The Bathroom Two-Step

Going to the washroom is something that I cannot take for granted. There’s a lot that goes into the process. Going out in public comes with a lot of different thoughts. 

Having a physical disability, wide doors and a little extra personal space should be given to the areas that are supposed to be wheelchair accessible.  

While out and about, I have to use the washroom. After maneuvering my way down to the washroom area, my helper and I reach the entrance and are faced with a moral dilemma, “which washroom do we go into?” 

If there’s a so-called ‘family washroom’, everything is fine. But what if there’s not?  I am a male and the helper with me is a female, so what do I do?  After a lot of consideration, I decide to go into the women’s washroom, to make my female helper feel somewhat at ease.  

As I enter, the washroom is full and the ladies are looking at me.  Nobody really says anything because they can see what the situation is.  After I sheepishly enter the stall, I have to put all of my uneasiness on the backburner. We both just deal with the fact that I have to go and that’s that.  

However, new problems appear.  

There’s a small opening where the power chair is supposed to go, but neither my helper or me has enough room to feel comfortable.

 Next step – to try and close the stall door. The size of my chair does not allow for the door to be closed all the way.  Just great! So not only am I not in the proper washroom, I have even less privacy because the stall door is open.

With everything going on, I am not able to complete the task at hand. Full of embarrassment and a somewhat not quite empty bladder, we leave the washroom.

The people who design these washrooms need to realize that ‘wheelchair accessible’ is not just a couple of words that should be thrown around lightly. They’re words that should highlight and ensure a person's right to privacy and dignity.

Alex Lytwyn