Handicapped stall etiquette

[bcla]

Just stating my opinion. Not trying to open any cans of worms.

Wasn't necessarily saying your opinion was good or bad. However, I was just relating a case that's absolutely opposite of that - with standard, non-privacy stalls - a la Ally McBeal.

 

[DisLiss]

Say I'm in a wheelchair and I head towards the restrooms and there is a line right out the door. I am not going to wheel past the line of people, attempt to squeeze through the doorway (which has one or more people standing in it), just to see if the accessible stall happens to be empty. I'm going to wait in the line with everyone else.

So in reality, if everyone in line ahead of me leaves that stall empty the entire darn time---they're just making everyone in line wait longer---including me---the person in the wheelchair.

 

[DisLiss]

I also agree with those who pointed out that in some cases businesses set up the larger stall to not only be an accessible stall, but also to be a stall geared towards parents with young children, because I've seen both those little baby/toddler wall chairs and changing tables installed in the accessible stalls.

 

[bcla]

I also agree with those who pointed out that in some cases businesses set up the larger stall to not only be an accessible stall, but also to be a stall geared towards parents with young children, because I've seen both those little baby/toddler wall chairs and changing tables installed in the accessible stalls.

A lot of them are the ones where you lock the door, with a sign like this:

Of course the rooms are large and I've seen entire families of 4-5 enter one. Some even have kiddie toilets, although I'm not sure if the kiddie toilets need to be ADA compliant (never know since I've seen kids in wheelchairs).

 

[kaytieeldr]

https://notalwaysright.com/entitlement-can-disabling/95350/

 

[theluckyrabbit]

They are handicap accessible, not handicap exclusive.

I agree with this, after all, emergencies happen to everyone. And also, not all disabilities are visible -- so just because someone who uses the HC stall doesn't look disabled, doesn't mean that there isn't a disability issue involved.

 

[kaytieeldr]

so just because someone who uses the HC stall doesn't look disabled, doesn't mean that there isn't a disability issue involved.

Agreed - however, the person knows whether they're disabled or (IF someone with a mobility device is also waiting) just being inconsidderate.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Agreed - however, the person knows whether they're disabled or (IF someone with a mobility device is also waiting) just being inconsidderate.

True. And, disabled or not, they also know if they are having a genuine bathroom emergency. So showing some grace to the person who goes into the HC stall is probably the better choice than putting my judgement on them. After all, the next emergency might well be mine.
For those who really are being inconsiderate (and, hopefully, just ignorant -- because that, at least, can be helped), what goes around, comes around...

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

It is so interesting to read these threads. In the U.K. the word ‘handicap’ is rarely seen or heard, unless one is discussing golf. It is a word that has become unacceptable. Similarly, at least in my small corner of the U.K. people are unlikely to use a loo designated as being for people with disabilities. I really think that here it would be akin to a lady entering the gents toilets. But it seems, alongside the US, parking in a bay marked ‘disabled’ is an absolute ‘no, no’.

 

[sam_gordon]

https://notalwaysright.com/entitlement-can-disabling/95350/

I have a hard time believing this is a true story.

 

[EveDallas]

I have a hard time believing this is a true story.

Yeah, the story sounded half way believable until the part about the 11 year old pushing the wheelchair out of her way.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

But it seems, alongside the US, parking in a bay marked ‘disabled’ is an absolute ‘no, no’.

Parking in a handicap spot requires credentials in the form of a special placard hung on your rearview mirror or a special license plate.

It's not the same as the bathroom stall.

 

[Southernmiss]

Parking in a handicapped parking space means one's auto will likely be in that spot longer than 5 minutes and will not be located near the spot.

Restroom visits are not usually long and the person will be in the same room.

After caring for my grandmother with mobility issues, I still defer close to the door non handicapped spots in the hope that folks less able bodied than me will get to park there.

Probably not likely that others think 5he same as DH still circles for the closest parking spot.

 

[Allison]

But it seems, alongside the US, parking in a bay marked ‘disabled’ is an absolute ‘no, no’.

An absolute no with a big fine attached to doing so.

 

[RangerPooh]

I will use it if it's the one that is available, but I do try to leave it for someone else when I have others available. What I keep in mind that it is not just for those with a physical disability, but also moms with younger children/strollers, an older individual who might need the bars, or a larger person who might need more space.

This summer we were in France and no one was using the handicap stall at the Eiffle Tower, so one of the ladies in our group went to use it. The attendant yelled at us. Apparently they are strict on who can use it, and must be a visible disability. What if she had a non-visable disability? But I digress, she was only about to pee her pants in an incredibly long line and ended up just barely making it to a stall in time.

 

[Searc]

A lot of them are the ones where you lock the door, with a sign like this:

Of course the rooms are large and I've seen entire families of 4-5 enter one. Some even have kiddie toilets, although I'm not sure if the kiddie toilets need to be ADA compliant (never know since I've seen kids in wheelchairs).

Our mall has two family restrooms, separate from the men's and women's bathrooms, that has a lounge with couches outside them. They look just like the picture above. My kids loved using them when they were little, because of the little toilets.

There is also a separate enclosed room for breastfeeding, with a rocking chair, changing surface and sink.

 

[sam_gordon]

But it seems, alongside the US, parking in a bay marked ‘disabled’ is an absolute ‘no, no’.

Parking in a HC parking spot without a valid placard is illegal. You're subject to fines/tows if you do it.
Using the HC stall in the bathroom is legal.

You're comparing apples and oranges.

 

[Allison]

You don't recall the thread I started a couple of years ago about the unisex restrooms where they just changed the signs and left the urinals in for men to use?

I"m guessing most people don't remember a random thread from a couple of years ago. LOL. But, my memory isn't the greatest for that kind of thing.

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

Parking in a HC parking spot without a valid placard is illegal. You're subject to fines/tows if you do it.
Using the HC stall in the bathroom is legal.

You're comparing apples and oranges.

So here, in Wales, it is not illegal to park in a disabled parking bay in privately owned car parks, for example, a supermarket car park. However you do break the law if you park in a disabled bay on a public road. People also display ‘blue badges’ here and they can be granted for physical, sensory disabilities, learning disabilities and mental illnesses.

 

[RaySharpton]

This is an interesting thread.

I can only give my personal thoughts based on experiences I have had and I have seen using my wheelchair.

I certainly don't judge anyone here or their comments using a handicap stall.

When vacationing at Walt Disney World, I feel very fortunate to be able to ask for a roll-in shower room at a Disney Pop Century Resort. The beds are lower than a standard room. There is slightly more space in the room since the outside door at the alcove is not recessed and is flush with the front window. The closet rod is lower and located next to the fridge area outside the bathroom. The bathroom is larger with space to roll my wheelchair between the sink and the toilet and except for a flexible rubber barrier between the shower and bathroom proper.

I can not tell if someone has an invisible disability just by looking at that person.

A person could have an ileostomy bag or some other medical device under their clothing.

I wait in line for a WDW park handicap bathroom as everyone else waits in line for the regular men's or women's restroom.

I have had a couple of guest(s) push in front of me when I was opening the door saying their child needs to go now. They did not ask. They just stood in front of me as I was backing up my wheelchair to fully open the door before entering.

I now just assume that they will people like that.

I don't say anything to the guests). I just wait again for my turn.

I just don't feel like using negative energy for something that happens to me that I have no control over.

I have decided not to say anything to guests like that because I try and think to myself that maybe they might not have experienced what a wheelchair or another disabled person might experience. Or maybe there is an invisible disability.

I have also seen guests yell at other guests that I have been with saying that they should use the men's or women's restroom to the point of making a scene. My friend's ileostomy bag had come loose and needed a sink inside the stall to clean himself.

My friend didn't say anything either. But they looked embarrassed.

But after seeing families on the news at Disneyland fighting and hitting each other on the news, I am not surprised by some guest's actions.

It doesn't happen often, but over the years, I have seen my share of embarrassment.