Was I wrong ?

Many 'disabled' toilets now have an additional sign saying 'not every disability is visible' [or some such wording]. The aim is to highlight the fact that it isn't just for those in wheelchairs but also for those who might need more space to change a ostomy bag etc. Also there might not be a parent toilet big enough to take a pram and I for one would be unhappy to leave a pram outside with a baby in it. It's really an 'accessible' toilet - for those who need more space including those who are wheelchair users as cubicles as so small. I've been tutted at for using it as I have IBS and speed can be essential. However now I'm using a stick and sometime need to use the rails I've met with no opposition to date! It boils down to people's perception.

Ive often used the 'Gents' when there's a queue ... Especially in places like M & S. Often ladies in the queue are aghast, but I tell them it's the same toilet as in the ladies (although often not so clean!) and as others have said - any port in a storm!!!

If you are desperately in need of a wee and you have a weak bladder like mine, it is common sense to use what is available. What's the alternative? Pee all over the floor when there is a vacant loo... Some people need to seriously mind their own business and think beyond the visibly obvious.

I don't see it as a problem, it was not as if you pushed past several disabled to get in.
I agree about not being able to tell if a person has a disability, I require disabled facilities with space to place equipment and a wash basin within the cubicle. It sometimes takes me a while and I do get stares when I exit under my own steam.

You cant be desperate for the toilet and with a toilet vacant in the event that someone might need it. If you did and a disabled person came along then they would be given first place in the queue naturally for the disabled toilet.

Of course you were not wrong agree with Luckygirl I will use them if they are empty and a disabled person isn’t waiting.

I am disabled. I do find it frustrating if I'm waiting to use a disabled facility only to see a whole family come traipsing out! I need the higher seat and rails. If there are other facilities and you can hold on please use them.

If there is no queue- why not? Once in France there was a long queue for ladies & none at all for men so I nipped in there . I got strange looks but once in a cubicle it doesn't matter what sex you are. I expect they just thought I couldn't read French-which I can!!

Coco51, you've not commented about the etiquette when there is just one loo which is marked accessible? And why assume that a wheelchair user cannot wait a minute or two to use the loo? What happens if two disabled users arrive at the same time? Should they enter into a discussion about whose need is greater? Nobody should be challenged because they exit an accessible loo on foot without walking aids, because not all disabilities are visible. My mother would have gladly swopped her terminal illness, which didn't get her a blue badge despite hardly being able to walk, for many a disability.

You were NOT wrong, of course this woman assumed you didnt have a disability, so what right did she have to assume such a thing,
I think it is an excellent idea for some stores to have Accessible Toilet for people with disabilities, no matter what the disablity is, dicky hip, weaker bladder etc, they dont have to be seen!
Ladies, carry on using wherever is available when needs must!

My oh was given a radar key as he needed space and shelves for things he needed when visiting toilet a problem you couldn't see would never dream of parking in disabled it's not the same.

The fact that a loo is adapted for use by those with disabilities does not mean no-one else can use it! It just tells someone with a disability that this would be the best loo for them.

I used the disabled toilets when I broke my arms, because I couldn’t turn taps or door handles and these are lever-type in disabled loos. I have a friend with Crohn’s Disease who looks perfectly normal but needs to use the disabled loos.

So this tutt-tutter needs to stop her tutt-tutting.

If it's for the exclusive use of disabled people, it should be fitted with a RADAR lock. Some establishments only supply a disabled toilet for the use of all!

When my children/grandchildren were small, I would take them into a disabled toilet especially if they were female! Avoided taking them into the gents if at all possible!

Grannyticktock - hear hear! You just wrote more or less exactly what my thoughts are.

Some people just enjoy a good grumble. She'd probably gave moaned if you had wee'd on the floor waiting for a different cubicle. Carry on sharing, that's my advice.

I always use them if I can much prefer to.

Posted too quickly - meant to leave hoping undeleted. Also meant to say that perhaps we should ask if anyone objects.

Difficult one that ... I often use the disabled loo, but always look around at the queue hoping no-one gets stroppy has a greater need than mine. So far so good ... I feel the same about the loo designated for mums and babies.

Altissima - I am slightly disabled and sometimes have continence issues. I assumed a radar key was like a blue badge and I wouldn't be eligible.
Thanks to you (and eBay) I should have one by the end of the week!

Our local library has only a disabled type loo. The first time I needed to go I spent ages looking for another before realising it was the only one. If only disabled people could use it others would have to go in the bushes outside! I am diabetic and one of my medications causes me to need to pee more often than I used to and sometimes it comes on quite suddenly. Diabetes is one of many 'hidden' disabilities and I certainly know that when I need to go I really do need to go! But no-one looking at me would think I was disabled - and to be honest I don't really think of myself as disabled - but this year for the first time I've filled in the form at work that we have to complete annually, declaring my disability and stating that normally no special considerations need to be made for me as a result, but occasionally I may need to leave a class, or be late for one due to the need for the loo and I do need to get my breaks at the appropriate time to have a snack.

Bit of a grey area is this. Neither my husband or I who are both registered disabled look it. My husband does when he walks though.

Disabled toilets are not just for people in a wheelchair. We both have radar keys.

I have a stomach and bowel condition which mean I can not wait for the toilet hence I have a key.

So I would be pretty fed up if a none disabled person was using the toilet, though I wouldn't judge cos alot of disabilities you can't see so unless you ask how would you know.

If the disabled toilet was in use I would be trying to find a toilet that wasn't for reasons you can work out yourself. You don't need the gory detail

so glad to know that I'm not the only one who pops into the disabled loo in an emergency. Of course we are all decent human beings,who check before we use it, that there isn't a more deserving person in the queue.

I was very glad of them for several months after my knee replacements as I could grab the,handles to get up and down. I could always have shown off the,scars if anyone asked. And I have used them with toddlers and bags of shopping.

I would readily use a disabled toilet if there is no disabled person waiting to use it. If someone disabled did arrive in the minute or two while I was in there, they'd have their turn next, while the able-bodied but full-bladdered were still having to queue.

By making full use of all the facilities, I would actually be doing a service to the rest of the queuing ladies, by shortening their waiting time too.

There is no comparison with using a disabled parking space or a parent-and-child space, because it's only a matter of a minute or two, and there's an accepted system of queuing. Sometimes I've actually been directed to the disabled loo by the management (most recently, at a local minor injuries centre).