The Bathroom Beat: Lack of Physical Access Makes Me Physically Uncomfortable

Here in the United States, bathrooms have recently become a hot topic that has swept the nation. The matter of whether someone should be comfortable while using the bathroom has been thoroughly discussed; however, the fact that many public restrooms are not physically accessible to all people -- whether due to a barrier blocking the bathroom, there not being an accessible stall, the accessible stall not actually being accessible, or just not having the equipment or adequate care to use the public bathroom altogether -- continues to be overlooked.

In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed by both the House and Senate, and then signed into law by the president, George H. W. Bush. Over twenty-five years have passed since the ADA became the legal standard for accessibility, but the goal of the ADA -- creating equal access for people with disabilities -- has yet to come to fruition. The ADA addresses the topic of bathrooms and provides a set of regulations that are required to be met. However, these standards are poorly regulated, leaving bathroom accessibility to the discretion of ignorant people. This can mean that pathways leading to the accessible bathroom can be blocked, or even if all pathways are clear, there may not be an accessible stall at all. And, even if the bathroom is completely up to ADA standard, there only needs to be one. This often means that the stall is full, or if it is out of order, there is no other option. Accessible stalls also make great makeshift storage closets (due to all the "extra" space); however, with stuff stored in the stall, it causes the stall to no longer be accessible. These are a handful of bathroom barriers faced by people with disabilities, and there are many others that we may run into when needing to use a public restroom.

The weekend before last, I ate breakfast at the Varsity Café in Seattle, Washington. I encountered a bathroom that could technically be considered ADA compliant, but with all the physical barriers in place, it was almost inaccessible to me (and would not have been if I had been using my power chair, or would not be to most who use a mobility aid). There were two pathways leading to the bathroom. The first pathway travels through the café. At the back of the café, the pathway becomes narrow; the pathway squishes between a booth and the back wall. The pathway is even more narrow than necessary due to equipment stacked up against the wall. This pathway would be ADA compliant if it was not for all the stuff; the pathway has an eighteen inch wide clearance, when it is required to have a thirty-six inch wide clearance (the width is only half of what is required). Past the skinny path, there is a door; through that door, there is a hallway that leads to the bathrooms. The second pathway also leads to that same hallway; however, traveling this pathway involves exiting the café, following the sidewalk for a portion of the block, and reentering the building through a different set of doors. This pathway could also be completely ADA accessible, but was not, simply because the doors were locked. Two simple fixes, for two potentially accessible pathways to the bathrooms; fixing either would suffice, and fixing either would be relativity inexpensive. These are the barriers that are most concerning to me; when there is an inexpensive barrier that is simply there due to sheer ignorance and not a cost, there is no reason for the barrier to exist, and it should be removed.

When entering the bathroom, I encountered more barriers. In the "accessible" stall, the changing table is freestanding (it does not fold out from the wall), and there was a shop-vac in the middle of the floor; the stall is the correct size, however, with the changing table and the shop-vac, the floor space that is required to maneuver is no longer met. If I would have been using my power chair, I would have not been able to fit in the "accessible" stall; I was "fortunately" using my manual chair (which is smaller than the average mobility aid), so I could squish in the stall -- along side the changing table and the shop-vac -- and use the bathroom. Removing the shop-vac would be an easy fix (as it does not need to be stored in the bathroom stall). However, removing the changing table would not be as easy of a fix, as I understand there needs to be a changing table -- just like there needs to be a proper amount of maneuvering space in the bathroom -- and installing a changing table in the wall would be pricy. Never the less, this would be a way to both have a changing table and abide by the ADA.

Even though the ADA has been around for over twenty-five years, incidents like the barriers at the café are not uncommon. I have encountered bathroom barriers in many restaurants, universities, stores and other public places; physical barriers continue to prevent people with disabilities from accessing public restrooms. When I am out in the public and I am physically unable to access the bathroom when necessary, I am physically uncomfortable, and do not even have a choice to utilize the facilities.

Accommodations and Barriers: A Teaching Opportunity

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak with a class of students from Japan attending Western Washington University (WWU). This week they are learning about disabilities, as well as, accommodations and barriers that people with disabilities may encounter on a day to day basis. The students asked me questions, and I was able to share my personal experiences of having two disabilities, and at the same time, advocate for an equal opportunity for those of us who are disabled.

The first student, who asked a question, inquired about when I graduated from WWU (they had been previously informed that I had attended WWU). I answered by telling the class that I had graduated the previous March, so March 2015.

The second student, who asked me a question, asked what my major was. I told the class that I majored in Political Science. I learned that in Japan a Political Science major is called a Law major.

For the third question, a student asked about my interests and hobbies. I explained that I love to write, and I have a passion for advocating for people with disabilities; I talked about this blog, and how I love to post my thoughts and experiences. I also mentioned that I enjoy spending time with my friends and going to coffee. Traveling, listening to music, and watching Gilmore Girls round out my hobbies and interests!

When answering question number four, I had the chance to talk about my dreams for the future. I shared how I have the desire  to one day start a non-profit or business that would have the capacity to teach corporations and businesses how to hire people with disabilities. I explained that many people with disabilities are looked at as a liability and an expense to a company, but if provided with the right information and resources, this should not be the case. However, corporations may be ignorant to what is available, and therefore, not hire people with disabilities. I informed the class that both the unemployment rate and the percentage of unemployed, working-aged people with disabilities are quite high especially when compared to that of the able-bodied population.

The next question -- my favorite question -- is a question that is so easily asked by children, but has been deemed rude and unacceptable to pass through one's lips. However, I encourage people to ask this question. When one student asked what disabilities I have, I was happy to answer her. I not only explained to the class that I was born with a neuromuscular disorder that affects my nerves and muscles that causes me to be unable to walk along with some other things, but that I appreciate when people ask this question. I understand that people are curious -- I am curious -- and I would rather people ask, or allow their children to ask, what is wrong with me, rather than shy away, as I can then share that nothing is really wrong with me, but that I just get around in a different way. I also explained to the class that I am legally blind, but according to doctors, this is not caused by the neuromuscular disorder.

A second part of the fifth question consisted of the same student asking what accommodations I have received that have helped me throughout my life. I touched on how my power wheelchair is one of the greatest pieces of technology that I have been able to utilize. I talked about how my wheelchair gives me the freedom to have mobility, and independently venture from place to place. I explained that just like glasses give many people the ability to see, my wheelchair gives me the ability to walk; similarly, when a person who has 20/20 vision with their glasses on is not considered disabled, I am not disabled until there is an access barrier. It is not my disorder that makes me disabled, but the lack of accessibility around me.

The last question I was asked may appear as having a complex answer; however, this is not the case. I was asked how someone should interact with a person with a disability. The answer: the same. I explained that a person with a disability is a person, and therefore, when one meets a person with a disability, they should interact in the same manner as when meeting any person.

After the session of questions, I had the opportunity to participate in a scavenger hunt finding accommodations and barriers on WWU's campus. I showed the class that the main entrance to the Communication Facilities (CF) is not accessible, and the route I have to take in order to access the building. I showed them that even though there are two elevators in CF, only one provides access to the parking lot (and this is not indicated by a sign). I also mentioned that I cannot open any inside doors.

After leaving CF, we traveled toward the Environmental Studies (ES) building (the students were on their way to Smate), and came to a flight of stairs. The professor challenged the students to figure out how I was to overcome this barrier to reach the upper level of the walkway as there is no sign indicating an accessible route. After a long pause, one student suggested that I use the elevator in ES. So, the majority of the class climbed the stairs, while six of us ventured into ES to utilize the elevator. When in the elevator, I was able to show the handful of students I was with that some of the buttons were too high for me to reach -- this could be another barrier.

I believe it is important to educate people about disability; without education, there is no chance of gaining an equal opportunity in life. As long as people continue to be ignorant about disability, it will continue to be a scary taboo, a topic that no one wants to talk or think about. Disability needs to be yanked out from under the rug; this raw subject needs to be exposed. Disability cannot afford to be ignored; it is a part of life.

So, thank you, Laura and the AUAP Yellow class at WWU, for letting me have the opportunity to speak to your class!

Me with the AUAP class in front of the Communication Facilities building 

on Western's campus.