Grab rails should be in all public toilets, not just 'handicapped' ones.
@kaylachan (71762)
Daytona Beach, Florida
February 20, 2023 5:23pm CST
I am not one to complain about my disability. I am not one to vent over what I can't control in a public setting. I don't like feeling entitled, but I can't help but feel.... helpless. I guess.
As you may know, I'm in a wheelchair. I have limited function in my legs. That being said, my entire life, as far back as I can recall, I've always struggled with raising and lowering myself onto the toilet. Therefore, I've used hand rails where and when possible. As a younger, smaller person, I could use the walls to my advantage when hand rails are not available. But, now that I'm older, walls don't offer the same support.
Twice this morning, I needed to use the restroom. Two of the places we went, the handicapped stall was locked. They had a 'normal-sized stall, but I couldn't use it. No grab bars. First time was fine. We visited a few friends of ours and I used their restroom. Second time, my husband had to help me use the men's room.
Now if normal-sized stalls had grab rails, more people could use them, lowering the demand for handicapped stalls (which there aren't enough of)
First world problems
11 people like this
12 responses
@kaylachan (71762)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Feb 23
Yeah, it does. But money talks.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (71762)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Feb 23
@RubyHawk I don't doubt it. You'd think it'd be common sense. But then, they'd rather ban people then face lawsuits so......
2 people like this
@RubyHawk (99405)
• Atlanta, Georgia
21 Feb 23
@kaylachan I would think the owners put out as little money as possible in their buildings.
2 people like this
@BearArtistLady (6036)
• United States
21 Feb 23
I am in total agreement with you that there is a definite need for grab rails in the normal sized bathroom stalls. Not everyone has an obvious disability, but they are in need of assistance given by the hand rails. I am one of those people that is in that need. Most of the restrooms have only one handicapped stalls, mostly because of the cost of putting in additional handicapped stalls. The stores don't look at the needs of the public, but they are very aware of the cost of the equipping of the restrooms. It is long overdue for the designers and architects to acknowledge the needs of the public over the costs of an extra stall for the handicapped individual.
I do have to add that some children think it's funny to go into a handicapped stall, lock the door, and crawl out under the door leaving the door locked so that the disabled person can't get to the toilet.
3 people like this
@kaylachan (71762)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Feb 23
I suspect that might've been the case at Win-dixie. I am not sure about MCDonold's though. I know that some businesses lock their doors to keep homeless out, but I was able to get in the restroom itself, but not in the stall I needed. It's rare to see more than one handicapped stall. And, that's due in large to the size of the store and what the bare bones min is, to meet ADA requirements which haven't been updated since 1990. So, I feel they should be updated.
1 person likes this
@Tina30219 (82066)
• Onaway, Michigan
21 Feb 23
I agree all public bathrooms should have handrails.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (71762)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Feb 23
Why they aren't, I don't really know.
1 person likes this
@Tina30219 (82066)
• Onaway, Michigan
21 Feb 23
@kaylachan Right maybe because not all are as wide as the handicap ones
3 people like this
@kaylachan (71762)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Feb 23
@Tina30219 Yes, general access stalls are much narrower. Just wide enough to meet code.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (104142)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
20 Feb 23
I know how you feel since my relatives and myself are getting older, we have the same needs of having hand rails in the bathroom when I finish taking a shower.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (71762)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Feb 23
When we bought our house, we put grab rails in for me, and my husband uses them in the shower. so it's a win/win.
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (104142)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
21 Feb 23
@kaylachan That is the same issue inside of our rental home that the grab rails were installed by my relatives so accidents inside of the bathtub would not happen.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (71762)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Feb 23
@Deepizzaguy I had to wait, until we bought our house. but... I'm happy all the same.
2 people like this
@spiderdust (14760)
• San Jose, California
21 Feb 23
Not being able to use a toilet is not a first world problem, it's an accessibility issue.
3 people like this
@kaylachan (71762)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Feb 23
Well, we have them, where as some countries don't. I mean I shouldn't complain. The stalls do exist, and it meets the ADA requirements, but it being locked..... is a problem.
1 person likes this
@zhangxueying (3339)
• China
21 Feb 23
This is a bit disgusting. They have barrier-free toilets, but they are not open.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (71762)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Feb 23
I also live in the U.S. and we have a limited number of handicapped public bathrooms. Typically one per restroom. but, if it's closed (In use, or locked for no reason) then those who need it, either need to wait, or can't use the restroom at all.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (71762)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Feb 23
@zhangxueying I agree, that would be convenient. but many countries frown on indecent exposure. Having something like that, suggests the person is able-bodied enough to pull it out, put it somewhere decent, and use it.
1 person likes this
@zhangxueying (3339)
• China
21 Feb 23
@kaylachan Public facilities make the disabled feel helpless, which really affects our mood.
I think it would be more convenient if we prepared a mobile toilet in our car.For example, I found it on the internet. And not only this kind, but also other styles.
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (90474)
• Arvada, Colorado
21 Feb 23
There also should be some kind of lift to sort of 'tray' a person onto the seat..my mind goes crazy with thinking of many solutions when I hear this kind of thing.
Yes but rails at the very least for cripes sake.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (71762)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Feb 23
It would be so much cheeper then a lawsuit for sure.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (71762)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Feb 23
Yeah, common sense.... and yet money talks.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80748)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Feb 23
I have to agree with you. No matter what the problem handrails should be available in all toilet stalls so older people who need help or those disabled can get on and off the toilets with no problems. In your case with a wheelchair those big toilets for wheelchairs should always be accessible and never locked,
2 people like this
@kaylachan (71762)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Feb 23
I agree. I'm lucky that I can walk short distances, but not all wheelchair users can. Plus, I shouldn't have to leave my wheelchair, with bag attached and personal affects, attended in a public restroom. But, at least I found a way around the problem.
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (41732)
• United States
21 Feb 23
It would be common decency for all public rest rooms to have those accommodations.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (20046)
• United States
21 Feb 23
My grandmother had lost her leg and was in a wheelchair. Yeah I agree here should be rails on normal stalls.
1 person likes this
