My Disability Experience WDW

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I never get upset because someone is in the handicapped stall I don't know them and they may have a reason. Once in Epcot I went into a restroom all the stalls were in use several people left right away I was waiting for the handicapped stall another guy walked in as the one in the handicapped stall was coming out he started screaming at him for using the handicapped when others were open I tried to explain but the guy was just so mad

I had a woman almost run over my toes, with her scooter, as I walked out of a handicapped stall. She was muttering something about "normal people" using the stall.

Sad part is, I was also using a scooter but I had left it outside because of the line of people waiting. And I had waited for the handicapped stall to open up, allowing people to go in front of me.

You just can't win.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Unfortunately, attitudes are something you can't control. "Use the stall/bathroom you need to use, and don't hog it for longer than you really need it" should, of course, be everybody's rule of thumb. And I prefer to assume that everyone I see using a companion restroom or accessible stall really does need it, unless I hear them specifically state otherwise.

I have friends around whom I have to bite my tongue, because they tell me they always take the handicapped stall because they "just like to spread out." OK, maybe there's no law against it, but it's morally reprehensible, especially when they know how much trouble I have getting up and down with my bad hip.

There is nothing reprehensible about using a handicapped stall, even if you don't "need" it. If I'm in line and the handicapped stall is the next one that becomes available, I'm using it, unless there is someone nearby with an obvious physical disability that needs it.

There is nothing reprehensible about that at all.

 

[PatMcDuck]

Here is a nice story.... about the companion rest rooms from a WDW trip, about a year ago.

I use them as much as possible with my down syndrome/autistic 25 year old son. Most trips, it is just me and him. He needs 100% assistance in the bathroom for routine needs, and sometimes he has total disasters.

For some reason, when we approached one, and it was empty, I started exclaiming, "SWEET!" to Sean. I said it each time, without thinking much about it. Sean is mostly non-verbal, he is completely non-conversational. He has some words, and a couple of phrases. (many of those few are Disney related, lol)

After a few days, HE starting saying it, as I opened the companion restrooms door. It never fails to make me laugh, hearing him say "SWEEET!" when we find an empty one. He remembers it, even when there is 6 months between Disney trips. (He may think those bathrooms are called "Sweet" by everyone, now that I think about it )

 

[OurBigTrip]

What a great story, Pat!

 

[SueM in MN]

Here is a nice story.... about the companion rest rooms from a WDW trip, about a year ago.

I use them as much as possible with my down syndrome/autistic 25 year old son. Most trips, it is just me and him. He needs 100% assistance in the bathroom for routine needs, and sometimes he has total disasters.

For some reason, when we approached one, and it was empty, I started exclaiming, "SWEET!" to Sean. I said it each time, without thinking much about it. Sean is mostly non-verbal, he is completely non-conversational. He has some words, and a couple of phrases. (many of those few are Disney related, lol)

After a few days, HE starting saying it, as I opened the companion restrooms door. It never fails to make me laugh, hearing him say "SWEEET!" when we find an empty one. He remembers it, even when there is 6 months between Disney trips. (He may think those bathrooms are called "Sweet" by everyone, now that I think about it )

This 'sweet' story is a good place to end any more discussion about Companion Restrooms.

For some people, they are a necessity.
For some people, they are a convenience.
For other people, they are just another bathroom.

No one can really tell from looking which it is for someone else. So, there is no point arguing or berating other people about it.

No more discussion about it.