Do you use the handicapped stall?

[Cool-Beans]

What the? How exactly is someone supposed to stop in mid-diaper-change to let someone else use the bathroom, then finish later?

Very carefully.

 

[honugirl]

It's my potty party and I'll use the party stall if I want to!

I have many friends in wheelchairs (one of my very best friends is a WC user) and if they really needed it, I'd let them use it first, but if they're not in there, it's fair game. I have DI (diabetes Insipidus, the OTHER diabetes) episodes which means I drink a lot and I pee a lot and sometimes it's an emergency! So if it's free, I'm going to use it.

 

[ajk912]

I was flamed for this very issue on this board 4 years ago. A handicapped person posted basically what you said the handicapped person told you and I pointed out that often times the handicapped stall is where the changing table is for babies. When you have a child who needs to be changed, what should you do? You have no other choice but to use that stall. This person thought that you should have to change the baby in a stroller or your car if there is only one handicapped stall as a handicapped person might come into the bathroom and need it. Or that if you must change the baby there because you have no access to the above options, you should leave the stall door open so that if a handicapped person comes in they can use the stall and I could finish changing my baby after the handicapped person has used the toilet. Point was that my baby can wait, whereas this person might not be able to 'hold it in' long enough.

Oh for Pete's sake..I try to be open to disabilities but changing my baby in a stroller and bypassing the changing table "just in case" a handicapped person comes in? Leaving the door open "just in case" a handicapped person comes in?

Here's a novel idea..use the bathroom, and if a handicapped person comes in..they can knock on the door and ask, "Are you going to be a while?" That way I know to hurry up and change the baby faster!

BTW, I always used this bathroom (I would give a visibly handicapped person dibs though) when I had little kids. We just fit better in there. Since my kids are in school now, I try to avoid it but will use it if the others are full. I do try to avoid using it for #2 though no matter what. Sorry if TMI.

 

[shortbun]

the 'handicapped' stalls are for women with children/babies, people with lots of stuff, people in wheelchairs, large people, people in a rush, people who need a higher seat, anyone who wants to use them. The woman was rude. You were fine. I use the stall whenever I want to. I NEVER park in a handicapped space. It's totally different.

 

[LaraK]

I use the handicapped stall as well assuming there is no one waiting who has to use it. I'll even use it if other stalls are open if that's the one that's clean. I pee fast, you don't have to wait long. And I NEVER do the other thing in public unless I'm sick.

 

[cinmell]

so where is the problem?

There is no problem. Geez, a handicap stall is not the same as a handicap parking space. Next you're going to need a placard to use the darn stall.

If a handicap person is not in the bathroom and the other stalls are taken, I would have used it too. I do use the handicap stall if I have my kids with me b/c the stroller fits in there. If the handicap stalls weren't meant to be used by families with young children, they wouldn't put changing tables and those mounted chairs with straps in them.

 

[clgwli]

I don't see the problem with using a HC accessable stall if no one in line is in need of one. If there is someone who obviously needs it or even requests it then they get first dibs.

I have used them before and will continue to do so if necessary. During pregnancy I more or less had to use them because I couldn't use such low of a seat. I couldn't get up on my own without nearly killing myself. I do remember having to wait a few times for one to open up on a few occassions and if it wasn't a big deal for me to wait for it, it shouldn't be for others. In a few cases it was a younger girl using the toilet while more than half of the other stalls were open. I'd never think of getting mad at someone for making me wait for a PUBLIC toilet.

 

[goofyernmost]

Personally, I think it's first-come first-serve UNLESS there is a handicapped person waiting for the bathroom in line. In that case, that person should go ahead of everyone else once the handicapped bathroom opens up.

Although I would probably let a handicapped individual go ahead (unless something was about to explode) it isn't really a requirement in this case. As stated earlier they are handicap accessible not handicapped only. Since there is usually only one then it would be only right to let a person in need go first since they do not have other options.

Some people know that others are easily intimidated, others, like myself are not. I just try to do what is right for myself and others.

 

[Angelhalo]

I would have done exactly what you did. Although I probably wouldn't have been so nice to her once she started sreaming at me. No one has the right to be rude for any reason.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

These threads always get crazy. Personally, I don't understand how some people think that HC stalls are for HC people only. Do they not understand the word accessable? If a handicap person does not have the ability to wait a few minutes for a bathroom stall, maybe they need a catheter...I am not kidding.

Yes, I use the HC stalls all the time. I am not going to stand there and let an open stall sit when there is a line behind me. Keep the line moving is what I say!

 

[Mom2Nick]

I would have done the same thing also. In addition when my kids were younger - I would wait for that stall if it is not open as it's much easier to manager 3 little kids in one big stall.

 

[Philagoofy]

I had sort of the opposite happen to me. A woman I work with uses canes and walks with a great deal of difficulty & very slow. It could take her 20 minutes to get from her desk to the ladies room (a 1 minute walk for anyone else) & a couple of times it appeared that she didn’t make it in time.

One time I was on my way in, there are 2 doors to get in, sort of a little tiny vestibule in-between. She was at the outside door, blocking anyone coming out or going in. I get there & she decides to start talking to me which slowed her down even more. Not wanting to be rude I listened to her or tried to anyway. Meanwhile, I’m busting a gut. I finally had to tell her that I needed to get in there. Otherwise, it could have been another 5 minutes before I was able to enter. Guess it was my fault for working so hard & cutting it so close.

So I understand how someone would need access to the HC stall but if no other stall is available & there's no one there who appears to need it, I'd use it. (Although in some public restrooms I'd rather hold it in & take the chance of making myself sick than sit in any of those stalls. )

 

[mjkacmom]

Because being handicapped means never having to wait for the bathroom?! It's an accessible stall, but not just for those who are handicapped. It is also stroller accessible, and for many years, was the only stall I was able to use.

 

[happygirl]

I always have atleast one kid with me so I use the handicapped one. If I saw a handicapped person waiting I would let them go first and and then squeeze into a small stall

 

[TeresaNJ]

This afternoon, I went to the diner for lunch with a friend, and go to use the restroom. I walked in, and there are 3 stalls, 2 regular stalls, and one handicapped stall. The 2 regular stalls were taken, so I went into the handicapped stall. While I was in there, the people in the regular stalls come out and I guess a handicapped person came in.

Anyway, I go out, and the handicapped woman starts yelling at me, that I should have used the other 2 stalls and left the handicapped stall free. I told her when I came in, she wasn't in the bathroom, the other 2 stalls were taken. She is basically screaming at me that I should have left it open just in case somebody who needed it walked in. I wasn't going to get into a screaming match with her, so I just washed my hands and said the stall is free now. If you need to go that badly, you can go ahead.

Now, I know people could be having bad days, and I want to give her the benefit of the doubt, but come on! I wasn't even in there that long! What was I supposed to do? Walk out in the middle of peeing once I heard the other people leave the regular stall? Or just leave that stall open just in case a handicapped person comes in? If we had come into the bathroom at the same time, I would have let her use it, but she wasn't there when I got to the bathroom, so where is the problem?

Number one, yes I would have used it. Number two, she was extremely rude, as she has no idea whether you were handicapped or not. I do not appear to have a handicap, but some days I NEED to use the bars or something to hold on to when going from a sitting to standing position and vice versa. People are just becoming more and more rude.

 

[Hoodie]

The more pregnant I get, the more I use the handicapped stalls!

Some "regular" stalls are so small, I could barely get my non-pregnant self in one. One place in particular has the stall so small that you have to squeeze in next to the toilet in order to close and open the door. The door comes within an inch of the toilet. In that place, the handicapped stall is used almost exclusively by everyone!

 

[Philagoofy]

Number one, yes I would have used it. Number two, she was extremely rude, as she has no idea whether you were handicapped or not. I do not appear to have a handicap, but some days I NEED to use the bars or something to hold on to when going from a sitting to standing position and vice versa. People are just becoming more and more rude.

I thought you were starting to say that if you had to do #1 you'd use it but for #2 ...she was rude? Oh, then I got it.

 

[allison443]

I thought you were starting to say that if you had to do #1 you'd use it but for #2 ...she was rude? Oh, then I got it.

Oh my goodness!!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I thought you were starting to say that if you had to do #1 you'd use it but for #2 ...she was rude? Oh, then I got it.

 

[c4a]

Handicapped stalls aren't equivalent to handicapped parking spaces. Unless the sign on the door says "handicapped only", it just means that it's handicapped accessible. Maybe someday there will be potty police, but until then, she is capable of waiting her turn for an open stall.

Personally, I think it's first-come first-serve UNLESS there is a handicapped person waiting for the bathroom in line. In that case, that person should go ahead of everyone else once the handicapped bathroom opens up.

I was flamed for this very issue on this board 4 years ago. A handicapped person posted basically what you said the handicapped person told you and I pointed out that often times the handicapped stall is where the changing table is for babies. When you have a child who needs to be changed, what should you do? You have no other choice but to use that stall. This person thought that you should have to change the baby in a stroller or your car if there is only one handicapped stall as a handicapped person might come into the bathroom and need it. Or that if you must change the baby there because you have no access to the above options, you should leave the stall door open so that if a handicapped person comes in they can use the stall and I could finish changing my baby after the handicapped person has used the toilet. Point was that my baby can wait, whereas this person might not be able to 'hold it in' long enough.

Number one, yes I would have used it. Number two, she was extremely rude, as she has no idea whether you were handicapped or not. I do not appear to have a handicap, but some days I NEED to use the bars or something to hold on to when going from a sitting to standing position and vice versa. People are just becoming more and more rude.

I thought you were starting to say that if you had to do #1 you'd use it but for #2 ...she was rude? Oh, then I got it.

I thought so too!
Just going to say I agree with all above posts. Rumor is that the tagfairy may be on here...and she scares the beejeeber's out of me. (scares me worse than clowns!)