Use of disabled facilities
Comments
-
When we travel abroad OH often uses the disabled facilities as they can be more spacious and have more convenient shower arrangements. As we go out of season it is usually quiet. Also, many sites are not that accessible for wheelchairs. Extremely rare to see a wheelchair but accept that there are other disabilities. I would be quite embarrassed to come out of the disabled washroom and find somebody waiting; hasn’t happened in 30 years but there’s always a first time.
0 -
Peedee
Does that mean the site staff can't seek confirmation of a member being disabled, I don't mean what condition they have, but just whether they are registered disabled with a Blue Badge?
David
0 -
You do not need to be registered disabled to need to use disabled services. There is no national disability register as such. A late friend with a colostomy bag would not be considered disabled but would require 'disabled' facilities to empty the bag etc.
5 -
It was explained to us once by, I think, Rowena that staff are not to question a person’s requirement to use disabled facilities in any way as that would be classed an an intrusion of privacy.
Registration as disabled, whatever that is, or being in possession of a blue badge has no relevance to being entitled to hold a Radar key. I have neither registration nor a BB yet I still qualify to be the legitimate holder of a Radar key.
1 -
I believe that to be the case David. I think that may have been the reasoning behind changing the locks to RADAR. Its a sad reflection on society that those who don't really need to abuse the facilities provided for the disabled. I'm with LL, it is hard to understand why an ambulent person needs to do so.
peedee
0 -
“it is hard to understand why an ambulent person needs to do so.”
Because not all disabilities are visible, PD. That is the point some of us have been attempting to hammer home. Use of one’s legs does not remove the need for using disabled facilities in cases where we have problems that are not visible. Read the earlier examples and comments regarding changing views such as yours.
I can’t tell you how angry it makes me to hear and read such shortsighted and thoughtless comments!
8 -
Taken in the context of your earlier post, that strikes me as a contradiction in terms and a fine bit of back pedalling, PD.
3 -
I totally agree with the comments re not all disabilities are visible, and those folk require the use of disabled facilities.
However,
When my mum required a blue badge, so I could take her out in the car and we were permitted to use the disabled parking spaces, there was a lengthy form to complete and we had to supply several proofs. Surely the RADAR keys should be allocated in a similar manner, just with a different level of need. Having them freely available to buy, to me seems to defeat the object of the system, which is to supply facilities to those in need.
1 -
I agree that it’s too easy to get them now, Steve, although I’m not sure it’s something the Govt needs to get involved in. Having witnessed my OH’s battle with the agency now involved in issuing blue badges, I wouldn’t wish that level of bureaucracy and craziness on anyone.
When I bought my first key it was via a medical charity which seems to me to be a sensible method of issuing. Maybe not foolproof but not overly complicated or restrictive either.
0 -
I have been following this with interest, In our experience (my Wife has been disabled for over 40 years) I can't begin to tell you how many times we have been stared at or approached by car park staff etc when parking in disabled bays, use toilets and other facilities, and to be honest it's mostly the older generations that are the quickest to judge based on appearance. She has a Blue Badge (Orange when she was first given one) but we never use it to reserve a pitch on a club site.
She is very unwell with no cure and her conditions can only be managed, I won't go in to great detail (Unless asked) but to date has had in excess of 30 operations including 3 hip replacements, both knees, spinal surgery and pelvis reconstruction surgery. she walks with a stick on good days and can hardly move on bad ones. She will more often than not walk without a stick, just arm in arm with me and looks quite normal / able bodied. I can assure you she is not and suffers constant pain and takes in excess of 20 various medications daily just to function.
My point ? as already suggested you cant judge a book it's cover, you need to read and understand the story first.
Personally I don't use the site disabled loo/shower but do use the adapted ones in the main shower blocks if they are the only available ones at the time and see nothing wrong with that.
1 -
Yes, another good idea but I’d rather the GPs concentrated on their ‘core business’.
I doubt it’s possible to wind back the clock now on the issuing of keys and perhaps us talking about the ease of availability isn’t helping. No doubt it’ll all escalate and be regulated eventually which would be a shame.
0 -
"Having witnessed my OH’s battle with the agency now involved in issuing blue badges, I wouldn’t wish that level of bureaucracy and craziness on anyone."
Many due to the high rate of fraudulent misuse sadly. Our local council do spot checks periodically, on a couple of occasions after parking and about to leave the car we have been approached by an official who has requested to see the reverse side of the badge to confirm photo identification. They also name and shame those caught and prosecuted in the local news paper.
0 -
I applaud your council’s vigilance, Milo.
0 -
Thank you TW, that is interesting and I have learnt something. So if being registered disabled or a blue badge holder is not the only criterion for using such facilities are there general or specific guidelines as to what conditions may qualify or is that left entirely up to the individual concerned to make a decision depending on how their condition affects them? It seems that the legitimate use of Disabled facilities covers quite a wide remit which I hadn't realised. In the context of the original subject of this thread it is possible that some of the assumptions made by the letter writer might not have been correct?
David
0 -
There is a lot of info out there about the use and mis-use of Radar Keys. The key purchase scheme was originally introduced so that anyone in need could use the disabled facility without having to ask for a key, wait for someone to find one etc. There are no set criteria for owning a key, but anyone thinking of buying one when they don't need it could be causing distress and upset to genuine users.
6 -
I think Brue has covered it all, David.
As for the letter writer, I prefer not to pass comment as I haven’t seen it yet.
0 -
I suppose someone with say a prostrate problem, or IBS and needs to use the toilet quickly would benefit from a key, but they would not be disabled.
Too many people are quick to point a finger against people who they think misuse the disable toilets, parking, blue badge etc without ascertaining the full facts.
3 -
I had a seriouse work related accident in 1993 which resulted in having (amongst privatization problems)to take retirement, I still suffer with accident related problems ,but have not (as I can walk mostly unaided)taken a blue badge, but have a Radar key,as at times I need to have a handles to grip to maintain balance ,which can be found in all adapted toilets and showers,so as has been said in previous posts "looks can be deceiving "
0 -
Hi everyone,
I've spoken to our site team, and they've sent me the below:
We would not expect Site Staff to question anyone who has requested a disabled pitch or use of the disabled facilities. We understand that not all disabilities are apparent to the eye and we respect our members' privacy.
I hope this helps.
Hannah
3 -
Thanks, Hannah.
0 -
I have a radar key but prefer to use the "adapted " cubical in the main block, if it is available (some toilet blocks do not have this facility).
i can't understand a person without a disability preferring the dedicated facility. The mirror is too low, trousers, dressing gown etc dangle on the floor when hung on the pegs, the shower area is incredibly cluttered and often the shower head cannot be set at a reasonable height.
More flexible hosed showers in the main blocks would be a plus but I suspect the fixed head was introduced because maintenance is less costly.
0 -
Not a contridiction at all TW it is the case, if it was easy to discern a disability there would not have been a need for the letter in the first place and there would have been no need for the many comments on here.
At least an ambulant disabled person has a choice of which facilities to use, perhaps with some difficult if there are no adaptations but I don't believe they cannot use them. Those who use wheelchairs most definitely don't have that choice at all. In many cases they would not even get past the entrance to the facilities block.
peedee
3 -
Why should you, or anyone, want to discern the disability? Can’t it simply be accepted that the person has a need to use disabled facilities without holding an inquest into the whys and wherefores?
You don’t believe that someone who can walk cannot use normal facilities? You, and those who think similarly, need to re-evaluate your outlook and open your minds. I sincerely hope you don’t find out the hard way how out of step and discriminatory your thinking is in this day and age. Do you not realise the humiliation people like me feel when people like you query our basic needs?
You’re right if you think I’m angry!
8 -
Peedee there was no need for the letter in the first place. It has nothing to do with the author of the letter or anyone else.
The colostomy example referred to several times in this thread already is a good one. Should people be expected to juggle colostomy bags on their knees in a small cubicle?
Anyone who has a radar key and uses the facilities does so because they need one of the adaptations that have been provided to make things easier. They would doubtless prefer not to need them but that's life.
7 -
TW, I have merely pointed out that for some the facilities are more vital than others. Sorry if it makes you angry but that is a fact. I am indeed fortunate my wife and I do not need to use them at all. The van is fully equipped to meet our needs.
peedee
0
