HA bathrooms and ............

[DVCLiz]

How do you know you have't seen anyone with a real handicap in a public restrom? I have a real handicap but I can walk and look perfectly normal, just like a typical plus sized woman. I also have an incomplete spinal cord injury which means I need the larger stall for a specific medical reason - can't spread my legs far enough open to get the catheter inside of me in the small stalls with the toilet paper holders next to my knees.

So - please realize that here are others with invisible disabilities who may need the larger stalls.

Ali, obviously what we all mean is that we've never encountered anyone in a wheelchair. That's the image we've all been educated about, so that's the standard most of us look for when this issue is discussed. Obviously, your need for accomodation is just as valid as someone in a chair. I hope we didn't seem insensitive to your condition. I share your pain about the toilet paper holders, regardless of capabilities. Don't you think SOMEONE could measure that darn thing while they were sitting down JUST ONCE!!!!!!!

 

[disneymom3]

How do you know you have't seen anyone with a real handicap in a public restrom? I have a real handicap but I can walk and look perfectly normal, just like a typical plus sized woman. I also have an incomplete spinal cord injury which means I need the larger stall for a specific medical reason - can't spread my legs far enough open to get the catheter inside of me in the small stalls with the toilet paper holders next to my knees.

So - please realize that here are others with invisible disabilities who may need the larger stalls.

I think you have a good point. I have a knee injury that does not allow me to stand up from sitting on those low public toilets without some sort of hand hold so I too have to use the HA stalls even though I don't "look" handicapped. I think though what people were referring to was someone who is in a wheelchair or walker where their assistive devices make it necessary to use the HA stall.

 

[3littleHalls]

I take it you have never been in the same stall with three small children. Two of which are toddlers who can't keep their hands off of ANYTHING! I can be in, done with my business, and the older two gone potty in under 3 minutes. Absolutely no disrespect to those requiring the assistance, but where do you suggest I go?

 

[Mom to Jordan]

I think it is all about respect and need. Whomever needs that particular stall most should have access to it. That might be a person in a wheel chair or a mom with three kids. Been there with both. When my DS was little we also had my sisters two boys. Three under two years old!!! NO way could I have gone to any other bathroom with all of them. My mom is now in a wheel-chair and can not use anything other than a LARGE hadicaped stall or a family restroom. We have waited before for a family or mom to exit the stall and never felt put out. They were there first and there needs were being met. If I am alone and there is another stall open I use that one but if the handicaped one is the only one open I will quicky use it.
As I said it is about respect, I often let a holding child go before me, and once when pregnant I asked if I could go ahead of someone. Most people are happy to help out if you just let them know your needs.

 

[ptslp]

I agree with those who said it is HA(ccessible) not exclusive. There is no way you can take a stroller in any other stall and even if you have a toddler who has to go the the bathroom and you have to be in there with them, most stalls are very narrow and hard to maneuver in.
I do think that people needing to use the HA stall in an emergency type situation need to say something. Most people are accommodating if you just ask nicely. If you are a handicapped person who can't wait, tell people, just like a parent of a small child who really needed to "go" would say something. There is no reason for the stall to go unused when there are often lines in the restrooms and that stall would just be waiting in case someone handicapped needed it.

 

[catherines_mama]

I have used HA bathrooms in the past, but never when there was a line for the rest room especially not if there was someone needing assitance IN that line. When DD was in a stroller and the basket in that stroller contained all our belongings (for the day) You know I'd roll her in there and use the restroom. Also, the diaper stands are often in those bathrooms (maybe not at WDW but a lot of places). As DD got bigger we'd go in b/c there is more room to both go, taking turns (I'm not skinny). Now she's about to turn 5 and when not in a crowded rest room I'll go in the stall next to her telling her to wait for me before coming out.

I'd never use a HA restroom if someone was waiting for it and when in one, I (and I encourage my daughter) always hurry to finish.

I cannot imagine someone being in line and using one while someone who needed the assistance waited as well. But like a previous poster, I've never seen anyone actually needing assistance in the restroom before at the same time as me.

 

[momrek06]

Ali, obviously what we all mean is that we've never encountered anyone in a wheelchair. That's the image we've all been educated about, so that's the standard most of us look for when this issue is discussed. Obviously, your need for accomodation is just as valid as someone in a chair. I hope we didn't seem insensitive to your condition. I share your pain about the toilet paper holders, regardless of capabilities. Don't you think SOMEONE could measure that darn thing while they were sitting down JUST ONCE!!!!!!!

DVCLiz: Very nicely stated! Yes! And I mean no disrespect to anyone with a disability that I do not see!

As far as overall general construction, we need women engineers to come up and design LADIES restrooms for this WORLD. Make the stalls BIGGER, Raise up the toilet paper holders and PLEASE put hooks in all restrooms for our purses and coats.

 

[princesspwrhr]

I use the HA stalls when I have my younger girls with me. I have a 7 yo (fully capable of standing outside a stall where I can see her feet while I use a reg stall, or heck, holding the door closed for me since the latch is 90% of the time broke!) but I also have a 1 yo and a 2 yo in a double stroller. If I have the babies with me, you bet I'm using a stall that we fit in. Now if there is a person who actually NEEDS the stall, they get it before I do.

Another thing I don't know if anyone mentioned a TON of places put the changing tables in the HA stalls. And changing a diaper (or clothes of a wet/messy toddler) takes a LOT longer than mom going in and taking care of buisness. So what's a mother to do then? Not change the baby becuase the HA stall is 'off limits'?

My favorite public bathroom inventions are - family stalls and those seats that hang on the back of stall doors (so long as the straps aren't broke and you don't have 3 kids in tow)

 

[Chris]

What amazes me is that in a few of our mall restrooms etc., the changing table is IN the HA stall.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I personally think they should just leave the name off the stalls and just consider them bigger stalls for those that need them. I have 3 kids (3,2,6months) there is no way we would fit in a regular stall and there is absolutely no way on earth that I am leaving them outside a stall. So we use the HA stalls. I have also used them while pregnant if they were available because I tend to be a big ol' pregnant woman and have used public bathrooms where I could barely get the door closed once I got in the stall. I mean- the door actually scraped across my belly trying to close it. I am all for handicapped people having their needs met but just as some have posted that their disabilites weren't always obvious, you may see me and not realize why I need that stall too. I always wait my turn and if someone really has to go I always let them go ahead of me as I think that it common courtesy. JMHO.

 

[SueM in MN]

There was a thread about a bathroom website on the Theme Parks Board. The person who made the website visited all the bathrooms in MK (at least all the ladies rooms), took pictures and listed how many stalls were in each, plus how many handicapped stalls. Someone else took the information and made a table with the information.
I did a quick count of the stalls listed on the summary and came up with a total of 206 regular stalls and 22 handicapped stalls (some of which I know from personal experience are not large enough to fit a wheelchair in and close the door). I'd just like to point out that in some of the larger restrooms, with many stalls, a person who needs the handicapped stall can have a very long wait, even while there are stalls empty. While waiting, a person who doesn't have a need for that stall has 100% chance that they can use the next stall that opens up. Depending on the size of the restroom, a person who can only use the handicapped stall, might have a little as a 1 in 20 chance that they can use the next stall that becomes vacant. (Whether they need the stall because they have a wheelchair, an invisible need or some other reason).
We just came back from WDW and had to wait for over 10 minutes for the handicapped stall on 3 occasions for someone who was in the stall when we arrived - twice at MK.
Two of the times, DD and I were in the larger bathrooms at MK that have 2 bathroom areas. During our whole wait, there were always at least 6 regular stalls empty.
One time, we could see a 20s something lady (a small woman, not a Pooh size person) who was changing from shorts to pants in the evening. Even though there were many empty regular spaces, several people asked if we minded if they used one of the empty stalls. I explained we were waiting for the handicapped stall since it was the only one we would fit in. When the lady came out, she apologized profusely. The other time, it was a mom with 3 children, again changing their clothes. When they came out, they didn't say anything, she and the kids all were looking straight at the ground.

Most people with disabilities don't expect the handicapped stalls to be "reserved" for their use. And, it is one of those things that was originally put there to provide accessibility for people with disabilities, but may also be useful for other people (like curb cuts). My little plea is to keep the numbers of handicapped stalls in mind, think about whether it is a choice or a necessity (given your situation) and keep in mind that there are people who don't have a choice of whether to use that stall or not.

 

[babiesX2]

They are handicap ACCESSIBLE not handicap EXCLUSIVE.

I go out alone with my twins. One day at a mall I needed to use the restroom so I needed to use the handicap stall because that is all my double stroller will fit in. Some woman jumped in front of me and told me that I couldn't use it like that. She wouldn't move, and she said she would watch my babies while I used the toilet in the regular stall! I wasn't in the mood for a confrontation with this crazy person. I went to a store and asked them to please let me use their restroom, and I told them about the handicap stall "guard." I personally appreciate the "Family Restrooms" that some establishments offer now.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I go out alone with my twins. One day at a mall I needed to use the restroom so I needed to use the handicap stall because that is all my double stroller will fit in. Some woman jumped in front of me and told me that I couldn't use it like that. She wouldn't move, and she said she would watch my babies while I used the toilet in the regular stall!

You poor thing! I feel so bad for you! Maybe she was employed by the mall to be the potty police! Yeah- like anyone would let some psycho (or even what appeared to be a nice person) watch their kids in a public bathroom! Especially that you just "met" her!!! You should have peed on her!


This is in no way making fun of anyone with any disabilites- I just think this particular situation is ridiculous! I think I would have gotten security for her.

 

[ZachnElli]

Around here almost all HA stalls have the diaper changer. I have no choice, I have a baby and he needs changed. If you have a problem with me using it or I'm taking too long with a really dirty diaper, the complaint should be to management, not me I didn't put it in there! Thankfully, I have a really strong bladder, but occassionally I have to go too. So where should I put the baby? In front of a regular stall, not being able to see him?

 

[babiesX2]

This is in no way making fun of anyone with any disabilites- I just think this particular situation is ridiculous! I think I would have gotten security for her.

I would have totally had a security guard after her if there had been one nearby. I really had to go and she was the only other person in the restroom! It is not like it was crowded. I laughed because she was obviously a nut with her hypervigilance over the HA stall. I was not about to let her watch my twins while I went into a stall and had my pants around my knees! I went to the closest store, and they let me use their restroom.