Why do able bodied people see nothing wrong in using parking spaces and toilets provided for the disabled?

Question

I became disabled five years ago after a stroke and it annoys me/ never ceases o amaze me the way that I often have to wait for able bodied people to come out of the toilet. incontinence is one of my problems so it does matter.

Answer 1

They are inconsiderate bums.

Answer 2

For the parking I agree, but I have to second that not everyone is visibly handicapped, my dad also had a heart/lung problem, he could only walk a little ways but as long as he was parked right in front of the store and didn't have to walk more than a few steps, you didn't see anything different about him. Only when he had to go any further did he get seriously out of breath! But truly ablebodied people shouldn't ever park there... my dad parked in another spot if there was one close enough so someone who had a wheelchair or otherwise needed not only the nearby spot but also the extra room, would have that.

For the toilets, I too never thought of these as handicapped-only. I don't usually take them by choice but if the others are all full, I will use it. The handicapped spaces in the parking lot are frequently taken by those who need them but I too have rarely if ever seen someone use the restroom who needed the handicapped stall, so it seems to me it's sitting un-used for almost all of the time.

Answer 3

Interesting...I don't use handicap parking spaces , but I never though toilets we for the disabled only, I thought they had equipment to aid disabled person's but were to be used by anyone, there are numerous places that have one toilet only, and it has handicap access, are you suggesting I should leave my doctors office and run to walmart to use the toilet? Perhaps you should try to make it mandatory that all locations must provide a toilet that is for disabled ONLY and one for non-disabled ONLY, otherwise every place that only has one toilet is discriminating against you without handicap access, or me with handicap access. By the way the parking signs say handicap ONLY, the toilets say handicap access able. I think there is a big difference between parking close because of the distance, and having to wait like everyone else when a public toilet has a line. I would not choose handicap toilets first (there to high) but if the others are full, am I to wait? My wife is handicapped and if I drive my car, I drop her off at the store and park in a regular spot, she can legally take her placard in any care she rides in. Your incontinence is no worse than my diarrhea...do you think I would sit on a public toilet if I could wait...NOT.

Answer 4

Able bodied people should never use a handicapped spot. I see people parking in those spots when their handicapped person is not even with them!! How rude. Now...the toilets are another thing. I never see a HC person in the restroom. Especially in my work restroom. So I use that stall regulary. The other stalls are way too small and the doors open up to the toilets, so you have to shimy shake your way out without touching the toilet. The bis stall has plenty of room, the door opens outward and the toilet is higher. And by the way, I am not an overweight person. I just hate touching anything in public bathrooms.

Answer 5

I am sorry about your stroke. Most people see no problem using parking spaces or toilets for the disabled because they are so often unoccupied. It's hard to drive around a full parking lot looking for a spot, while there are 20 prime spots not being used. Also, these spots are often abused by relatives and friends of the disabled when the person who is disabled is not even in the car--hard to justify them getting a prime spot when I don't.

I've never parked in a handicapped space, but all of these thoughts have come to mind as I've driven by....

Answer 6

There is no excuse for the parking spots. But be careful by labeling some folks using the disabled stalls as able-bodied. I suffered an injury years ago that makes it impossible to stand up from a sitting position without a pull bar. But I move just fine when walking.

I realize I'm likely the exception rather than the rule but just a reminder that we are all abled in different ways.

Answer 7

Humm I honestly never thought of that. I have never seen a disabled person in the bathroom so I just use whatever stall is available. Now that you have brought it to my attention, I will no longer use a handicapped bathroom.

Now as for the parking thing, that gets on my nerves too. People are lazy and don't want to walk a short distance from the back of the lot to the store/business. I think able body people that park in handicapped spots should have their vehicles towed away.

Answer 8

Ever consider the other stalls were FULL? Maybe you are as selfish in your thought as you think they are being. Maybe you need to realize sometimes the ONLY STALL open is the handicap one. Well now if I have to use a stall I am not going to WAIT just so the disable one can be available in case a disable person comes in while I am in the bathroom. Now when I am at work I use the handicap one because no one there is disable, I work graveyard so no one is going to be coming in, and the toilet is up higher and being a tall person it is a convience. If there was a disable person in there I probably wouldn't use it. I think that it is rude and wrong to use the handicap spots when you aren't, and rude to use the stalls when others are available.

Answer 9

Because people are ignorant, and the only people they care about are themselves. Some people think certain laws dont apply to them, they are to good. They think they are Gods gift to people, all high and mighty.
I am disabled too, I am blind and I never use the bathroom stall designated for the handicap. It is for the people who really need it.
You know that the people who violate these laws would be the first ones to ***** if they became disabled and someone like them did what they used to.
If we come across someone who does not have a handicap parking sticker, parked in a handicap zone, we tell them they have to move or we will call the police, or we leave them notes on their windshield.

Answer 10

It's against the law for people to use handicapped parking spots unless they have either the license plate or the rearview-mirror handicapped tags. As for the bathroom stalls....if there happens to be someone in the bathroom at the same time as you, and you are handicapped, then they should very politely get out of your way and let you into the handicapped stall.

Answer 11

I am sympathetic to you, however I appear to be "able bodied" yet I suffered a back injury (hence, temporary disable placard for 5 yrs) I use the disabled parking spaces even though someone looking at me would view me as perfectly healthy. I also use the disabled restrooms because of the extra space. I am able to move about without restrictions, therefore you can't really judge a book by it's cover....