Boys using ladies loos

FBaby

Izadora wrote: »

So, someone who's quite severely disabled should try to make sure they only ever need the toilet when they're fortunate enough to be in the vicinity of somewhere with disabled facilities, a pub or a restaurant?

It would all come down to how severe. I don't normally think of people with Downs as severely disabled, but of course, this person could have been an exception. I guess it my view it would come down to whether that person was able to go to a toilet alone at family homes, then they should be capable of learning to use the toilets on their own in public places. If however they need the level of assistance that means he needs support every time he needs to go to the toilet, then yes, clearly, it would be another matter. Not that I would know of course, but then I would never ever shout an old lady, especially not one taking her disabled son out.

FBaby

Please don't abuse disabled facilities.

Surely if a child is desperate (or anyone for that matter) and no one is queuing for the disabled toilets, then why is it abusing. At worse, someone disabled will come whilst it being used and might have to wait for a couple of minutes, or does it mean that non disabled people can wet themselves, that's their problem as long as disabled people don't ever have to wait to go to the toilet?

I always assumed that disabled toilets were in existence because it allowed access when the disabled person can't access the regular toilets, I didn't realise it gave them exclusivity to them and that daring to use it if not disabled was considered abuse.

GwylimT

So today my wife insisted that we all go to the hell on earth that is meadowhall, anyway, as some of you may know my wife is a wheelchair user, she also struggles to get from her chair onto the loo and the other way around.

Anyway, we went to tgi Fridays for some food, they do have a disabled toilet which she tried to use, there were two children in the queue with their mums, despite my wife asking to use the disabled toilet they refused to move, upon finding a member of staff they said "oh just find one somewhere else". This was a significant distance so by the time we got back our food was cold as well.

It is really simple, if you are not disabled do not use a disabled facility, would also park in a disabled spot?

moomoomama27

fed_up_and_stressed wrote: »

I am a wheelchair user ... I have no choice generally but to use the disabled loos ... Unlike mothers with kids.

Please don't abuse disabled facilities.

The person you quoted has a son that qualifies to use the disabled toilet though!

I think it is very rude if someone who is not disabled uses the loo if there is a disabled person waiting. Of course they should be given priority, but if there is no queue, and a person with a pram, small child, dad/young daughter, needs to use it, then I don't see too much of a problem tbh.

iammumtoone

GwylimT wrote: »

So today my wife insisted that we all go to the hell on earth that is meadowhall, anyway, as some of you may know my wife is a wheelchair user, she also struggles to get from her chair onto the loo and the other way around.

Anyway, we went to tgi Fridays for some food, they do have a disabled toilet which she tried to use, there were two children in the queue with their mums, despite my wife asking to use the disabled toilet they refused to move, upon finding a member of staff they said "oh just find one somewhere else". This was a significant distance so by the time we got back our food was cold as well.

It is really simple, if you are not disabled do not use a disabled facility, would also park in a disabled spot?

In that case yes the mother and children were clearly in the wrong they should have made way for your wife. However if there was no queue then I agree with FBaby no harm in popping in for a few minutes if the child could not wait. It is not the same as parking in a disabled parking space as you could be there hours whereas it only takes a few minutes to use the loo.

Was it the member of staff that said "oh just find one somewhere else" if so then you really should put in a written complaint.

I am not saying that everyone should be able to use disabled toilets, healthy adults are quite capable of holding on and waiting in a queue, they are not there to be used as time savers. However some adults and young children really can't wait.

GwylimT

FBaby wrote: »

Surely if a child is desperate (or anyone for that matter) and no one is queuing for the disabled toilets, then why is it abusing. At worse, someone disabled will come whilst it being used and might have to wait for a couple of minutes, or does it mean that non disabled people can wet themselves, that's their problem as long as disabled people don't ever have to wait to go to the toilet?

I always assumed that disabled toilets were in existence because it allowed access when the disabled person can't access the regular toilets, I didn't realise it gave them exclusivity to them and that daring to use it if not disabled was considered abuse.

They are called disabled toilets for a reason, if the sign on the door didn't signify who is allowed to use the toilets, then any man or woman is so allowed to use any toilets, instead of using the one for men or women only. I'm sometimes desperate to use the toilet, it isn't an excuse to use a disabled toilet, after all when you are desperate you have chosen to wait for the toilet, instead of going as soon as you feel the urge.

Buzzybee90

GwylimT wrote: »

They are called disabled toilets for a reason, if the sign on the door didn't signify who is allowed to use the toilets, then any man or woman is so allowed to use any toilets, instead of using the one for men or women only. I'm sometimes desperate to use the toilet, it isn't an excuse to use a disabled toilet, after all when you are desperate you have chosen to wait for the toilet, instead of going as soon as you feel the urge.

I understand and respect this viewpoint. But I do think mothers or fathers with babies are an exception. They have no choice either. Unless you think leaving a pram alone and balancing a baby on your lap whilst you try and use the toilet is a choice.

FBaby

I am not saying that everyone should be able to use disabled toilets, healthy adults are quite capable of holding on and waiting in a queue, they are not there to be used as time savers. However some adults and young children really can't wait.

Indeed, just as not all disabled people find themselves in a more desperate need to go then non disabled people.

iammumtoone

GwylimT wrote: »

I'm sometimes desperate to use the toilet, it isn't an excuse to use a disabled toilet, after all when you are desperate you have chosen to wait for the toilet, instead of going as soon as you feel the urge.

That isn't always the case especially with children. My son can't wait he doesn't feel 'an urge' when he says he wants to go he HAS to go then.

esmerelda98

FBaby wrote: »

Surely if a child is desperate (or anyone for that matter) and no one is queuing for the disabled toilets, then why is it abusing. At worse, someone disabled will come whilst it being used and might have to wait for a couple of minutes, or does it mean that non disabled people can wet themselves, that's their problem as long as disabled people don't ever have to wait to go to the toilet?

I always assumed that disabled toilets were in existence because it allowed access when the disabled person can't access the regular toilets, I didn't realise it gave them exclusivity to them and that daring to use it if not disabled was considered abuse.

Non-disabled people don't have mobility issues that make using the toilet a military operation in itself. Disabled people often have a number of issues they have to contend with, and they could have difficulties with bladder control or be on medications with a diuretic effect.

People are also not talking about an able-bodied adult nipping in and out in a trice, but people taking in children, whole family groups and babies in prams (who they might decide to take the opportunity to change). The disabled person may be waiting quite a while.

There seems to be a culture developing, which your post demonstrates, that disabled toilets are 'fair game', and we are moving on from, 'I'll just nip in to the disabled loo, there's no-one disabled who might need to use it' to, 'I've as much right to use this toilet as a disabled person. They can wait in line behind me.' Disabled people often have many things in their lives that are out of their control due to their disabilities, and they suffer enough indignities without adding toileting to them. Able-bodied people, even those with prams and double buggies can organise their lives around these difficulties, disabled people have no choice.