Do you use the handicapped stall?

[Stitchfans]

Yes, I use the HA stall. You didn't do anything wrong. She was the rude person, not you.

me to. I agree.

 

[KimR]

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 crying out loud, that is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. That person would really hate me. When my girls were babies I'd specifically wait for the handicapped stall because that was the only one I could fit the stroller in and I wasn't about to leave my baby unattended.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

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

But why? Are handicap people not capable of waiting like everyone else? This is what I don't get. If I am at a concert and in line with 20,000 women, and a person in a wheelchair was 5 people behind me, I don't think I should have to let that person go ahead of me. I need to pee just like everyone else.

 

[Mom2Nick]

But why? Are handicap people not capable of waiting like everyone else? This is what I don't get. If I am at a concert and in line with 20,000 women, and a person in a wheelchair was 5 people behind me, I don't think I should have to let that person go ahead of me. I need to pee just like everyone else.

I agree - but I'd also let them go ahead of me if there were a line and that was literally the only stall they could use.

I'd have no patience or tolerance for anybody behaving rudely though and if ther were "pushing" and demanding to go first I'd take issue with that.

Years ago DH and I were on vacation and I was on line at a rest area with a line of about 20 women waiting for a spot in a 2 stall bathroom - 1 was HA. UP comes a family with a woman with a broken leg in a wheelchair and the lady pushing her TOLD everybody to move as they were coming through and "The handicapped stall had better be free when we get there" - There was pratcically a riot over that one and they were told by several to go to the back of the line and wait like everybody else

 

[RickinNYC]

I use them. They are handicapped accessible not handicapped ONLY. Frankly, if I came out and some dude read me the riot act, I'd rip into him as well and tell him where he could go.

Something that I thought was nice was about a year or so ago, I was having a really bad gout flare-up in my left foot and right knee. When that happens, I'm either completely immobile or I can only get around for a while on crutches or a cane. I went to use the men's room, saw there was a line, but I was instantly ushered forward to use the handicapped stall before everyone else. I kept trying to tell them it wasn't necessary, that I could wait (was in pain, sure), but all the guys kept telling me to go ahead. Who knew? Embarrassing but I had to go.

 

[NotUrsula]

But why? Are handicap people not capable of waiting like everyone else? This is what I don't get. If I am at a concert and in line with 20,000 women, and a person in a wheelchair was 5 people behind me, I don't think I should have to let that person go ahead of me. I need to pee just like everyone else.

In many cases, no, they are not. Urge incontinence is a side-effect of many disabilities, especially the ones that can land you in a wheelchair. My mother had real issues with this, and we often had to leave public places and go home if she hadn't been able to make it in time.

My personal rule is that disabled persons get first dibs on the stall IF THEY ARE THERE before I go in. While I do use the disability stall if no one is waiting for it, I make it a point not to dawdle when I do so. I think it is just polite to be considerate of the fact that some people can only use that one stall.

 

[BellaSoleil]

Oh, for crying out loud, that is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. That person would really hate me. When my girls were babies I'd specifically wait for the handicapped stall because that was the only one I could fit the stroller in and I wasn't about to leave my baby unattended.

But why? Are handicap people not capable of waiting like everyone else? This is what I don't get. If I am at a concert and in line with 20,000 women, and a person in a wheelchair was 5 people behind me, I don't think I should have to let that person go ahead of me. I need to pee just like everyone else.

My thought exactly. Sometimes I have to use the HA stall because it is the only one my daughter (plus stoller) and I will fit it. I wouldn't butt in front of anyone, but wouldn't tolerate being yelled at either.

 

[Jenvenza]

I think everyone is quilty of using the handicapped stall. If the other stalls are taken and no one is waiting - why wouldn't you?

And he handicapped stall is almost always where the changing tables are - so if my DD is with me, I am going in there even if the other stalls are open. Like another poster said - it isn't like it is a parking spot.

 

[EthansMom]

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 agree with this.

I will often use the handicapped stall, as the OP did, if the other stalls are occupied. I'll also use the handicapped stall if it appears to be the cleanest or if I need the room (like when I had one of the kids in a stroller).

Unless the OP tied up the use of the stall for 15 minutes or more or left it in an unsanitary condition, the woman who yelled because she had to wait a moment was out of line.

ETA: One thing I recall from posts similar to this... Many people have disabilities that are not visible to others. Although, the OP may be perfectly able, it's just as likely that the woman could have been yelling at someone with a disability that was not evident to her. The woman who yelled was out of line either way.

 

[EthansMom]

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.

I remember that thread. As I recall, it got ugly and was probably locked.

 

[FoundMyPrince]

If I to go into a public restroom, I always take the HA stall. I nearly always have one of our kids with me and it's hard to fit a child and an adult in the regular stalls. And yes, since they are larger, that's where the baby changing station usually is.

 

[C.Ann]

I only use it if it's an "emergency" - if you get my drift..

However, that woman was very rude.. I think you handled it well..

 

[daughtersrus]

I have to admit that I have not read all of the posts but as a mom of a handicapped daughter, I would say that the stall is handicap accessible not handicap only. That is quite different than illegally parking in a disabled parking spot. (that is one thing that really angers me)

As for people saying that they are guilty, I don't think that's a fair word. No rules were broken so there's nothing to be guilty of. You used a stall that is able to accommodate someone with a disability but is not reserved only for those.

For what it's worth, when I'm out with my DD, I always use a handicapped stall. Not because she is using the toilet (she wears diapers) but because I need to and I'm not going to leave her unattended while I go into a smaller stall.

Has anyone else noticed that in many bathrooms, the fold-up changing table is located inside the handicapped stall?

 

[asta]

On my first trip to WDW (many years ago) I was yelled at for taking my 3 year old daughter into a handicap stall. After all of this time, I am still chilled by this memory. I had never experienced anything like this before and had used the larger stall in order to fit into it with my daughter. The lady who yelled at me was not in the restroom when we went in and I was just shocked that someone would even address a total stranger that way. OP, you did nothing wrong and this lady was way out of line.

And by the way, many people need assistance and are not in wheelchairs. As I have aged and have suffered through 2 knee surgeries, I don't use a wheelchair but am in a lot of pain when I walk a great deal or have to transfer positions (sit or stand). During my last trip to WDW, I was almost knocked down on several ramps by people in wheelchairs. I also need the ramps since I can't do steps and I think that more understanding is needed by everyone. I will probably get flamed for bringing this up but being in a wheelchair does not excuse rudeness.

 

[Chris2597]

I use the HA stall if there isnt someone waiting to use it. However, this poses another question. I havent read every thread so I hope I am not repeating. If handicap stalls are not like Handicap parking spaces then why should someone give up their place in line, if the next open stall is HA and a H person walks in or if a mom is waiting to change her child in the stall?? Should the handicap person wait their turn like the rest of us?? Personally I would offer them the HA stall if that was the next spot open.

 

[KristiKelly]

If I to go into a public restroom, I always take the HA stall. I nearly always have one of our kids with me and it's hard to fit a child and an adult in the regular stalls. And yes, since they are larger, that's where the baby changing station usually is.

I always use the HA stall if I have DD3 with me, and will wait for it if I have to. Most stalls are too small and I don't want to have my face half way in a toilet bowl while helping DD get her pants up.

That lady was way out of line.

 

[robinb]

In many cases, no, they are not. Urge incontinence is a side-effect of many disabilities, especially the ones that can land you in a wheelchair. My mother had real issues with this, and we often had to leave public places and go home if she hadn't been able to make it in time.

My personal rule is that disabled persons get first dibs on the stall IF THEY ARE THERE before I go in. While I do use the disability stall if no one is waiting for it, I make it a point not to dawdle when I do so. I think it is just polite to be considerate of the fact that some people can only use that one stall.

This is a good post that needed to be repeated.

My nephew is autistic and needs help toileting. Either he has to go right now (since he waits until the last second to tell anyone) or it's too late and he's filled his diaper. Either way you'll want to let that kid jump to the head of the line ... an 8-year old's poopy diaper is not anything you really want to witness or even be within a few feet of. Believe me when I tell you this.

 

[sha_lyn]

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.

Yrs ago (woud have been prior to your experience 4 yrs ago because DD was still in diapers or pull-ups at the time) I was even accused of lying about the changing table being in the handicapped stalls.

 

[npmommie]

I went to use the men's room, saw there was a line,.

Wow! a line in the men's room, this is something we rarely see........

OP, I would have used the handicapped accessible stall too, I do all the time because I most always have the kids with me, and they are not waiting outside the stall, and if they need to go they need help still, and like a PP I do not want my face in the toilet bowl!
you did nothing wrong!

 

[Mrs.Toad]

In many cases, no, they are not. Urge incontinence is a side-effect of many disabilities, especially the ones that can land you in a wheelchair. My mother had real issues with this, and we often had to leave public places and go home if she hadn't been able to make it in time.

My personal rule is that disabled persons get first dibs on the stall IF THEY ARE THERE before I go in. While I do use the disability stall if no one is waiting for it, I make it a point not to dawdle when I do so. I think it is just polite to be considerate of the fact that some people can only use that one stall.

yes, not to mention the fact that it can take more time to get out of the wheelchair and get situated on the potty.

In a large public restroom, it will only increase my wait time very insignificantly if I let her go first, while depending on her place in line, she may have a much longer increase in wait time, if she has to let 15 people pass her by as the regular stalls open up. It's just the polite thing to do, IMO.