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Post by Linda on Apr 29, 2024 13:03:18 GMT
similar I think but the family restrooms lack some of the specialised equipment that you might find in the RADAR key equipped toilets - hoists and changing spots for older children/adults who need to be horizontal for toileting care for example Here's an example of a Changing Places accessible toilet - not all RADAR key toilets are like this but one like this gives people the opportunity to go out and about who wouldn't otherwise be able to. www.changing-places.org/Wow! That is amazing! I have never seen a facility like that in the U.S. They are very few and far between in the US but a few do exist and people are actively campaigning for more wheelchairtravel.org/airports-with-adult-changing-tables-usa/ |
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Post by miominmio on Apr 29, 2024 13:08:09 GMT
Shows the general attitude toward those who are elderly, disabled or different. Think how many use a handicapped parking spot for 'just a few minutes' I disagree, it’s exactly the opposite. In the US everyone can access restrooms for free almost everywhere. Not so in other countries. There are many reasons one might need a bigger stall in the bathroom and we shouldn’t put up barriers to accessing any bathrooms or any stalls. So the US is the only country with free access to public restrooms? (Pro tip: that’s not true) |
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Post by miominmio on Apr 29, 2024 13:11:30 GMT
Free public restrooms are not a thing in many countries outside the US. I’m curious where you might mean. They are ‘a thing’ in the uk and I’m trying to remember about other countries I’ve been to…I don’t recall having problems finding public loos. Same. I can’t claim to have been in every European country, but I have been to quite a few, and can’t remember having to pay anywhere. |
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Post by katlady on Apr 29, 2024 14:40:11 GMT
I agree about the language. I am surprised so many people are using handicapped in this thread. I thought that word had been retired. Like how we don't say "committed suicide" anymore. The proper term really is disabled as has been for quite some time. When you still see the word around, people will still use it. There are still older parking signs that say “handicap” on them. Newer ones just have a picture is a wheelchair. I do notice that the word “disabled” is used more when talking about people. I always hear the term “disabled veterans”. It takes awhile for people to stop using a word that has been used for centuries. |
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Post by katlady on Apr 29, 2024 14:41:16 GMT
I’m curious where you might mean. They are ‘a thing’ in the uk and I’m trying to remember about other countries I’ve been to…I don’t recall having problems finding public loos. Same. I can’t claim to have been in every European country, but I have been to quite a few, and can’t remember having to pay anywhere. Maybe it has changed, but I remember having to give a woman some money to use a restroom in Germany. |
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Post by mikklynn on Apr 29, 2024 14:45:54 GMT
I do not have a problem using a handicapped stall. You’re typically in the bathroom for minutes. It’s completely different from taking a handicapped parking spot. If I go into a bathroom with two stalls, one accessible, one not….and the non-accessible stall is taken, I’m going to use the accessible one. Without a second thought. And I’m not alone…that seems to be the norm everywhere I’ve lived. It seems silly for a bathroom stall to sit empty while others are waiting. Obviously, If it were clear someone needed it, I would step aside. Am I just completely rude and clueless? I do the same. |
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Post by scraplette on Apr 29, 2024 15:24:22 GMT
In the US the design approach is more universal. Throughout life most of us will have times where our abilities or needs are hampered. Rooms formerly called Family rooms are being relabeled to acknowledge there is more than one reason to use the separate larger facility.
When ADA was enacted there was a concept to plan for equality not separation. For example ramps in new building needed to arrive at the front door of a building, not a separate back entrance.
It seems counter productive to grant restroom privileges to one group over another here.
Edit: could it create unintended consequences? If special keyed facilities are available, would businesses be allowed to reduce the number of accessible units in a traditional restroom? That would be the economic thing to do. I can imagine a formula being developed where there is one keyed unit for a building. For example one per x-number of floors in an office tower.
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Post by Lurkingpea on Apr 29, 2024 16:18:31 GMT
I agree about the language. I am surprised so many people are using handicapped in this thread. I thought that word had been retired. Like how we don't say "committed suicide" anymore. The proper term really is disabled as has been for quite some time. When you still see the word around, people will still use it. There are still older parking signs that say “handicap” on them. Newer ones just have a picture is a wheelchair. I do notice that the word “disabled” is used more when talking about people. I always hear the term “disabled veterans”. It takes awhile for people to stop using a word that has been used for centuries. I disagree. We haven't used the word Oriental, Retarded, for a long time and I remember hearing all those when I was young. Dies by Suicide is a relatively new term and is being widely spread. Just agreeing that Handicapped is outdated. Disabled is the term preferred and has been since I was young. I am still surprised to see it so widely used here. |
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Post by AussieMeg on Apr 30, 2024 9:59:09 GMT
I agree about the language. I am surprised so many people are using handicapped in this thread. I thought that word had been retired. Like how we don't say "committed suicide" anymore. The proper term really is disabled as has been for quite some time. The word "handicapped" gives me the heebie jeebies, I think it's almost as bad as saying "retarded". I mentioned it on another thread a few months ago, and said that the word "handicapped" hasn't been used here for several decades. People seemed surprised and almost argued that I was wrong. Maybe I've been living under a rock, but what is the proper phrase for someone who kills themselves? Died by suicide or took their own life. |
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Post by gillyp on Apr 30, 2024 10:28:04 GMT
In the US the design approach is more universal. Throughout life most of us will have times where our abilities or needs are hampered. Rooms formerly called Family rooms are being relabeled to acknowledge there is more than one reason to use the separate larger facility. When ADA was enacted there was a concept to plan for equality not separation. For example ramps in new building needed to arrive at the front door of a building, not a separate back entrance. It seems counter productive to grant restroom privileges to one group over another here.Edit: could it create unintended consequences? If special keyed facilities are available, would businesses be allowed to reduce the number of accessible units in a traditional restroom? That would be the economic thing to do. I can imagine a formula being developed where there is one keyed unit for a building. For example one per x-number of floors in an office tower. Either I'm misunderstanding what you are saying or you are misunderstanding the concept.  The rooms with radar keys are mainly for those with complex needs who require a larger area to move/be helped and may contain sophisticated, expensive equipment to assist caring for a person. In the main in the UK, ALL public restrooms have a run of normal stalls then at least one larger one with hand rails, higher toilets, some have their own wash basins etc., anything to help someone but not someone with complex needs. The radar key rooms are in addition to normal public rest rooms, not intended to replace them and not intended for those with able bodied needs. |
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Post by scraplette on May 1, 2024 13:42:07 GMT
No gillyp I’m not misunderstanding. And certainly not saying these rooms aren’t needed, if that’s what you are implying. I’m just wondering how this would be accomplished here. Maybe a new requirement for public-owned facilities? There was angst over costs of adding larger stalls and family rooms, it will take time to implement. |
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Post by gillyp on May 1, 2024 13:57:18 GMT
No gillyp I’m not misunderstanding. And certainly not saying these rooms aren’t needed, if that’s what you are implying. Not at all! I didn't think you were saying that. What I thought you were saying was that the complex needs rooms are going to replace the others to the detriment of able bodied users. |
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Post by scraplette on May 1, 2024 14:18:09 GMT
No gillyp I’m not misunderstanding. And certainly not saying these rooms aren’t needed, if that’s what you are implying. Not at all! I didn't think you were saying that. What I thought you were saying was that the complex needs rooms are going to replace the others to the detriment of able bodied users. Oops I was adding more to my post while you were responding. I was speculating that could happen, not supporting the idea . My profession allowed me to participate in some task force and DOJ hearings as the ADA was being developed, specific to architecture and physical requirements. There was a lot of angst and frustration by building owners. Renovations or increased non-income producing space is costly. I can see some lobbying to reduce one type of stall to allow for another. Again, not a question about the humanitarian need ❤️ Maybe I should keep my musings to myself |
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AllieC
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by AllieC on May 2, 2024 0:48:25 GMT
I think a lot of people are misunderstanding what these specialty bathrooms are that require the keys. We have disabled bathrooms or accessible bathrooms everywhere that you do not require a key. The keyed ones (as someone posted an example of) are very specialised bathrooms that enable adults to be changed with dignity that have hoists to changing tables etc.
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Post by kamper on May 2, 2024 14:41:00 GMT
Free public restrooms are not a thing in many countries outside the US. I’m curious where you might mean. They are ‘a thing’ in the uk and I’m trying to remember about other countries I’ve been to…I don’t recall having problems finding public loos. We've only been to London and all the restrooms we used were either in museums or restaurants. I didn't notice any in the parks we walked through but, I wasn't looking. In many places I've been in Europe they charged to use public restrooms or they just didn't have them in places they do in the US (i.e. parks and trailheads). |
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gina
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Post by gina on May 2, 2024 18:40:06 GMT
Free public restrooms are not a thing in many countries outside the US. I’m curious where you might mean. They are ‘a thing’ in the uk and I’m trying to remember about other countries I’ve been to…I don’t recall having problems finding public loos. When my son traveled to Iceland, they had to pay $1 for the public restrooms there. |
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MerryMom
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Post by MerryMom on May 3, 2024 3:37:02 GMT
In US, they are handicapped accessible bathrooms, not handicapped reserved or only for handicapped person (like a parking place).
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Post by Basket1lady on May 3, 2024 7:04:11 GMT
I’m curious where you might mean. They are ‘a thing’ in the uk and I’m trying to remember about other countries I’ve been to…I don’t recall having problems finding public loos. Same. I can’t claim to have been in every European country, but I have been to quite a few, and can’t remember having to pay anywhere. I do think that more free restrooms are more widely available than just a few years ago, but when living in Belgium there were a lot of pay-to-use toilets in Belgium, northern France, and northern Germany. (Where we went most often). We did learn where the free toilets were (mostly larger museums and most train stations) and where you had to pay (smaller museums, supermarkets and convenience stores). Most were .70€ but I definitely noticed a trend to charging 1€. I honestly preferred 1€ as it was simpler to carry that coin vs needing to get change for the .70€ toilets. I mostly used cash for the pâtisserie and the markets and seldom had coins smaller than 1€, as products tended to be 1-3€. IMO, the issue with Paris is that you spend a lot of time just walking the streets and there just aren’t toilets on the street, anymore than there are in America. The difference is that in the US, even small convenience stores will have a public toilet, but not so much in Paris. You more often had to go to a museum or restaurant. I had an app that showed the toilets and that was really helpful! |
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