Flushed with success

An ID card scheme dreamt up by a disgruntled disabled toilet-user has proved its worth, says Sunil Peck

There was a time when people would confront Terry Gallagher and swear at him for using disabled toilets. Admittedly he does not look like a disabled person and uses no mobility aids but he has hidden impairments and the extra space in the toilet lets him kneel down and empty his stoma.

One exchange left him “absolutely steaming” and he vowed to put an end to the humiliation and abuse for good.

“I came out of the disabled toilet once and was accosted by a six-foot-six attendant who barred my way and started yelling that I should use the ordinary toilets. I said: ‘I’m a disabled person.’ He said: ‘Don't talk rubbish, you're obviously not disabled.’” Gallagher produced his RADAR key in an attempt to convince the attendant that he was not a fraud but the attendant said that anybody could get hold of one from eBay.

The attendant only backed down when Gallagher went into intimate details about his impairments and how he cleaned out his stoma.

Gallagher’s solution to ending this kind of confrontation was an identity card that would include his picture and a signature of authenticity from the local council.

In October he approached Nottinghamshire, his county council, told them of his experiences and put forward his ID card proposal. The council liked the idea and agreed to a six-month pilot scheme. The scheme was a success and the cards are now available to disabled people all over the county.

He says the card has made a world of difference. A few weeks ago, he was waiting to use the disabled toilet in Ikea when a woman challenged him. “She said: ‘What are you doing using this toilet?’ I whipped my card out and she said sorry with no fuss.”

The cards are available to people registered as blind or partially-sighted, blue badge holders, people, like Gallagher, with a stoma and those in receipt of disability living allowance, industrial injury disablement benefit or constant attendance allowance.

All applicants have to give the council a signed passport photograph and this gets embedded into the card.

The council has had excellent feedback but has yet to hear from other councils looking to roll out similar schemes.

Gallagher says there are huge benefits beyond pacifying angry toilet attendants. For instance, his impairments mean he cannot lift heavy items. Assistants in shops used to give him odd looks when he asked for help. Now he does not have to explain and they do all they can to help.