Using disabed toilets
2 01 2008Ok ok, as usual it’s been a very long time since I posted anything here, and now here I am looking for a question to be answered!
First off, Happy New Year to anyone still left straggling on reading here! I don’t expect there are too many left at all now.
The question that I need answering though, is one I’ve often thought of, but, never got around to asking. Is it wrong for an able-bodied person to use a disabled toilet? Say for example you’re sitting in Starbucks, and there is a queue for the toilet, but, not the disabled toilet, is it right or wrong to skip the queue and head straight into the disabled loo? Is there an unwritten rule as to whether or not these can be used. I’d be really interested to hear what any disabled people have to say on this, as well as anyone else who has an opinion on it.
For the record, I would not usually use a disabled loo, as I’ve just always thought it the wrong thing to do, but I could have my mind changed on this. Do you use them?
I don’t see why not unless you see a disabled person heading to the jacks and you get in there before them. That might be a little evil. I remember that scene from the IT Crowd when yer man was discovered in the disabled toilet.. Funny stuff.
Anyway, the disabled toilets often have the baby changing facilities for some reason. I’ve had to use that to change Adam, thus denying use of the toilet for a good few minutes.
I probably wouldn’t use a disabled toilet either, unless I was bursting to go!
my opinion is that if you can avoid it, then queue and wait for the usual toilet to be free.
the disabled toilet should only be used if you are disabled or are really in dire need (which I propose is a form of disability) or are trying to get a kid to use a toilet which could take some bloody time (my son is autistic - it might not be a physical disability, but it definitely makes it “interesting” (ie: loud) when it comes to getting him to do some things…)
for the record I’d drop a big stinking bomb in the disabled toilet and have to go to the Garda station to get some of that “Police Line - Do not cross” and seal it off cause it surely would be a crime :). All joking a side I’ve used it in emergencies, I wouldn’t make it a regular occurance.
I would say if you’re able-bodied then queue up. The disabled loos are designated for disabled people and it would be unfair for someone to have to wait while you were in there. Some disabled people, particularly wheelchair users, have no choice but to use the disabled loos, they can’t queue up like you can. So it wouldn’t be on for you to be in there, when you could easily queue.
It’s like a disabled parking space: would you think it’s ok to use one if you’re say just running to the ATM or in for a paper? I doubt it, again disabled parking spaces are provided close to shops for a reason (not enough of them are provided at that, most shopping centres only have one or two which is a disgrace.)
However (LOL yes, of course there’s a but) I have on occassion used a disabled toilet if there has been a queue in the Ladies. I have bowel disease and when it’s active it’s VERY active meaning I would need the loo with a huge sense of urgency. Faced with the choice of using a disabled toilet or quite literally soiling myself in front of a room full of people, I choose the disabled loo and I would argue my right to use it in that extreme situation. When I am well and the Crohn’s Disease is inactive, I would never use a disabled toilet.
just another example of when it’s okay to use a disabled toilet. I was in town, shopping with the why?f and kids, and herself headed off to do gods-know-what. I was stuck with the kids for half an hour needing the toilet. nothing to it - I just had to use the disabled. I was not going to leave a 1-year-old outside with a pram and an autistic 4-year-old if there was any way around it. if anyone came along - damn them - it was them or me. in either case, someone was going to get dirtied, and I had two kids to mind.