Handicapped stall etiquette

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

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.

For us here wherever a parking spot has been designated as a handicap one it would be illegal to park in one without displaying the proper identification (placard or license plate).

Ironically I feel supermarkets are one of the most common places you'll see this happen.

It is interesting how the different countries/regions handle them though.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Like many others, I will use a handicap stall if I know I'll be quick, there's no alternative (and that could include a filthy stall or clogged toilet, which I had happen just the other day), and nobody else there wants to use it.

But just for the sake of discussion, I'll share this. It opened my eyes a little bit.

For the past two years, I've taken my elderly mother to Disney. The first year, she was mobile and could walk into stalls on her own, despite having a walker, and take care of business independently.

This past year, her mobiliy had greatly decreased, and she had recently gotten out of rehab after a full hip replacement for a fractured hip after an accident at home. She was in a wheelchair and needed help getting out of it, onto the toilet and back, and assistance with clothing and sometimes cleaning, etc. In other words, a big job, which required one person being there with her and another helping with equipment and supplies, for safety as Mom could not stand alone on her own too steadily. So my DD and I had to tag team to accomplish this with each and every bathroom use.

It is not always easy finding bathrooms to accomodate something like this. The best one is over by Soarin. But I digress...

At one place I remember, the handicap stall was down, so we had to take her into a regular stall but leave the door open in order to roll the wheelchair in there and help her transfer, etc. We could barely move. DD tried to block the doorway as much as she could, but Mom was embarrassed and humiliated that things were this way and we had to help her like this, etc. We didn't mind, but it was awkward.

The one, though, that sticks out in my mind the most was the time when Mom really had to "go" but there was a Mom in the only handicap stall with several girls and they were in there for over ten minutes, probably more like 15. (A couple of pp's here alluded to this, too.) They were laughing and having a good time, in no hurry, and I suppose could've had hidden disabilities but none were evident. They all just walked out afterward, with not even a stroller. Waiting was excruciating. Other people in the bathroom were getting upset on our behalf, even, and made some comments like, "Hurry up, there's someone waiting to use that stall" watching us wait.

I guess the moral of the story is that if we (myself included) do use a handicap stall, to do so quickly in case someone who has little other choice of which stall to use, has to use it as well.

 

[sam_gordon]

I guess the moral of the story is that if we (myself included) do use a handicap stall, to do so quickly in case someone who has little other choice of which stall to use, has to use it as well.

This should be the "rule" for ANY stall.

 

[L&Lfan]

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

I didn’t buy it either. Smelled like propaganda to me. I’ll continue to use the accessible hopper as needed.
And be as brief as possible in any public restroom.

 

[bcla]

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.

I've seen one at a mall and I have used it before. However, this particular one has a call button to talk to security to remotely unlock the door. I believe there's also a camera. I guess they want a proper rationale to use it.

 

[RaySharpton]

Okay.

 

[Ellie008]

In all my years there has only been one time I was in a public restroom at the same time as someone who had a visible need to use the handicapped stall. In that instance I was in a movie theater with my daughter. There was a very long line to use the restroom, and people were using all of the stalls, including the one HC one. A person in a wheelchair bypassed the entire long line, then stopped at the front to wait for the HC stall to open up. When it did she went right in. No one said anything. Maybe she had a desperate need and couldn't wait in the line. I don't know. It just struck me as odd that she didn't feel the need to say anything as she wheeled past everyone waiting in line.

 

[aprilgail]

The problem is, what if a person without a disability is using the loo and then a person with a disability arrives urgently needing to use the loo? Or maybe a gentleman with a prostrate problem arrives or a lady with stress incontinence and urgently, like absolutely cannot hold on. I think that loos designated for people with disabilities should, at the very least, be as exclusively for the use of people with a disability and medical conditions meaning ‘when you got to go, you got to go’, as the ‘gents’ are for men and the ‘ladies’ are for ladies.

It is not handicap exclusive- simply accessible- so what if there is a long line and a non handicap person urgently needs to go- they wait on the line.

 

[kirstenb1]

In all my years there has only been one time I was in a public restroom at the same time as someone who had a visible need to use the handicapped stall. In that instance I was in a movie theater with my daughter. There was a very long line to use the restroom, and people were using all of the stalls, including the one HC one. A person in a wheelchair bypassed the entire long line, then stopped at the front to wait for the HC stall to open up. When it did she went right in. No one said anything. Maybe she had a desperate need and couldn't wait in the line. I don't know. It just struck me as odd that she didn't feel the need to say anything as she wheeled past everyone waiting in line.

I think I'm missing something. If she was the only person in the long line, using a wheelchair, she was smart to wheel right up to the only wheelchair friendly stall. Say there are 7 stalls, and one is accessible. Everyone else has 6/7 or 7/7 choices. She has 1/7.

 

[L&Lfan]

In all my years there has only been one time I was in a public restroom at the same time as someone who had a visible need to use the handicapped stall. In that instance I was in a movie theater with my daughter. There was a very long line to use the restroom, and people were using all of the stalls, including the one HC one. A person in a wheelchair bypassed the entire long line, then stopped at the front to wait for the HC stall to open up. When it did she went right in. No one said anything. Maybe she had a desperate need and couldn't wait in the line. I don't know. It just struck me as odd that she didn't feel the need to say anything as she wheeled past everyone waiting in line.

Entitlement culture. Like the rude people on scooters at the parks. Not everyone. But many of them seem to feel privileged to manoever their scooters in whichever way they wish. I’m here now and they’re quite obvious.

 

[DLgal]

If one is open and there is no one else who needs it in the restroom at the time, I will use it. Oftentimes, there are only 2 or 3 stalls in a public restroom, one being handicapped. It's not realistic to expect non handicapped people to not use them.

Now, if I know I need "extra time" in the stall for whatever reason, I will try not to use a HC stall, out of courtesy. But for a simple "#1" break, which takes all of 30 seconds, I have no qualms about using a HC stall.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I think I'm missing something. If she was the only person in the long line, using a wheelchair, she was smart to wheel right up to the only wheelchair friendly stall. Say there are 7 stalls, and one is accessible. Everyone else has 6/7 or 7/7 choices. She has 1/7.

I suspect if the person in a wheelchair was just behind the next person or perhaps the person behind that next person it wouldn't be a big issue. But yeah it's not smart it's rude and presumptuous IMO. How does the person in the wheelchair know that there isn't another person in line in front of them that needs the stall as well?

For instance my mom had 2 total knee replacement surgeries. She's doing pretty well but for a time after her surgery she needed the railings, whenever possible, to help her balance especially when she didn't have full range on her knee that just had the surgery. They teach you at the hospital how to get up and down the toilet and really prefer that you have something to hold onto at your home and whenever possible out and about. She only used the walker for about 4 days or so after the surgery per doctor's orders and the cane does not provide the proper balance especially on a toilet (as TMI as that is). She made due when she had to but railings def. were preferable.

 

[Searc]

I think I'm missing something. If she was the only person in the long line, using a wheelchair, she was smart to wheel right up to the only wheelchair friendly stall. Say there are 7 stalls, and one is accessible. Everyone else has 6/7 or 7/7 choices. She has 1/7.

She should have waited her turn for the stall, just like everyone else in front of her had to wait. Her need is no more urgent than anyone else's in line. We're all there for the same reason.

 

[mjkacmom]

I think I'm missing something. If she was the only person in the long line, using a wheelchair, she was smart to wheel right up to the only wheelchair friendly stall. Say there are 7 stalls, and one is accessible. Everyone else has 6/7 or 7/7 choices. She has 1/7.

But she could’ve waited until she was closer. Several other women could’ve used that stall before it was her turn.

 

[DisneyKoyote]

I use the handicapped stall but under certain conditions
i) the lines are long and it makes sense to utilize every stall available
ii) i really need to go
iii) i know i can be super quick
iv) if there are visibly handicapped people that need it, then they come first

 

[CoffeeKitten]

I would imagine this would only come up if there is someone in a wheelchair or walker standing behind you and the handicap stall is available. Common decency would dictate that you offer it to the person in line behind you. Otherwise, that person would have to wait for you to finish your business instead of being able to go into the next available stall. I've actually done this when a mother and child were waiting behind me and I realized the bigger stall would be better for their situation. And when my DD was little I've waited longer for the handicap stall. Didn't seem like a big deal.

 

[cheryl.UK]

In all my years there has only been one time I was in a public restroom at the same time as someone who had a visible need to use the handicapped stall. In that instance I was in a movie theater with my daughter. There was a very long line to use the restroom, and people were using all of the stalls, including the one HC one. A person in a wheelchair bypassed the entire long line, then stopped at the front to wait for the HC stall to open up. When it did she went right in. No one said anything. Maybe she had a desperate need and couldn't wait in the line. I don't know. It just struck me as odd that she didn't feel the need to say anything as she wheeled past everyone waiting in line.

I'm probably going to explain this wrong but bear with me. If the lady had waited in line but the person in front of her took the handicap stall, she would have had let lots of other people pass her before the one stall she could use became free, thus making her wait longer than anyone else in the line. By going to the front, she actually made just one or maybe two people wait a little longer. If a mother and child went into the handicapped stall (which often happens) her wait would have been even longer, especially if they cleaned up in there too.

I have loads of experience of this with my mum who needs help transferring to the toilet. The rest of our party are in, done, out and then often have to wait for 10-15 minutes outside for us unless we can skip part of the line.

 

[cobright]

So, what is your opinion about handicapped stalls/ And if you feel that they are reserved for handicapped only, how handicapped does a person need to be? I will wait for a handicapped stall to open up and use it instead of a regular stall due to bad knees. I just can't get up off the lower toilets anymore and need the handrails. But, I am otherwise able bodied.

I've always treated it as if they are open to everyone but a disabled person gets next-in-line service.

How handicapped is handicapped? If you're okay standing in line then do so, but again, if no one is going to use the handicap stall then take it.

The concern is that you will use one of these stalls and then on the way out meet a handicapped person tapping their toes and checking their watch. To which I would suggest that anyone with such a disability should have long ago figured to take into account an extra person or two in front of them at the loo.

 

[cobright]

She should have waited her turn for the stall, just like everyone else in front of her had to wait. Her need is no more urgent than anyone else's in line. We're all there for the same reason.

This isn't always true.
Without going into much detail. Following a traumatic injury I was temporarily fit with a medical device inline with my digestive system. I walked with a cane and was obviously enfeebled. Less obvious was that occasionally my body's normal digestive rhythm would alter and sometimes that left me suddenly in need of a rest room. I would try to plan for it and take little risk when out and about but the consequences for not using the bathroom, "right now" ranged from merely awful to much much worse.

It's a fool's errand to guess at what handicaps a person is living with. Someone bad off enough to need a mobility aid might be saddled with a lot worse then just game legs.

 

[barkley]

I think I'm missing something. If she was the only person in the long line, using a wheelchair, she was smart to wheel right up to the only wheelchair friendly stall. Say there are 7 stalls, and one is accessible. Everyone else has 6/7 or 7/7 choices. She has 1/7.

while i likely wouldn't have said anything it would have been offensive to me if i were standing in line ahead of the person b/c my disability is pretty invisible but that doesn't eliminate my need to use a handicapped stall. i don't line jump at the bathroom and will direct other people to go ahead of me when one of the other 6 stalls are available telling them i'm waiting for the 1 i can safely use.