Disabilities in General

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

The restroom thread revealed that many of the posters there were focused on OBVIOUS physical disabilities and the disabled person's need for the larger handicapped stalls.

But, I just want to remind everyone, that not all disabilities are readily apparent. Don't assume that someone who strides into a handicapped restroom is not disabled. There can be other issues that make the larger stall necessary than just wheelchairs, crutches, canes, etc.

As one simple example, someone with serious gastric issues might need the increased privacy that the handicap stalls provide to attend to their needs.

So, let's cut each other a little slack and stop with the general assumptions. If you need the handicap stall, use it. If not, and another acceptable stall is available and others are waiting, then give strong consideration to using a regular stall.


<<<<<stepping off the soapbox now. I now return you to your regulary scheduled programming. ;D

[beags]

If you are claustrophobic you will also need the use of a larger stall.

I have a friend at work who has fibromylazia (I have no idea how to spell it, I went with phonetics again) It attacks the muscles, joints everything. Sometimes she has a hard time just moving around. She has no wheelchair, no cane, and walks just like someone with no disability. BUT she does have one.

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

...I have to admit, I found it interesting that that thread was growing to so many pages and weren't you just supposed to be talking about ladies restrooms? having said that, seems that most ladies restrooms involve taking more time... ?

...and yes, disabilities come in all shapes and sizes...

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Jan 11, 2013 10:02:51 GMT -5 BeenThere...DoneThat... said:

...I have to admit, I found it interesting that that thread was growing to so many pages and weren't you just supposed to be talking about ladies restrooms? having said that, seems that most ladies restrooms involve taking more time... ?

...and yes, disabilities come in all shapes and sizes...

Well, you have to remember, most men have the option of standing and using a urinal.

All female bathroom duties must be done sitting upon the throne (or leaning over it as the case may necessitate).

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

If I were a female diabetic and was out and about and needed to check my blood sugar or even give myself a shot of insulin, you can be darn sure I'd use the larger handicap restroom so that neither my meter or syringe or fingers would touch the stall walls, handles, or other fixtures.

But, you wouldn't know by my walk that I was a diabetic.

So, let's just quit with assumptions and give each other a break. The world can be cold and cruel enough as it is. If you NEED the handicap stall and it is occupied for a length of time, a gentle knock and a pleasant "Just wanted to check how much longer you will be. I need the handlebars/higher seat/space for my walker/whatever" would likely move things along for you.

JMHO. YMMV.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I used a hand held breast pump in the handicapped stall when on vacation. There is no room to do that in a regular stall. I tried and my arm kept hitting the door before I got the pump extended all the way.

[Bluerobin]

My knees are shot. I might use such a stall, to ease getting up and down. I can foresee when I may HAVE to use them. I generally avoid public restrooms.

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

Jan 11, 2013 10:42:18 GMT -5 Bluerobin said:

My knees are shot. I might use such a stall, to ease getting up and down. I can foresee when I may HAVE to use them.

...it was a skiing accident for me... add in several decades of wear and tear... how about you?

[Bluerobin]

Too big for too long and crawling around in too many fires (40+ years as a vol).

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

...ah... but THANK YOU for being vol FD...

[Bluerobin]

BTDT - it was for the Adrenalin rush!

[Tennesseer]

Why not simply make building restrooms slightly larger and every stall is a handicapped-style stall for use by everyone.

[Bluerobin]

Jan 11, 2013 11:37:19 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Why not simply make building restrooms slightly larger and every stall is a handicapped-style stall for use by everyone.

What? You want common sense?

[973beachbum]

Jan 11, 2013 11:37:19 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Why not simply make building restrooms slightly larger and every stall is a handicapped-style stall for use by everyone.

Because they dont have the room. Some places because of space constraints are moving to single room HC accessable bathrooms but it won't make people happier! They only have one per male and female so it will make lines even longer.

The bigger these stalls get we are just going to be fighting over less and less usable space for anyone.

[thyme4change]

I used to feel like disabilities should be "visible" to me. My attitude was like that when my life was more difficult - when I was working really hard, and not making much traction, and just frustrated in general. So, it was misguided jealously, I guess. I just wanted a little extra something to swing my way. Of course, now I realize that I have had a little extra something swing my way for my entire life, and I need to get over myself. As my life gets easier and easier, I don't really care if someone is hamming it up or breaking rule, or if they really have problems that are absolutely none of my business. I'm over it.

[beags]

Jan 11, 2013 11:37:19 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Why not simply make building restrooms slightly larger and every stall is a handicapped-style stall for use by everyone.

It would cost the business too much. AND have you read the other thread on this issue?

The people without handicaps would never get to use the restroom because the little symbol apparently means that ONLY handicap people are allowed in those stalls. (even though the law states otherwise)

[Deleted]

So, let's cut each other a little slack and stop with the general assumptions. If you need the handicap stall, use it. If not, and another acceptable stall is available and others are waiting, then give strong consideration to using a regular stall.


Odd because I wouldn't have thought the subject would have come up. People are incredibly aware of non politically correct statements now days & generally go the other way. With one exception (which I won't bring up).

[Tennesseer]

I know room is limited but as customers you/we should demand at least 'friendlier' restrooms. I would rather crap in my pants while racing home to my own bathroom than use some of these available public restrooms.

[beags]

I like the family restrooms . . it's a win/win. People with children have thier own private room to do everything in. AND it is handicap accesible with all the things needed for handicap people but without the symbol. This way nobody in a wheelchair can bitch that some family is in their restroom.

However, these family restrooms are fairly new and not every business has one.

[Tennesseer]

Jan 11, 2013 11:44:32 GMT -5 beags said:

Jan 11, 2013 11:37:19 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Why not simply make building restrooms slightly larger and every stall is a handicapped-style stall for use by everyone.

It would cost the business too much. AND have you read the other thread on this issue?

The people without handicaps would never get to use the restroom because the little symbol apparently means that ONLY handicap people are allowed in those stalls. (even though the law states otherwise)

A sign on the outside of the bathroom door stating 'All stalls are handicap friendly' would fix that problem.

[973beachbum]

Jan 11, 2013 11:45:55 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

I know room is limited but as customers you/we should demand at least 'friendlier' restrooms. I would rather crap in my pants while racing home to my own bathroom than use some of these available public restrooms.

DH and I were talking about HC parking spots in parking lots the other day. DH is a civil eng and has to design them a lot. The new lots are putting in larger hc spots. It is good for those who have a van with the lift. But I have never seen anyone with that van actually park in one. The people with the HC hangtags are always in those spots so the vans drive up to the store and park in the no parking zone.

the reason is that because the front spaces are becomming completely hc only, more people who woudln't have gotten the hc hang tag and parked in the closest spot that wasn't HC. The walk from the way back of the parking lot is just too much for some people.

At Walmart the choice seems to be the HC spaces or halfway across the city.

[whoisjohngalt]

Some business have parking spaces for pregnant women - those are the BEST bc any woman ages 12-45 can park in them. yay us!!!!

[thyme4change]

I like the family restrooms . . it's a win/win. People with children have thier own private room to do everything in. AND it is handicap accesible with all the things needed for handicap people but without the symbol. This way nobody in a wheelchair can bitch that some family is in their restroom.

But if they only put in one family/handicap restroom, the problem for the handicapped person is the same - they have to wait for the family to finish. Unless we put in 2 family restrooms for every one handicapped stall, it doesn't solve the problem at all. You just renamed it, so the h/c people sound bitter when they complain.

[thyme4change]

Some business have parking spaces for pregnant women - those are the BEST

I hate those. There is a small grocery market near us that had 3 handicapped spots, 3 spots for pregnant ladies or families with small children and 3 spots for hybrid cars. The place would be empty and my lone car was parked in the 3rd row back. Because my money isn't as good as theirs?

[beags]

Yes, the design for the vans are those horizontal spots while the other ones you would pull in vertical. I can't tell you how many HC people will pull into one of those van spots with a small car and park it vertically. Obviously, they don't have the lift for a wheelchair. You would think that a person with a handicap would be more considerate of others with a handicap . . but apparently not. Would it have killed them to take the EMPTY spot next to it for HC that is meant for the cars that don't have the lift?

[whoisjohngalt]

I have small children and my favorite place to park is right next to shopping cart collection area. this way I don't have to drag them all across the parking lot - I unload the stuff and push the shopping cart in it's place.

[Bluerobin]

Every sidewalk in town has a gentle slope down to the road for handicapped access. So WHY do the idiots on the motorized carts all drive in the street? I can see how they ended up in the damn cart, if they actually drove their cars like that!!!

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

Jan 11, 2013 11:57:49 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Some business have parking spaces for pregnant women - those are the BEST

I hate those. There is a small grocery market near us that had 3 handicapped spots, 3 spots for pregnant ladies or families with small children and 3 spots for hybrid cars. The place would be empty and my lone car was parked in the 3rd row back. Because my money isn't as good as theirs?

...well, the first 3 are mandated by govt. regulation... so, as far as your patronage goes, only take issue with the last 6...

[thyme4change]

I have small children and my favorite place to park is right next to shopping cart collection area.

Mine too. When the kids were little, I would rather park all the way in the back, next to the cart corral, rather than anywhere in the middle. Especially when it was hot. I hated putting them in the car while I was walking around returning carts, and I hated dragging them around the parking lot.

[beags]

Jan 11, 2013 11:56:05 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

I like the family restrooms . . it's a win/win. People with children have thier own private room to do everything in. AND it is handicap accesible with all the things needed for handicap people but without the symbol. This way nobody in a wheelchair can bitch that some family is in their restroom.

But if they only put in one family/handicap restroom, the problem for the handicapped person is the same - they have to wait for the family to finish. Unless we put in 2 family restrooms for every one handicapped stall, it doesn't solve the problem at all. You just renamed it, so the h/c people sound bitter when they complain.

No, this is a separate restroom entirely. It is labeled family room. Then you have your other restroom with the many different stalls and the one handicap one.

The family rooms I am talking about is a separate room with it's own door. (just like you would have at home) Only it has all the necessary things for the handicap people as well. I mean you don't know if the family has a handicap parent or child, so you have to make it handicap accesible. BUT they don't label it as a handicap restroom . . it is labeled as a family restroom. The handicap person does not have a reason to bitch that a family is in there. . . .. because the other restroom has a handicap stall labeled for them. If they CHOOSE to wait for the family room, than they can't bitch because a family is using the family room.