Nobody likes a bully. They’re entitled, mean, and think they’re better than everyone else. There are extra negative points if their target is a disabled person – that’s just plain unacceptable. Luckily, not all people are neutral bystanders. Some are brave enough to stand up when they see an adult intimidating another adult for no good reason.
The hero in this story is quite an unlikely one. The user u/Phantomcelebi shared a story a few days ago about when a tough grandma came to her rescue. As the Redditor was trying to use a public restroom stall for the disabled, an entitled woman started berating her for stepping on her shoe. That’s when a daredevil 4’11” grandma stepped in to teach the Karen some manners.
A public restroom for the disabled is an unlikely place for an altercation with a Karen
Image credits: eelinstudio / envanto (not the actual photo)
Luckily, this disabled woman had a hardcore granny come in and rescue her
Image credits: Wavebreakmedia/ envanto (not the actual photo)
Image source: Phantomcelebi
Not using stalls for the handicapped is more common sense than a law
Image credits: Ondosan Sinaga / pexels (not the actual photo)
It is supposedly common sense not to use a bathroom stall for the disabled if you don’t have a disability. Although these stalls might seem unoccupied most of the time and look very inviting with their abundance of space, there’s still a reason why they’re reserved for those who are differently abled.
In this particular case, the woman might’ve decided to use it because of her proportions. The OP describes the woman as “5’7 to 5’8” and possibly plus-size. It’s hard to determine from one person’s description alone, but in some cases, it might be okay to use the accessible stall.
That’s because no law prohibits non-disabled people from using the larger stall, at least in the U.S. “The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) states that businesses are required by law to have bathrooms that are accessible to people with a disability.”
“However, the ADA does not address whether those stalls are to be reserved for handicapped people,” David Reischer, CEO of the site Legal Advice, has said. “Unlike parking spaces, which the ADA does require those spots to be reserved for disabled people by law.”
People with disabilities ask others not to use the bigger stalls unless they really need to
Image credits: Tom Rogerson / unsplash (not the actual photo)
Sometimes, choosing a public bathroom stall can be quite a dilemma. What if there’s a mother of three with a stroller? They all definitely can’t fit into a regular-sized stall, so would people give them disapproving stares? Depends on the person and the broader context of the situation, of course. Is there a disabled person waiting to use the stall as well?
Handicapped people usually get frustrated with those who use accessible stalls when there’s no legitimate reason. Douglas Kruse, co-director of Rutgers University’s Program for Disability Research and a wheelchair user himself, told HuffPost that he doesn’t see a problem with people using the bigger stall when no other option is available. “But if the others aren’t full, then using the handicapped one is pretty rude,” he claimed.
An advocacy specialist who is quadriplegic, Erin Vallely, also wrote about this issue. “Many accessible stalls get trashed by those who like the slightly larger space but do not need it. The toilets often get clogged (because people especially prefer to poop in the accessible stall), and toilet paper is frequently strewn about,” she wrote. “Unless you genuinely NEED the accessible stall, please do not use it.”
Brittney Clouse, a columnist for Cerebral Palsy News Today, thinks that it’s not the end of the world if abled people use stalls for the handicapped occasionally. “But if you are a chronic user or just someone who is curious, the answer is… No. You shouldn’t.”
“On most public restrooms, I have the option of one toilet, one stall,” she writes. “You have a choice of five. And yes, just like you, we know the struggle – not all accessible stalls are created equal either, just like you may complain about the small size of the regular stalls. Try telling me that on a day when I’m trying to fit my wheelchair into an accessible-marked stall that is 2 inches too narrow.”
People’s reactions in the comments were priceless
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