Using The Disabled Toilet

[Vagus]

I was in John Lewis earlier this week and needed the loo.
All six of the ladies cubicles were taken and there was a queue of about six or seven ladies patiently waiting. The Disabled toilet was vacant so I used that, after asking if anyone in the queue ahead of me wanted to. You’d think I’d asked if anyone minded me peeing on the floor judging by some of the looks I got!
Accessible toilets are for anyone to use, why don’t more people like using them?

[bhg481]

My wife does exactly what you did.

[ladybirder]

They don't say Disabled Only.

But if I couldn't get into a Disabled Parking Space because someone not displaying a Disabled (Blue) Badge was parked there I'd be furious.

[Vagus]

Good bhg, someone else with common sense ;)
That’s an entirely different scenario ladybirder, and I quite agree with you.

[Prudie]

We have one at work (unisex disabled) that I have pretty much never used because it was on a different floor but the other week I did as I've moved office and it was my nearest. I looked around to pull the chain and without thinking pulled a cord hanging from the ceiling (I assumed it was for disabled use). Imagine my horror when an alarm went off that I couldn't stop, turned out it was the panic thing. I was so embarrassed when I opened the door to find a woman from the finance office where the isolator switch is coming to ask me what was wrong.

[Aircooledfool]

Yes I agree about parking spaces, but I suggest that if you are furious you take care when pointing this to people not displaying, or evidently not needing, a blue badge . Last time I did that to millennial looking couple, I got a mouthful of vile abuse!

[Sqad]

Mrs sqad agrees with you completely, but I disagree.
Disabled Toilet either means that the toilet is not working OR it is for disabled folks only and I know that it is referring to the latter.

Are you disabled?......NO.

Then do as you are told and wait in the queue.

[bhg481]

Prudie - I fell for that one once in a hospital. It didn't dawn on me that the cord was red for a reason. The nurse who responded to the alarm said it was a common occurrence (but I've never done it since).

[10ClarionSt]

Ok but does that exclude the disabled from using the ordinary toilet if there's a queue for the disabled one?

[andy-hughes]

Prudie - // I looked around to pull the chain and without thinking pulled a cord hanging from the ceiling (I assumed it was for disabled use). Imagine my horror when an alarm went off that I couldn't stop, turned out it was the panic thing. //

I did that once in a hospital bathroom, thinking it was the heater - and the door opened and three nurses burst in looking very concerned.

They were pleased I was alright, I was less pleased because the open door let a load of cold air in, and I was standing there with no clothes on!

Being starkers didn't bother me at all - because it was so cold, there wasn't much to see anyway!!!!!!

[bhg481]

Sqad - Should disabled toilets only be used by users in wheelchairs, then? I thought the idea was that they are big enough to get a wheelchair in with room to transfer to the seat. You can be disabled without needing to be in a wheelchair, so are such people eligible to use them?

[Sqad]

bhg.......the vast majority of disabled are wheel chair users.
The rest may have a disability and depending upon that degree of disability should be eligible to use the Disability Toilet.

[Vagus]

How would that work though? As the latest signs say ‘not all disabilities are visible’ so who would police it? A fierce guard checking peoples credentials before they’re allowed in?

[Maydup]

When you gotta go you gotta go. Senseless leaving the Accessible Loo empty if you can use it quickly and are not preventing anyone more in need from using it.

[Sqad]

Vagus.....common sense would prevail.
99.9% of "disablilities" are physical and obvious, the remaining are mental and rare.

[Vagus]

Exactly maydup.
I’ve used a cubicle in the men’s toilet on two occasions because of the huge queue for the ladies, why wait half an hour when you can use the gents?

[bhg481]

If Sir Alex Ferguson can get away with driving down the hard shoulder of a motorway because he was desperate for a toilet then I think that disabled toilets should also be available for emergency use.

[Sqad]

Maydup......who is to decide, whether your need is greater than someone elses in the queue?

[Maydup]

Besides, its an accessible loo not a disabled loo. It just means it’s easily accessible and there for anyone who needs a bit more space, privacy or assistance using the facilities. In my mind that means anyone with physical disabilities or invisible disabilities but also a Dad with daughters, a transgender person or me if I am busting and it’s free!!

[Vagus]

There rarely, if ever, is a queue for the accessible toilet so you’re not preventing anyone else from using it.

[Maydup]

I wasn’t queue jumping nor was OP. You ask the queue if anyone wants to use it and if no one does and no one is approaching you go for it.