I feel guilty for using the handicap stall unless it is the only stall available.  

I always use the handicap stall if available because I have boring childhood traumas that lead to me hating closed and locked doors, so the bigger the better. That said, if someone else needs that stall, I suck it up.

I think this is one of those things that is different in the US. I rarely use the disabled stall, because I hate how the toilet is higher, the toilet paper is always in a weird spot, and I'm afraid of people walking in on me because the doors open the wrong way. But if there is a line, I'm going to use whatever stall is open. But I heard that overseas it's not cool to do that and we should always leave the big stall open for someone who needs it. 

I don't like the handicap stall for the same reasons Maggie Mae listed.

I'll use it if there is a line and nothing else available. Or if I have my son/stroller with me.

I think able bodied people should use a regular stall if they are open. But it's not nearly as bad as someone parking in a handicap spot or something.

I don't usually take the Handicap stall unless it's the only spot where there is a baby changing table. 

I used to use them when I had kids in a pram, but these days I don't use them in case someone with s disability needs it.

My late grandmother once skipped the queue and used the disabled toilet at the shopping centre.  When she came out, a woman berated her and said it's for disabled people.  My grandmother waved her walking stick at her and said "And what do you think this is?" Go Nan!

I just love seeing a lone able-bodied person come prancing out of the handicapped stall when there are other stalls open and available they could have used as I stand there with Mrs. Baby in her wheelchair waiting for them to get their ass out of it since that's the ONLY stall she can use.  Unless the restroom is packed and you're about to explode or you have a herd of small children you can't leave outside a stall while you go, leave the handicapped stall open for handicapped folks. (General "you").   

6 minutes ago, Tikobaby said:

I just love seeing a lone able-bodied person come prancing out of the handicapped stall when there are other stalls open and available they could have used as I stand there with Mrs. Baby in her wheelchair waiting for them to get their ass out of it since that's the ONLY stall she can use.  Unless the restroom is packed and you're about to explode or you have a herd of small children you can't leave outside a stall while you go, leave the handicapped stall open for handicapped folks. (General "you").   

 

You don't know if they were open or not when that person went in there. And how do you know if they were about to explode or not? And furthermore, if there is a line and you are with someone in a wheelchair, that doesn't mean the person in a wheelchair gets to skip the line! 

True situation;  all stalls open, lady walks in ahead of us and goes directly to handicapped stall.  Mrs. Baby cannot physically use a regular stall so if there's someone in the handicapped stall, she will obviously have to wait until it opens up, regardless of how many regular stalls become available in the meantime. 

I'm not wanting to start an argument, but do you really think, @Maggie Mae, that if you're in queue and someone is behind you in that queue in a wheelchair, and the disabled stall became available, or was empty, that you'd go in it ahead of the disabled person?  I know I'd expect the disabled person to go in there ahead of me.  It is a disabled stall after all.  

As you say, maybe it's different in Australia.  You'd be shouted down for it if you tried that here.

I have to use the disabled stall. I don't mind waiting, but I'm a little passive-aggressive about it.  If there are women behind me in line and the handicap stall isn't open but other stalls are, I'll send them to the other stalls, saying (not very quietly, but in a cheery voice) "No, you go ahead - I need the disabled stall".

I do get ticked at the gym, which has only one disabled shower stall, when someone is in there who doesn't need the fold-down bench. It's easy to wait for a disabled stall in the restroom - I can stand that long - but standing while someone who is not disabled spends 15+ minutes showering, (...shampooing, conditioning, washing, shaving their legs, drying off, powdering, and whatever the hell else they seem to think they need that benched shower area for...), does take a huge toll on my physical state. My voice gets a little more aggressive than passive when I comment as  I let other women take the other shower stalls while I stand, getting more exhausted by the minute.

I have to say that what prompted this blog topic today was seeing someone that I work with, who I know is not disabled, choosing to use the biggest stall when all four were open to choose from.  I see this kind of thing way more often than I would like and it disappoints me how selfish people can be.

1 hour ago, Karma said:

I'm not wanting to start an argument, but do you really think, @Maggie Mae, that if you're in queue and someone is behind you in that queue in a wheelchair, and the disabled stall became available, or was empty, that you'd go in it ahead of the disabled person?  I know I'd expect the disabled person to go in there ahead of me.  It is a disabled stall after all.  

As you say, maybe it's different in Australia.  You'd be shouted down for it if you tried that here.

I don't know what I would do. I've literally never been in that situation. I imagine I would let that person go ahead while I waited, unless it was one of those situations where I was literally about to pee myself. I so very rarely see people in wheelchairs, and never at a place where there would be a line for the toilets. It's just not something that happens often. Granted, I don't go to malls or theme parks or concerts very often, and our sports "arenas" have poor enough attendance that I've not seen a line. 

I guess it's only been very recently that I found out that people expect us to leave the disabled stall open while the rest of us line up. Some restrooms ONLY have a disabled stall. Am I supposed to go to another floor or building? 

You're right, some places do only have one toilet, and that's disabled.  That's a different situation to an able bodied person choosing to use a disabled toilet when there are others available.  If there's one toilet, I think the done thing is to use it - I have done at a pub we went to which had only one, so there was no alternative.  But if there is someone disabled (be it in a wheelchair, hunched over with a walking stick like my grandmother was, on crutches, or a carer with a mentally handicapped person) I would offer for that person to go ahead of me. 

I guess when you haven't been in the situation before, there has been no reason to think about what you'd do.  One of the things I like about FJ is hearing about different people's opinions and experiences.  

3 hours ago, Maggie Mae said:

And furthermore, if there is a line and you are with someone in a wheelchair, that doesn't mean the person in a wheelchair gets to skip the line! 

This is only picky. If there is a line, and there are, say, X regular stalls and one disabled stall, then it seems to me that letting the disabled person ahead ("skipping the line") is reasonable and polite. After all, everyone else has X number of stalls to rotate through, but a disabled person only has ONE stall they can use.

Like I said above, I understand when it doesn't work out that way in a restroom, but it does affect my physical stamina for the rest of the day. I just can't stand for very long, and I need the rails to push up after I'm done. 

So I really do appreciate it when people recognize that it might make sense to let me, or other disabled persons, use the disabled stall while they use the others.

When I was a Frequent Flyer, I always wanted/used the disabled stalls.  I could actually get my suitcase into the stall with me, without it wiping across the toilet.

If anyone needed it before my pee event, I would scrunch into another stall.... and Purell my suitcase once I was home.

No worries.  I know the stalls exist for a reason.

I think that I usually wait for a regular toilet stall even if the disabled one is open and I'm the only one waiting. If I really need to go I may use the one signed disabled.

In most places I have been there have usually been three lots of toilet groupings: male, female and unisex disabled/family/baby changing ( not always those 3 at once). Imo To move out of the female toilet area to use the disabled one in that situation seems really rude. YMMV.

I also try not to judge the ppl i dont know coming out of disabled toilets. Just because they can walk doesn't mean they don't need those facilities.

I wish in general that people would stop being so disgusting in public toilets. Don't leave a mess you wouldn't want to clean up yourself. Leave it in the state you would like to see when you arrive. And it something goes wrong: clogged, no paper etc notify someone if possible! 

14 hours ago, crazydaffodil said:

I have to say that what prompted this blog topic today was seeing someone that I work with, who I know is not disabled, choosing to use the biggest stall when all four were open to choose from.  I see this kind of thing way more often than I would like and it disappoints me how selfish people can be.

I know some otherwise able-bodied people use the disabled toilets because they are higher off the ground and easier to get onto/off from.  Personally, that is the very reason I don't like to use them... too high for my comfort.

Just now, Queen Of Hearts said:

I know some otherwise able-bodied people use the disabled toilets because they are higher off the ground and easier to get onto/off from.  Personally, that is the very reason I don't like to use them... too high for my comfort.

If they choose to use the handicapped stall because the toilet is higher and they NEED that to get back up, then that can be considered a disability need.  It's a matter of comfort versus need.

You all do realise that this is a Dreaded Topic of Doom," don't you?  I think it got both Dear Abby and Prudie into trouble.

I think, per the ADA, public restrooms have to have one accessible stall at a minimum - and sometimes it is unisex.  Of course they can also have any number of rabbit hutch stalls for the able bodied.  I've been to many small restaurants where there is only one toilet - and it's accessible.  At least in my state, the accessible stalls are not just for people with disabilities.  Available to them by law - but not for their exclusive use.

It is common sense and good manners to let an obviously disabled person have priority in using the accessible stall, especially when there are lines.  If a person with an invisible disability says they need it then they get priority and to jump the line too.  No criticism allowed.  No criticism allowed from obviously disabled people towards apparently able-bodied  strangers either.  How do they know!

If there is a line you can use any loo available (always offering it to disabled people first).  Just don't ever set up camp in there.  Do your business as fast as you can and get out.  FFS!

In a perfect world all bathrooms, public and private, would have universal design.  Changing tables would not be in the only accessible stall, and people would be considerate. 

14 hours ago, crazydaffodil said:

I have to say that what prompted this blog topic today was seeing someone that I work with, who I know is not disabled, choosing to use the biggest stall when all four were open to choose from.  I see this kind of thing way more often than I would like and it disappoints me how selfish people can be.

Again, I have to point out that not everything is visible. Like I said, I always use the disabled because of my claustrophobia (not really claustrophobia, more like lockphobia, but that's good enough for purposes of this discussion). Should I have to risk a panic attack on the off chance a disabled person comes in?

I will use a regular stall if I absolutely have no other choice and am desperate, but 90% of the time, I'll not suck it up and I'll wait for the disabled, and I'd also be pretty pissed at someone yelling at me for using a larger toilet.

31 minutes ago, Destiny said:

Again, I have to point out that not everything is visible. Like I said, I always use the disabled because of my claustrophobia (not really claustrophobia, more like lockphobia, but that's good enough for purposes of this discussion). Should I have to risk a panic attack on the off chance a disabled person comes in?

I will use a regular stall if I absolutely have no other choice and am desperate, but 90% of the time, I'll not suck it up and I'll wait for the disabled, and I'd also be pretty pissed at someone yelling at me for using a larger toilet.

You have every right to use the larger toilet and as you have pointed out, not every disability is visible.  However, what set me off with this blog post to begin with was seeing someone I know use it simply because they could.  That's what irritated me and made me bring it up.

19 hours ago, Tikobaby said:

I just love seeing a lone able-bodied person come prancing out of the handicapped stall when there are other stalls open and available they could have used as I stand there with Mrs. Baby in her wheelchair waiting for them to get their ass out of it since that's the ONLY stall she can use.  Unless the restroom is packed and you're about to explode or you have a herd of small children you can't leave outside a stall while you go, leave the handicapped stall open for handicapped folks. (General "you").   

 

This 1000x this.  It's hard enough to maneuver a wheelchair in a public bathroom without the added joy of having to wait when 6 other stalls are open.   I think people with small kids/stroller are a legit use of that stall.  You can't leave your kid in a stroller outside the stall.

If you don't absolutely need it for some reason, even if it's the next one in line you should not use it.

I can't count the number of times I've had to wait ages to use the handicap stall, which is the ONLY one I can use vs the multiple amount of regular stalls.

These days I can only use family restrooms because I require assistance from my husband since my surgeries last year.  They are somewhat few and far between though

12 hours ago, OnceUponATime said:

I wish in general that people would stop being so disgusting in public toilets. Don't leave a mess you wouldn't want to clean up yourself. Leave it in the state you would like to see when you arrive. And it something goes wrong: clogged, no paper etc notify someone if possible! 

This as well.  There is nothing worse than there being one handicap stall and it's all gross and clogged up so you can't even think about figuring out a way to use it.  UGH

I don't think we've ever seen a family restroom that is gross.  Not sure why they are different.

2 hours ago, Palimpsest said:

Changing tables would not be in the only accessible stall, and people would be considerate. 

I think places do this because they figure you aren't going to leave your kids waiting outside a regular stall and you often can't fit even an adult and a small child into a regular stall, so they save space by putting the changing table in the stall.  Only one person can use the changing table at a time anyway, so I don't see the issue with that, myself.

45 minutes ago, Curious said:

I think places do this because they figure you aren't going to leave your kids waiting outside a regular stall and you often can't fit even an adult and a small child into a regular stall, so they save space by putting the changing table in the stall. 

I'm afraid I think they do it to save themselves bother when designing public restrooms.  If you need both a changing table and an accessible stall - two birds with one stone, so to speak.