Use of disabled facilities

I thought the disabled facilities were controlled with a RADAR lock? I think when a toilet block is being cleaned it is the disabled facility which is left open, otherwise it is not available for general use. Having said that, it's surely important to bear in mind that not all disabilities are visible and I do think the writer of that letter was making possibly unwarranted assumptions.

I've just read the letter and it's probably the disabled facility being referred to as the author of the letter refers to a woman coming out while he was waiting. He was able to tell that she had no physical difficulties and rather cleverly was able to tell from a conversation that she had no hidden difficulties either. He must work for ATOS 

I have a radar key and it came through a totally legitimate route. If anyone sees me leaving the disabled facilities in a sprightly fashion and assumes from a brief chat that I have no hidden disability either then I'm more than happy to explain in words of one syllable what hidden disability means. What I won't do is justify my use of such a facility to a busy body  

I’m afraid that is the attitude that perpetuates the school of thought the recent campaign is trying to change. 

There are many reasons why someone would need to use disabled facilities yet have full use of their legs and not need help. For instance, have you ever considered the needs of someone who uses a colostomy bag? Clearly not. No, that’s not my problem but I can imagine the difficulties encountered and the upset you would cause by challenging someone with that problem. 

I would never knowingly inconvenience your wife, or anyone else, LL, but I am fully entitled to use those facilities and suggest a little more thought and a little less mouth would be in order if you meet someone you consider to be able bodied using such facilities. 

The facilities are facilities that are adapted to be more suitable for persons who would have difficulty using the non adapted facilities.

They generally are not facilities for the exclusive use of disabled persons.

I believe the rules are that equal access to similar facilities must be provided wherever practicable. This does not preclude anybody else from using them. It may be inconsiderate of them to do so but that is between them and their conscience.

The first point I would make is that it would benefit all if all the facilities were adapted for equality of access for all. This means that anybody can use all the facilities and if there is a queue then everybody in the queue is equal. It would also mean we would all have access to bigger better thought-out facilities.

The conflict arises when someone who could use standard facilities arrives to find them all occupied. They choose not to wait and use the disabled adapted ones. This is a practical solution to their bathing requirements. Some argue this is wrong.

The next conflict is that if someone who needs the adapted facility arrives when the person above is bathing then they have to wait. Some would argue that this tough, all the facilities are full so they have to wait, as does everybody else. Anger is often targeted at the bathing person. 

Then there is the assumption that certain classes of people only should use these facilities and judgement is made of others. Consider the fact that the person may not be registered disabled but may have needs that you do not understand and certainly have right to expect them to explain. 

If you arrive and your required ablution providing facility is occupied then accept you have to wait. And yes, I really do understand that this may cause greater issues for some but complain to the site for more suitable facilities, being angry at the person currently bathing achieves nothing.