Have you noticed that when you use a public restroom with many stalls, there is usually at least one accessible stall option that is wider than the others?
Discrimination against people with disabilities in all aspects of public life in is prohibited nationwide. Furthermore, according to best practice rules, public and commercial toilets must feature at least 5% clustered stalls for individuals with disabilities.
These restrooms must have proper proportions for toilet compartment doors, faucets, flush valves, grab bars, and soap dispensers, as well as a 60-inch floor clearance for turning space.
When a person who does not have a disability uses the more accessible stall, the persons who can only utilize that space may have less access.
“Stop and think how would you feel if someone compromised your independence simply for their own convenience,” a wheelchair access advocate Marcela Marañon said.
This should not be a controversial stance, but it can be. In 2022, Marañon posted a TikTok skit of her trying to get into an accessible restroom at an airport with a voiceover saying: “Get out. I need to pee.”
Marañon said she did it “to show my frustration when I don’t find a handicap accessible toilet available,” and it was meant to highlight how people with invisible and visible disabilities can be prevented from using the more accessible stall. She said she received supportive comments and backlash ― she has now turned the commenting feature off.
“I’ve never received so much hate on social media before,” she said.
Please, don’t use the ADA bathroom stall if you don’t need to.
