ladies room etiquette?........ | Autism PDD
I agree the sign Idea is good. But you know people just say stuff without thinking period and it is hurtful and bothersome. It is such a shame, I personnally feel we have moved so far from the kind caring communitites that actually watched out for one another. Maybe you have to have experience with a special needs individual to understand that things arent always as they appear. There may actually be a reason for a childs fit in a store or an adult male in a womens room with his caregiver. Maybe we need tolerance classes for adults.
Hi Debra!
Your son sounds an awful lot like mine. He has to ALWAYS push buttons...on and off ..on and off...also the light switches..he also opens and shuts doors. It took me a while to potty train AJ. He is still not fully trained. He is 3 yrs old....close to 4. I used a timer...every hour on the hour. Then I peed in front of him and told him to shhhh ..listen..hear that..Mommy's going pee. Also, I read books to him on potty training while he was sitting on the pot. He is fixated on flushing the toilet time and time again. (very fascinated with water) I still have yet to get him to go poop in the toilet. However, he does say poopies (in his own way) and takes me to his room. For some reason he has to look at it before I throw it away.
WOW! Kate, that is a great idea! I am gonna print something right now. Thank you!
To debra: When Zack was 4 we used Depends extra small adult size. We had to be creative with the tape but they stayed on and did the job.
lunkybug--Zack's big sis
Kate,Great idea! Thanks, I will definitely use that one in the future.
Robin
Frankly I would just ignore the other people there. Most likely you wil never see them ever again anyway..
good advice, luvmyboys!
you can't just ignore ppl like that b/c they will call the cops or something, eventually you would get out of it, but who of us needs any more crap from the "non affected" public? makes me thank ful that i have 3 boys, 2 of which could help with keith, for the most part. thanks for bringing this issue to my attention. it is something we will have to face eventually. kate Hi! my name is cathy and I have a 16 yr old brother with autism. My mother, my 2 daughters, my brother Zack and I travel together to campgrounds, amusement parks and stuff like that. Now Zack can't go in the men's room because if we sent him in he would try to eat like the deodorizers and stuff but I can't believe the problems we have taking him into the women's bathrooms. What should we be doing to make it easier or at least less confrontational for all involved? Is there a secret top handling this situation? Some places have a companion bathroom for people who need a person to help them, but these are not the norm. What can we do differently? I need an icebreaker or something just to get by the glares and the "Hey you can't bring him in here"'s. I am amazed at how cruel people are. lunkybug Thanks for the response (wow that was quick!). That is about how we do it and when he takes a shower at camp site we try to wait until its kinda empty or maybe late at night. And we always have somebody who will "just have to deal with it" LOL. Its just awkward,
lunkybug Zack's big sis Good Question! If it is a public camp, they should have a policy in place , they may even have a single shower for someone who falls under ada and needs a caregiver. My son may ALWAYS need someone to go with him, it just isnt safe, even if I felt he could do it alone, I wouldnt let him go in a mans room alone. You may want to call the number below and call the states director of Parks in your state and ask for info regarding the accomodations they have for ada. Please let us know... 800-514-0301 (voice) 800-514-0383 (TTY) ADA Specialists are available to provide ADA information and answers to technical questions on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. or on Thursday from 12:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Time). I too would say when shopping if you cant find a "family" restroom to have someone go in and announce the need to bring in your brother and if possible have someone else stand outside to let others know........ or see if you can find a closed sign to temporarly put up. As far as camping here is something I thought was interesting,..... http://store.smuoutdoorsupply.com/stcashchte.html There are also portable changing rooms if you are interested you know, you could always print a sign out on your own computer and laminate it, and take it with you that states> THIS RESTROOM IS CURRENTLY OCCUPIED BY A MEMBER OF THE OPOSITE GENDER AS A COMPANION/ASSISTANT TO AN AUTISTIC CITIZEN. THANK YOU as long as you have taken the time to post it, i don't think any one that enters in after the sign is up should have any issues. and it becomes less of an issue, by bringing your own sign. you can buy the suction cup holders from the $ store, and they will stick to most surfaces. thanks again, hope this helps. kate Kate, what an incredible, smart and super neat IDEA! I will file that one away for later use! TAHNKS FOR SHARING and that is why I LOVE my support boards! Hi Cathy! Good thread hon! We are campers ourselves, (going again this weekend yipee!!!) and my guy is only 4 1/2 and I can take him w/ me at this point no problem, or my dh usually does too...but I think the way luvsmyboys suggested and the way you are already dealing with it is probably the best bet. I've been noticing so many people w/ children w/ special needs at the campsites lately I think most sites are becoming aware of our needs...maybe if you are comfortable w/ it, talk to the manager and see if there is a private bathroom your brother could use or something like that...I think you are doing a super job and hope you have many more great trips together Unfortunatley there sure is ignorance out there, but I'm noticing many more people are understanding...possilby because the increase in Autism many know of someone who w/ dx'd themself...its still a challange though and you seem really positive and I'm so glad your brother has you all to take him on fun trips!! hugs! Ali
I am answering this on behalf of my husband
.
He said that if he was you, he would go into the bathroom and announce
that you need to bring your autistic brother into the restroom because
he can't go into the men's room alone. He said he would have your
mom stand outside of the restroom to let anyone who is coming in
know that you and your brother are inside. This way if anyone
doesn't feel comfortable being in or going in the restroom they have
the option to leave or wait.
I ran into this same problem when I drove to Virginia from Florida with both my boys
Jeffery (14-autistic) and Holland (8). I stopped in a lot of fast
food restaurants because most of them are small enough where only one
or two people can go inside anyway. Also most of the rest stops
had the special bathrooms in these types of cases, where father's could
take their daughters and moms could take their sons.
I know it's always awkward in situations like this, but usually when I
tell people ahead of time most are understanding, then for those that
aren't oh well--they just have to deal with it
Contact the Disability Rights Section
For information and technical assistance about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) contact the ADA Information Line
http://www.celticmerchant.com/dressing-room.html?source=goog le#14
Copyright Autism-PDD.net