

willa

ShaShaSha wrote: »

******RESPONSE FROM COMPLAINT ON PAGE 6 ********

Hello there, wonder if anyone can shed some light on the disability discrimination act and the disability rights/access laws.

My partner who has a neurological disease, hydrocephalus, narcolepsy & cataplexy recently got refused entry to a disabled toilet because they said he was disabled. The security guard said he wasnt allowed to let him use it because the floor manager was telling him not to on the radio/earpeice.

On speaking to the manager, and explaining that he gets DLA and ESA, has a neurological disease and it affects how far he can walk, muscle strength, bladder & bowel control aswell as many other things - he was still refused entry

I spoke to the manager myself, who was happy to let me use the toilet because I was limping (I am disabled myself) but not my partner because 'he looked perfectly normal' I then explained that he was breaking the law and that they cannot favor one disabled person over an other, and that he is nomedical professional and cannot make a decision on who is disabled and how a condition can affect a persons life. When I asked if a man came in limping would he automatically be allowed use to the toilet, he said 'well depends if he is signing on, because he cant be looking for a job is he is disabled'!!! I was shocked! I mean some disabled people are still able to work?!?! He also said that the toilet is only for people who are physically disabled and have wheelchairs or crutches etc, when asked if someone with incontinence problems could use the toilet he said no!

My parter ended up having to go back to the car because he was having an episode due to the stress of it all putting pressure on his brain. When I returned after finally getting the man to allow him to use the toilet, and him saying 'ok but just this ones' I returned to find him in a complete collapse (still concious but unable to control any ofhis muscles and was slumped in the car) and he had completely lost bladder control. He has never got himself into such a state before, and at ust 28 years old it has affected him greatly, especially when two years ago he was working full time in security & door stewarding.

We can no longer use this jobcentre, because due to the long times we normally have to wait to get things done, my partner normally has to use the toilet and he wont be allowed to now, despite being allowed before.

What are his rights on this? what can we do? I want to seek legal advice as I cant believe this man treated him in such a disrepectful and judgemental way and dont want him to get away with it. The security guard looked fuming at his manager, he has spoke to us a few times and is generally really helpful and understanding especially if eddie goes into a collapse there.

Hope someone can help, its been one awful day for us and has knocked his confidence more than I could have ever imagined :mad::mad:

WOW. I can hardly believe that. What a brainless, ignorant, IDIOT of a floor manager. What the hell is he even doing working there with that disgusting attitude?
How HORRIBLE for your husband and for you to be put through this. Makes me :mad::mad::mad: on your behalf.
I haven't read all of this thread but notice you were going to see a solicitor. I imagine that under the DDA they can be hammered for this and they deserve to be or at least that person should be SACKED. At least the jobcentre apologised unreservedly for how wrong this person obviously was.
Good luck with the process to help stop things like this happening!