Let’s Flush It!

Written by Nathasha Alvarez
Sunday, 8 November 2009 08:07
Yesterday, I went to Barnes and Noble and had to use the ladies room. I was literally behind a lady entering the restroom as well. In fact, she held the door open for me so it was safe to assume she saw me. Yet, she walked directly to the stall for the physically disabled. I couldn’t believe my eyes. She didn’t look to see if the other three stalls were vacant, which they were. So when she went to open the disabled stall, I quickly and happily chirped, “Thank you!” I guess she wasn’t thinking.

Once she saw me she let me in.

I can’t say this enough. The public loves the accommodations for the physically disabled but hates to acknowledge their true purpose or even support us on tough stands like equality and acceptance into society. If they want to share our throne they should share our other issues that go with that throne.

For example, look at the picture of this Barnes and Noble bathroom in Miami, Florida. What’s wrong with this picture?
Many public establishments claim to be wheelchair friendly but they fall short on their boasting. You would think a company like Barnes and Noble with all of their knowledge would realize how physically impossible it would be for a person in a wheelchair to use this bathroom. Have you spotted the problem?

If you haven’t then think of the steps you must take to use any bathroom. At the end, you have to wash your hands and wouldn’t it be nice if you could reach the soap?

Thanks to my sister, Ingrid Alvarez, I carry my own little bottle of soap sanitizer. But if that wasn’t enough, look at the other picture. How can anyone find the toilet paper? Once I found it, I had to struggle to make the roll ROLL!

What's wrong with this picture?

What's wrong with this picture?

Who can find the toilet paper?

Who can find the toilet paper?

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This entry was posted on Sunday, November 8th, 2009 at 8:07 pm and is filed under Just My Bellybutton. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

1 Comment

  1. Katie Keim
    11/08/2009 at 10:27 pm

    I was in a wheelchair for four months after a car accident and then again while I was in the hospital on bed rest/wheelchair-only while pregnant with my daughter, so have seen this happen first-hand when using public restrooms — even in a hospital! But, I am curious to know what the etiquette is for moms with strollers (particularly the double ones like I have) and kids. Many times, the changing table is in the disabled bathroom stall … or even if not — it is the only stall that has enough room to fit the kids if I have to go … what is the proper procedure in that instance? Is it first-come, first-served, or should I give it up to someone in a wheelchair first even if I have to go really bad? I wouldn’t have any problem with that, but just wondering your opinion.