stories:
Nagging Question
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Is It OK to Use the Handicapped Restroom?If you’re not disabled, that is |
Is it legal to use the handicapped restroom or stall if the regular one is taken? And even if it’s legal, is it polite?
Although the blue-signed handicapped parking spaces are legally restricted, there are no laws about who is allowed to use a restroom or stall designated for the handicapped, says Thomas Schmokel, a consultant who helps businesses comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If there are disabled people around, it’s impolite to use the handicapped restroom or stall ahead of them, but if not, you can use whichever one you want. “If you like more room or need a place to hang your newspaper, it’s fine,” Schmokel says.
Being of weak bladder, I don't care which stall I have to use. If the urinals are full, I'm headin' for the only available "head" left...
It is NOT okay to use the handicapped bathroom. While a non-disabled person is able to use any of the stalls as they become available, a disabled person cannot. They must wait for the handicap stall. If you (and your kids, we have all seen this) decide to occupy the stall for 10 minutes then the disabled person must wait 10 minutes.
Also, the prevelance of usable handicap stalls is low in some places. You may be occupying the stall that is needed by someone who has been to four or five places looking for a stall that can accomadate their disability. To find you in it cannot be pleasant.
I agree with Mr. Schmokel. If there is a disabled person present, then he/she should absolutely get first dibs on the handicapped stall. However, it doesn't make sense for someone to be dancing the Two-Toe Jig outside an empty stall on the off-chance that someone handicapped *might* show up.
As for waiting 10 mins. for moms with their kids to exit a stall, we've all had to do that. The difference is if they're in a handicapped stall and you're disabled, you get the stall next after they come out. The rest of us may have a dozen more people ahead of us in line.
Handicapped accesibilty laws are designed to give every one equal access not to provide special treament. The last time I checked, equal access included the right to wait in line just like everybody else.
That being said I and everyone I've ever met let people with special needs move to the front of the line where they can access the handicapped stall as soon as it is vacated. Given the average wait time at a concert or sporting event, a ten minute wait is nothing.
The point is, its handicaped "accessible", NOT handicapped only. The bathroom is open to everyone.
In a lot of places there are only 2 washrooms - one accessible and one not. I can't imagine how silly it would be to leave 50% of the stalls empty 99% of the time.
It is rude to use the handicapped stall IF someone with a disability is right behind you and would otherwise have to wait an extra couple of minutes until that particular stall opens up. But Sally599 is right. Accessibility laws don't give people with disabilities special privileges, and in my experience, many people with disabilities don't even WANT special treatment. Just doors that are wide enough. :)
I think it's bad form for fully-abled people to use the accessible stall as a matter of course. If you are more burdened than usual with child(ren), packages, etc., or if that's the only one that is free, have at it. But IMO under ordinary circumstances that should be the last one to use.
I always pick the handicapped stall, if it's available. It's comfier. So far, no one's been put out.
Unfortunatly, most restroom stalls are designed for someone 98lbs. Until they make them big enough for the majority of the population, I'm in the handicapped one.
What's unspeakably rude is to use the handicapped stall and PEE ON THE SEAT. In airports, I will often use a handicapped stall as the rest of them are too tiny for a person + luggage. It is just amazing how often the seat is vile. People in wheelchairs don't have the option of hovering, so either sit down or go elsewhere.
I am a handi capped person. I use the handicapped stall. My handicap is not as visable as a wheelchair, but I do need the extra space and privacy. I couldnt care less if non handicapped people use the stall. Should handicapped folks Not be able to use anything but handicapped stalls? Should they HAVE to use h/p stalls? I once came out and was lectured about bathroom etiquite and how rude '''''.. until they realized i was ndeed handy
now, unlike the asparagus/pee question, this one really has nothing to do with food, right?
I don't see anything wrong with anyone using the handicapped stall . As for the mom's with the strollers- I had to do that when my kids were little. It's only me with them and I am sure not going to leave them out there by themselves. Now they have the family rooms, I'm sure that will help out with that issue. (I wish they had those when mine were babies lol)
I'm handicapped, and I'm perfectly OK with finding the accessible stall occupied by anyone, "fellow crip" or not ... but please don't spend all day in there reading the paper (or shooting drugs, as I encountered once ... please no comments about my choice of hangouts, it was a national burger chain).
I was wondering about this as I was once using a handicapped stall (no one in line behind me but the other two stalls were taken) and when I came out after a minute or two in use, a young handicapped woman on crutches asked me to assist her in getting paper towels and turning off the water faucet for her. I felt as though she was mad at me for using the stall and thought by almost requiring my assistance she got even. It was a really an odd situation. Of course I wouldn't hesitate to offer assistance but she seemed quite annoyed and I thought maybe there was some kind of law that I didn't know about.
If I have a headache I feel entitled to use the handicapped stall.
I think it is perfectly acceptable to use a handicapped stall in a ladies restroom. I usually make it a point to use them because there are usually hooks and shelves to hang/place things and there is more room.
it's way too big in there and plus, their toilet seats are always so high - I say, stay outta there! you'll get lost :) but seriously, it's one of those things that even though there doesn't appear to be a handicapped or very old lady around, you just always leave open and reserved for them .. just in case. It's what your grandma would want :)
and one more thing, this is still the food board, correct? oh, just asking .. you know because we kind of .. err.. are talking about the bathroom business .. and .. err.. well, I guess you can leave recipes in the stalls .. or is this a hidden message that handicapped stalls have secret recipes? I'm so in there! forget my last warning :)
I am handicapped. We have 5 restroom ( with 3 stalls in each) at my work. One for "Handicap Use Only" on the door, but I can never get in there. With so many people taking a healthy one and reading the newspaper, they want to do it in private. Well, that doesn't help me. The toilets in regular bathrooms are to low to the ground and with being an amputee, I have trouble getting up and down. (But you can't tell that I'm a amputee just by looking at me.) So NO, non handicap people should never use the handicap bathroom. It doesn't matter, if you really have to go or have a mess of kids, we have the right to be able to go. And without regular people staring at us, like we are doing something wrong.
If an AB restroom is available, use it... however if it is occupied, you shouldn't be obligated to wait, "just in case" ... same probably applies for <a href="http://www.mesawasteservices.com/rent... porta potties</a>
I have difficulty with depth perception, and when I use the restroom, so it makes it kind of difficult to use the smaller stalls which tend to have broken locks. So I tend to use the handicapped restrooms solely for a door that, when I close it, will stay closed. It also makes it easier to clean up the toliet when I'm done without slipping in or having to kneel on the floor.
If someone starts ranting at me, I just smile at them and move on. If they block my way, I'll just make gasping O sounds. Tends to stop most people, who really shouldn't yell at someone they don't know.