Accessing toilets when you are on a mobility scooter can be a bit tricky. I’ll be looking at 4 areas to be aware of in this post. These are all from my own personal experiences.

Define Accessible

How’s the saying go? When you assume you make an ass of you and me. 

When I think of the word Accessible I automatically think that a place has a disabled toilet and no stairs. A restaurant will have some low tables of a suitable height. But you can’t make assumptions. I now ask if the amenities are suitable for a wheelchair. Here’s why.

We booked a restaurant by the beach. A full on tourist go to, Coogee Beach. We asked over the phone if it was accessible. We were assured it was. It’s hard to find parking so I’m glad it ticks the box. I come on my scooter and scooter down a few blocks. We ate great pizza, drank good wine, and caught up with friends. When I scootered to go to the toilet a flight of stairs greeted me. I asked where the disabled toilet was. “Oh we don’t have a disabled toilet here but there’s a disabled toilet at the pub”. Down the road, crossing at the lights I go. I drag a friend along to open any doors at the pub.

A wheelchair symbol is international and breaks down language barriers

That’s why I steer clear of the word Accessible. It means different things to different people. Now I will say I am on a wheelchair and can I use their bathrooms. The narrative changes and all of a sudden they explain their accessibility in detail. They’ll mention any stairs and the like. Meanwhile I am negotiating in my head whether to be on my scooter or rollator, or just give the place a miss altogether.

Disabled toilets not on the ground floor

Stick with a smaller portable scooter

It’s fantastic how places are innovating to find ways to accommodate disabled toilets. They often blend them with baby change rooms. How great! Older buildings convert office space or a store room to make it work. So where’s that disabled toilet? How will you get to it? Is it always open or does security need to unlock it? That’s what you need to discover. If the toilet is not on the ground floor will my mobility scooter be small enough to access the lift and is the lift working? Will my scooter fit into the disabled toilet.

The Locked Disabled Toilet

When to call security.

At the mall or shopping centre don’t assume that someone is in the disabled toilet if it is locked. Sometimes people are up to mischief in disabled toilets so security will lock the door. It’s fine if they put a note there to let you know but sometimes you’re just there waiting with no idea.

Other times security will lock them off after a shopping centre closes without regard for restaurant patrons that may still need to use them.

The MLAK toilet

The Australian way

This was an incentive that rolled out in Australia in 1994. It is an MLAK Key.”The Master Locksmiths Access Key (MLAK) system is an MLAA initiative that allows people with disability access to dedicated public facilities, including facilities in National Parks and many Council municipalities, elevators at railway stations, the new Changing Places facilities throughout Australia, disabled toilets that are locked, and even the Liberty Swing” https://masterlocksmiths.com.au/mlak/

I have a key that I purchased through the council. You need to apply and provide evidence. There is a fee. This incentive is not everywhere so I keep my key with me always just in case. I mainly find MLAK locked disabled toilets in coastal towns.

Toilet Map Apps

Have you managed to find your toilet map app yet? They are very handy when you’re travelling around. These are my two faves;

• Accessaloo  https://accessaloo.com/(Europe)
• National Public Toilet Map https://toiletmap.gov.au/ (Australia)

There is still a long way before mobility scooters are effectively considered when planning for disabled toilets. There are such a range in sizes, turning circle and portability it is no wonder. I’m taking up the challenge and bringing forward ideas as I travel with my scooter.

Dezzie 2024