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accessing disabled toilets

How many times when we find a disabled toilet do you have getting in and out. I find it very frustrating when you are lucky to find a toilet that is serving a purpose to accommodate disabled people and you can not either get in or out. It may sound stupid to some people, but as I need a mobility scooter to get around can not open the door. Even if you can reach the access handle it is impossible to open as my scooter blocks the opening and you have to get someone to come and open the door and hold it while you enter. Equally it can be the same getting out and then you find yourself stuck inside and have to painfully manoeuvre myself in a position to gain access to the door lock and then when open struggle to get into my scooter before it shuts again. Who ever designs the accesses are obviously not disabled or taken into account how they can be accessed
Replies
Thank you so much for your post. To be honest, I had never thought about the problem you have with using a scooter. I am sure that we have members that will know what you are gong through.
It does sound like a design fault which should be flagged up to the people responsible for providing these facilities
CR
Welcome aboard our website/online community.
Yes to everything that you have mentioned.
Me & my electric scooters have been in many scrapes belive me.
Yes these need flagging up but too "who & where"
Have you seen the Changing Places toilets? They are meant to be truly accessible for all, what do you think?
Senior online community officer
Society as a whole seems to have little regard to the problems we face and some maybe even resent the fact that special places are needed by anyone except themselves. Staff too need to be educated in their understanding of why such places are needed.
TK
CR
I cant tell you how many times I have been judged, shouted at, tutted at, eyes rolled at me by disabled and non-disabled people when Im seen using an accessible toilet because I dont 'look disabled'.
It can make like really tough and puts me off going out in public.
You cant judge a book by it's cover
Senior online community officer
so it’s very difficult without those in public disabled toilets! My husband can only use right hand to grab a bar if there! it really make my blood boil when the bar is in the wrong place! People seem to assume he can leave wheelchair and walk but cannot
at all so it’s a physical struggle helping him! We do wish we as example could show
the ‘designers’ of disabled toilets who do not see everyone’s issues for using the Loos!
even in Hospital the toilets are useless! in design! When asking for help (Which should be easy in such a place eh?) nurse that was helping we still couldn’t manage! She had the cheek to comment how difficult: We need ‘Stand aid’ ‘Oh this is a clinic’
(This is a hospital)! We dont have those facilities I couldn’t believe the stupidity in
hospital of all places!😌 in annoyance we said you have those on wards! Then
someone with. Some one with sense then brought a stand aid and a commode!
should hospital staff know ALL that patients issues? When we complained to PALS
the head one of the department phoned us, explaining the situation regarding my
wheelchair bound hubby, (On that particular day we were there from 9am
to 8.30pm! So a very long day: But her response was that G.P. On making the appointment did not mention mobility issues? Well on the other hand shouldn’t hospital ask ? That’s why we presumed all your medical notes should be looked at and an6 particular issue with a patient is highlighted!🤗🤭 P.S. Sorry for long ......comment!🤗
then went
I also struggled to open and close the doors when I used a scooter. It can be difficult with a wheelchair too. Doors should open fully with an automated system.
These days I always have a carer with me, so no problems.
But some disabled loos are so small or twist at an awkward angle and make it difficult or unsafe to use.
In theory, every example given on this thread is a legal offence. Sir Trevor Phillips (who at the time was chàiŕ of the Equalities Commission,) said Disablism is pervasive, universally practiced, and, in its effects on peoples lives, is in many ways worse than Racism.
He got thàt right, didn't he?