I have a pet peeve I’d like to address to the public. I am a disabled person and am getting sick and tired of non-disabled or non-handicapped persons using the handicapped bathroom stalls in public stores, offices, businesses in general in these counties where I do business regularly.

These stalls are not for changing babies in, nor are they dressing rooms, nor employee break rooms, nor to be used by women that have a large number of children with them, nor to be used to do employee work in (unless you’re cleaning the restrooms). 

These stalls are to be used only by disabled and handicapped persons!   These stalls are larger for the main purpose of disabled persons with devices to get around with and in some cases to have an attendant help them if necessary, such as crutches, wheelchairs or walkers. They have hand rails in them for disabled and handicapped persons to use to get up and down on the facilities due to their handicaps or disabilities.

I cannot tell you how many times I’ve nearly had accidents waiting for “my turn” to use the handicap stalls to find either a child coming out of the stall, or a mother with several children coming out of the stall, or an employee carrying clothes on a hanger where they’ve just changed in the stall or carrying a clipboard with work on it where they’ve been working in the stall, or a mother with an infant or toddler that just changed the child’s diaper.

I’m sure most people aren’t aware of the fact that they could be fined for using one of these stalls if they’re not disabled or handicapped.

Please stop using these stalls if you’re not disabled or handicapped and teach your children not to use them either if they’re not disabled or handicapped.

Besides being illegal, it’s rude to make a disabled or handicapped person wait when they may have an incontinence issue that needs immediate attention in the stall.

Becca Enyard

Oak Harbor