Accessible toilets for people with disabilities

Now you know you can buy a key you won't have to ask, so that's a good outcome of your post ?

I bought one from Age UK for my Dad so he could take Mum to the toilet. She had Alzheimer's and he couldn't trust her to go to the Ladies by herself without getting lost, or coming out a different door in a big motorway service station toilet one time!
It took me ages to persuade Dad he was entitled to use the facility, he thought it was only for people in wheelchairs.

Yes Auntieflo that is what I was saying this experience was at a motorway services which as you say is a route march past all the shops and fast food outlets only to find the accessible toilet is locked. Try looking for a member of staff to help, you won't find one. We asked in WH Smith and M&S only to be met by blank stares. It was okay for me as I could pop into the Ladies, when I cam out poor Mr J was still looking for someone with a key, this would not have worked for me as I would have probably wet myself by the time the toilet had been opened. It is good to know that you can buy a RADAR key but the principle remains the same in that a person with a disability should not be treated differently and have to ask to use an accessible toilet which is clearly not accessible at all!

A few months ago, we were travelling back home and stopped at a motorway services. I headed for the disabled toilets, quite a route march, only to be met by a sign saying that access was by Radar key only. Why? couldn't the sign have been at the beginning of the long corridor??
I have since bought a key from a local shop, but didn't know before that you could just easily buy one .

Galaxy ... you are quite possibly right I am sure

I haven't got a key , although I know people who do ... have you got a key if not get one ... possibly locked to save any & everyone using them ... also if a queue disabled person doesn't have to wait ...

I dont know for sure but I did hear that some time ago particularly ones in pubs etc. Perhaps I just am very cynical.

I’ve just ordered one from here.

shop.disabilityrightsuk.org/products/radar-key

Galaxy I did not know this was why they lock them

It's to stop people using them for dodgy purposes I think. They are different to non accessible toilets in that they a large single lockable cubicle. People would use those spaces for other things than wee -ing!

I got my DD a Radar Key years ago from an NHS Disability Centre - it was £2.

I would absolutely recommend getting your own Radar key

It’s to stop people who don’t need an accessible toilet from using them and thus potentially preventing access for someone who actually needs them. I’ve never heard of users being timed.

You can apply for a Radar key to keep with you at all times. Please don’t buy from Amazon, pirate copies of keys often don’t work and they shouldn’t be on public sale as it defeats the object of reserving them for those who need them.

Is it so the building owners know someone is in there, and would check if the key had been gone for a long time? Did you husband notice if the person made a note of the time?

You can buy the key on Amazon for around 3 quid.

I thought they all opened with the same key and you could apply for one. My friend’s son had one when he came here - though finding a public toilet here in the highlands is rare