This happened at Disneyland. I went to a bathroom that was mixed with regular stalls and 2 handicapped stall. One handicap stall’s lock was not working and one was busy.
I asked if the person behind me (the caretaker of the handicapped person) could hold the door for me and the stroller, but quickly said sorry nvm that probably won’t work. She said in a kind of passive aggressive voice “by the way, I actually need the handicapped stall. They aren’t meant for strollers. It’s according to the law. That’s illegal.” I let her go ahead because I didn’t want to get into a heated argument in front of my toddler.
Some of my friends said she was being a jerk but some of them said “oh you should have offered them to go ahead from the beginning” AITA?
NTA. Strollers don’t fit in a regular stall. Handicap stalls are handicap accessible not handicap exclusive.
Normally I 100% agree with what you said, but in OP’s case…. I don’t.
There was literally a handicapped person waiting… I think that warrants an exception.
ESH
ESH
There are no laws preventing the use of handicap accessible stalls by other people. There just aren’t.
But if you are in line and someone who obviously needs the handicap stall is anywhere in the line when one becomes available, the accepted etiquette is that you let them use that stall asap.
NTA. They’re actually meant for everyone and included in building requirements. You needed it and were in the line first. If she needed it as a matter of urgency, she could have said that rather than making things up.
Because one does not look like they are handicap does not mean they are not. Some people need the higher seat and the hand rails to get up and down. She was in the wrong to assume you didn’t need it for yourself.
Accessible stalls are generally meant for anyone who needs the extra space and/or grip bar. There are generally no laws that they must be left for disabled individuals or that they can’t be used by parents with strollers. Often the change table is even inside the accessible stall. The argument most people have put forward is that the disabled individual had no other option but to use the accessible stall. But OP may also have had no other option than to use the accessible stall and bring the child in stroller with her. I think generally the stall should be left if there is someone that needs it and you have the choice to use another. If both OP and the person behind them had no alternative option then I would say NTA as long as you are courteous and quick.
She was definitely being rude. Did she expect that you would leave your toddler alone while you used the toilet? Geez, some people. NTA
The stall is for use by anyone, first come first serve. It’s not reserved for anyone. A disabled person waits just like everyone else.
NTA. The number of people in the comments claiming that handicapped stalls are exclusively only for people with visible handicaps is astonishing.
There are people with invisible handicaps. Handicapped stalls are also usually the only ones with changing tables. And most of all, restroom stalls are first come, first serve.
Handicapped people can wait their turn to use the toilet just like everyone else.
This! I have osteoarthritis in my knees. Other than a mild limp, there isn’t a visible sign that I have trouble walking. When a handicap stall is available, I use it. I like having more room to move around because the smaller stalls are incredibly cramped and made for people that are basically the size of a pencil, and because I need the bars on the wall to stand up again. But anyone seeing me standing in line waiting for a stall might get mad at me for taking the handicap stall if they’re with someone in a wheelchair because I don’t “look” disabled. People really need to stop assuming things, especially when it comes to bathroom stalls. A disabled person is capable of holding it as well as any other person.
I have ulcerative colitis and now don’t have a colon. I need the stall and you cannot tell visibly that I need it
I will use a handicapped stall if it’s the next open, but I don’t agree to making someone who needs the accessible stall wait in the same line. If there are 12 people for 12 stalls it’s a reasonable turn over for every one.
But if one of the 12 can only use one stall, then they could have to wait longer than everyone else as there is only one option.
So I don’t agree with berating someone else for using or needing the stall. But if it comes free, I am fine with some one who needs it going next
It is absolutely not illegal to take a stroller into the handicapped stall. There are no use restrictions on handicapped stalls in general.
NTA. A lot of bathrooms have the changing tables inside the handicapped stalls. I can’t imagine it’s illegal for someone changing a toddler to use the handicapped stall when clearly bathroom designers seem to make them multi purpose. You ever try taking a potty training toddler into a standard stall to change their pull-up? There’s just not enough room. Now, if you had 3 or 4 kids to change, then certainly, let the handicapped individual go first, but there are clearly other valid reasons for using those stalls.