And Supermarkets, hospitals, schools, etc.. I can't tell the number of places I have been that other people use the Handicap stall. I am in a wheelchair and can't use one of the others. They always come out embarrassed or feeling justified for using that stall. My vent is now over as well!

Can you speak with the other person who is handicapped and then go to a superior about this ?

What about a lock on the door?

Stick posters on the door with some funny message?

I'm only making these suggestions because if we do nothing the situation will never change.

I have written to management about a filthy disabled toilet and while I don't know if things changed, I did receive a letter acknowledging my concerns.

I have also taken time to praise cleaners when the facilities are clean, and parking officers who 'nabbed' a wrongful parker. He then asked me if I had any other concerns - which was really nice.

While we will never successfully shame all those who take advantage of disabled facilities we shouldn't stop trying.

Don't think of your efforts as a drop in the bucket (no pun intended) but a candle in a cave!

I need to rant too and should rant the feelings right into a letter and send it off to a number of places where it deems fit. It's very cruel to have to wait for a handicap stall because someone is in there putting on make-up, adjusting their clothing, hair, etc.

Funny thing.. I saw an announcement at school titled "business etiquette" and every time I saw it hanging there, I thought ..... what they really need is a class in "human decency."

I agree that we need to do something, to take some action and I will see about looking up the ADA laws again and getting together a letter to have on file for cases such as these.

There are other petitions going around, we ought to start one on teaching the public about "Handicap Etiquette." Oh my, just looking at what pops up in a google search on numbers of handicap, articles about whether able bodied individuals are qualifying for disability, etc. Maybe that's half the battle? People look at disability and handicap like a scam and while there are always people who bilk a system or try to, I would presume that the majority of individuals in the population will have had at least one handicap, permanent or temporary, during their lifetime.

Just googling "handicap etiquette" seems to return a bunch of articles on how to talk with someone who is disabled. "Disability Etiquette." 54 Million people have a disability? We need to know how to do more than speak with people - we need to work on the laws, adding to them, changing them and informing people of what they are, yes?

Thank you for the rant as well. I will work on that letter before the week is up.

I was able to get handicapped status (the placard) quite easily when I went for a visit to my parents in my state. There they seem to be extremely generous with handing them out.
In contrast, where I live (Seville, Spain) I still have not managed to get one because there is SO MUCH fraud and dishonesty. On my last attempt, they wrote that I wasn't eligible because I only use a cane and not crutches. I am a very honest person and desperately trying to not lose my independence, so I really don't want to have to use crutches (the forearm ones just don't convince me) however I have recently bought some to bring with me the next time that I get revised. I will bring my scooter too, which I use to get around my neighborhood now for errands etc.
I will think abou talking to someone at work. . . extraneous notices are not generally acceptable, and I would need to get someone official to do it.

Here is a good read: http://legalblogwatch.typepad.com/legal_blog_watch/2010/07/question-who-can-legally-use-the-handicap-bathroom-stall.html

Right or wrong, ADA guarantees access to bathroom facilities , but does not require the they be reserved.

Note that a lot of businesses have one regular stall and one handicapped stall. It would not be right for 50% of he facilities be reserved for the handicapped.

I do not agree with people that take up residency in the handicapped stall; they need to get in and get out. Should be about 3 minutes, 5 tops.

Also note that a lot of Baby Changing Stations are in the handicapped stall.

So sorry about your problem. I understand the problem with the stalls in stores and the handicap aisle is getting tighter and tighter. I use the electric cart they provide to save energy but I can't get in every aisle with it.

More and more people are handicapped but there are a few times that they seem to be perfectly healthy and are using a relative's placard. It can be hard getting a spot. And sometimes the handicapped parking is the far from the entrance.

My rant is I heard a news comentator today actually say that, generally speaking, there are too many handicapped parking spots out there.

Really?! Just wait... sooner or later circumstances catch up to us all... if he stays healthy and is blessed with a long life.

When I was working in the city we had 1 disabled toilet on each floor. There was myself & a gentleman on wheelchairs. We both spoke to our bosses (organised to do it same week) & asked them to approach the landlord about putting a code lock or passkey (we had them to get into the business), for the toilet as we freuently had to wait a long time to use it & sometimes it was even couriers or visitors to the building who used it simply for convenience. In my offece we got queried if took too long on toilet breaks - call centre, so I had amunition there as had been told off a lot for being too long.
The managers spoke to the landlord & within a week we had a key pass to get in there, it just meant our keys looked the same but would open the disabled toilets.
I often had issues at McDonalds where it would be groups of teens or Mothers with kids using the disabled toilet & making it very dirty & messy. Also people using drugs used it to shoot up too. I had a friend who was a Manager at one store & when I told him the problems was surprised at how quickly it was resolved. They had been looking for a way to stop the people shooting up in there for a while & my written complaint gave the way to resolve it without prejudicing others. It may be inconvnient but I am happy with result & most disabled people I know are happy too. They keep the door locked & when you want to use it they give you the key which you bring out when you are finished. Toilet paper is placed in appropriate place too. This is now the same with any McDonalds I have been tto in Victoria & elsewhere in Australia. As a whole businesses want to assist disabled people. They also are aware that not all are in wheelchairs & if you have a stick/walker or chair scooter no problem. If you are not using physical aids all you need to do is say that you have ms (or others) & have balance issues & no problems I have been told.

It can be frustrating waiting, but healthy people wait too. And just cause they look better off than we are, doesn't mean they couldn't benefit from using the handicap stalls. They could have knee issues and have difficulty standing up. When my mom had vertigo, standing would increase the dizziness. I don't mind waiting if it is a legitimate toilet use. The teens or druggies changing bugs though. Especially if they dilly dally. Do your business and get out. I take forever in a bathroom, unfortunately. I feel bad for any one waiting. One time a lady with a walker had to use a regular stall. I felt bad, but I couldn't even use a walker by this point. The thoughtlessness of abusing hadicap stalls and parking is irritating.

My last word on this. . . maybe all MSers don't share my bladder issue, but even though I have a medication which is meant to help me control it, but I have to hurry when the urge comes. . .l HAVE TO use the toilet every 2 hours. I have a maximum of 10 minutes between classes & literally don't have the time to wait (I can guarantee you that so far, none of the 20somethings I have seen coming out of those toilets at work have any health issues.)