Dear Amy: I have only been able to use handicapped bathrooms for the last 10 years.
Many places only have one larger stall, which is often occupied by a non-handicapped person.
The regular stalls are empty, but I can’t use them and have to wait until the person comes out of the handicapped stall.
Often people using the stall are on their phones.
Recently, I was at a sports facility and the athletes were using the handicapped stalls, while more then 10 regular stalls were empty.
Have we become so uncaring that everyone just takes the “big” stalls, instead of caring about those of us who really need them?
— Holding It
Dear Holding It: I’m sorry you experience this frustration. These larger stalls are installed in every public bathroom to accommodate the legitimate needs of disabled people who need more room and possibly grab bars to use the facility.
But the other stalls in public bathrooms are so tiny that they can’t accommodate people who have luggage or young children with them (for instance).
It is common courtesy for any able-bodied person to make way for you to use the larger stall if they see you waiting, but if they don’t know you are waiting because they are in the stall, they can’t offer it to you.
I wonder if you could ask through the door: “Will you be in there long? Because this is the only stall I’m able to use.”
Dear Amy: “Torn in Wisconsin” asked you for strategies to deal with her very bright college drop-out son, who acted entitled, didn’t look for work, and played video games all day.
You should have suggested that this young man has ADHD!
— Another View
Dear Another View: These parents won’t know anything about what their son is experiencing if they don’t make some changes at home. ADHD might be an underlying cause.
(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.comor send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter@askingamy or Facebook.)
©2024 Amy Dickinson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
