# Handicapped: Ok or No Way? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 14, 2008, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapped-ok-or-no-way/456517 "2008-07-14T23:56:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapped-ok-or-no-way/456517/1 "2008-07-14T23:56:30Z")
So I was in the bathroom today (I know, I know - TMI) and I was thinking about handicapped stalls and dressing rooms. Would/Do you ever use them? I have only ever parked in handicapped parking if I was driving or riding with a legitimately handicapped person. I get that, I respect that, and I would never violate that. But do the same rules apply in the bathroom and dressing room? I mean, a lot of the women’s restrooms have a handicapped bathroom that is also the home of the toddler changing table - and I highly doubt that it’s for handicapped mothers only. Are handicapped bathrooms “handicap accessible” - meaning everyone can use them, especially the handicap - or “handicap only” - meaning only the handicapped should be allowed to use them? Is that the same for dressing rooms too? But you tell me. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapped-ok-or-no-way/456517/2 "2008-07-15T00:03:29Z")
The rule of thumb I read in either Ann or Abby was that you should take whatever stall is availabe, however if a handicapped person shows up, they should get the handicapped stall as sooon as it becomes available, even if there are people ahead of her in line. I think this is reasonable. StG ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapped-ok-or-no-way/456517/3 "2008-07-15T00:18:25Z")
[QUOTE=StGermain] The rule of thumb I read in either Ann or Abby was that you should take whatever stall is availabe, however if a handicapped person shows up, they should get the handicapped stall as sooon as it becomes available, even if there are people ahead of her in line. I think this is reasonable. StG [/QUOTE] Ditto ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapped-ok-or-no-way/456517/4 "2008-07-15T00:22:00Z")
And “ditto” some more. I’d never park in a handicap space, but no way am I not using the roomiest bathroom just in case a handicapped person shows up in the next 90 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapped-ok-or-no-way/456517/5 "2008-07-15T00:24:01Z")
Damn straight. A guy can get a lot of thinkin’ done in there. ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapped-ok-or-no-way/456517/6 "2008-07-15T00:29:54Z")
[QUOTE=StGermain] The rule of thumb I read in either Ann or Abby was that you should take whatever stall is availabe, however if a handicapped person shows up, they should get the handicapped stall as sooon as it becomes available, even if there are people ahead of her in line. I think this is reasonable. StG [/QUOTE] Yup. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapped-ok-or-no-way/456517/7 "2008-07-15T01:02:02Z")
I have issues with confined spaces, so I pick the handicapped stall if available every time. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapped-ok-or-no-way/456517/8 "2008-07-15T01:15:38Z")
Think about it this way: handicapped parking spaces comprise something like 2-5% of total parking spaces (I don’t know the exact percentages). Handicapped stalls comprise something like 33% of the stalls. Treating them the same would be unreasonable. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapped-ok-or-no-way/456517/9 "2008-07-15T02:00:43Z")
I generally try to avoid using handicapped stalls if the other stalls are available. However, one day last winter, I was in a bathroom on campus, while the building was nearly deserted. I was wearing a huge winter coat and a backpack, not really relishing the thought of dealing with the cramped little stall, and so I told myself “Screw it, what are the chances a handicapped person will show up in the next ten minutes?” About eight minutes later, the door opens, and I see a pair of wheels rolling across the floor. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapped-ok-or-no-way/456517/10 "2008-07-15T02:12:01Z")
I’ve used a handicapped stall, but not for its intended purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Kid\_A\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Kid\_A\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_A_1)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapped-ok-or-no-way/456517/11 "2008-07-15T02:12:07Z")
At our office, we have 3 urinals and 3 stalls. 2 of the stalls are handicapped ones. Whenever I need to use one, I always pick the “normal” one and 90% of the time that others are using a stall, they’re using the “normal” one. We don’t have any handicapped people in our office. We seem to be conditioned pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapped-ok-or-no-way/456517/12 "2008-07-15T02:19:30Z")
[QUOTE=Absolute] I generally try to avoid using handicapped stalls if the other stalls are available. However, one day last winter, I was in a bathroom on campus, while the building was nearly deserted. I was wearing a huge winter coat and a backpack, not really relishing the thought of dealing with the cramped little stall, and so I told myself “Screw it, what are the chances a handicapped person will show up in the next ten minutes?” About eight minutes later, the door opens, and I see a pair of wheels rolling across the floor. [/QUOTE] I guess the slow people should avoid using it. ---
**Author:** ![Tenar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@Tenar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenar)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapped-ok-or-no-way/456517/13 "2008-07-15T02:19:41Z")
I usually home in on the handicapped stall because I am obese. In some stores, the regular stalls are so narrow that I can’t get my excessively large ass past the TP dispenser without either hurting myself or tearing my clothes. However, I don’t linger in there, and I would certainly give precedence to any disabled person who wanted to use the stall first. ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapped-ok-or-no-way/456517/14 "2008-07-15T02:39:45Z")
What about dressing rooms? Same thing? ---
**Author:** ![Spezza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Spezza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spezza)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapped-ok-or-no-way/456517/15 "2008-07-15T02:43:15Z")
[QUOTE=Baldwin] I’ve used a handicapped stall, but not for its intended purpose. [/QUOTE] You know what, now that I think about it, Ditto. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapped-ok-or-no-way/456517/16 "2008-07-15T03:39:28Z")
Yeah, I use the rule above, too. Also, when you’re a parent dragging two small children around Target and one has to go potty and needs you to keep her company–the handicapped stall is a lot more comfortable. Definitely handicapped people should have first access to the stall, but it’s silly to leave it empty just in case someone comes in in the next two minutes. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapped-ok-or-no-way/456517/17 "2008-07-15T13:27:59Z")
I use the handicapped stall if there’s no handicapped person waiting for it. I don’t see it as akin to handicapped parking spaces - more like a handicapped ramp. More accessible, but not exclusive. Plus which, there are many many bathrooms small enough that the only stall is a handicapped accessible one. But generally if there’s a choice I’ll pick the regular stall. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapped-ok-or-no-way/456517/18 "2008-07-15T13:31:38Z")
[QUOTE=dangermom] Yeah, I use the rule above, too. Also, when you’re a parent dragging two small children around Target and one has to go potty and needs you to keep her company–the handicapped stall is a lot more comfortable. Definitely handicapped people should have first access to the stall, but it’s silly to leave it empty just in case someone comes in in the next two minutes. [/QUOTE] Right–depending on the location of the restrooms, I’ll leave the handicapped stall for the parent of small children, the obese, the burdened with large backpacks, as well as the handicapped. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapped-ok-or-no-way/456517/19 "2008-07-15T13:35:04Z")
[QUOTE=Baldwin] I’ve used a handicapped stall, but not for its intended purpose. [/QUOTE] So… How was she? ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapped-ok-or-no-way/456517/20 "2008-07-15T14:44:15Z")
As for dressing rooms, I often shop with a kid in tow these days, and the sales clerks always put us in the handicap accessible dressing room. The others are often too small to accommodate a stroller. I also generally use the handicap bathroom stall when out with a small person, although as others have mentioned, I would defer to someone who needed it more than I did. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapped-ok-or-no-way/456517.md?page=2)