Humiliating Experience

[Blessings2You]

Bob and I were in an Ocean State Job Lots store this morning, and after about a half hour I began seriously looking around for the restrooms. I was getting frustrated, because in their other store sort of near us, the restrooms are clearly marked and conveniently located.

Finally I had to ask an employee. To my shock and dismay, she said "I'll have to escort you upstairs." WHUH??? My heart just sank. But at this point, it was urgent, no time to leave the store and go elsewhere, so I went chugging across the back of the store, clumping along with my cane, trying to keep up with her.

When she opened the door and showed me that big old flight of stairs, like in a hospital or something, I just wanted to fall through a hole in the ground. By now it was climb the stairs or wet my pants, so up I dragged myself, with the young woman pausing every few steps to wait for me. By then there was another employee at the top waiting for me so she could descend. Ugh ugh ugh.

Then, already thoroughly mortified, I felt like I had to "hurry up" because I knew she was waiting to "escort" me back down.

By the time the ordeal was over, I was humiliated and in pain, so we paid for what we already had and left.

For the record, the young woman was very courteous and sweet. It wasn't her fault. If they had posted a sign on the door "no public restroom", I could have planned accordingly (or shopped elsewhere). I don't know if they're even required to HAVE a public restroom, but who ever heard of a department store that didn't?

What if I'd been in a wheelchair? What if I'd fallen? What if my brother was a lawyer? Grrrr.

[SandyC]

Wow, that really sucks. I am glad you were able to make it to the bathroom but wow, upstairs? No elevator or nothing? That doesn't seem right to me either.

You get to vent with me girl!

[Erin524]

Was it a brand new building, or was it an older one???

[Jules A]

Vent away.

I'm sorry this happened to you but relieved to read that the employee was kind and that you made it! I don't think there are any laws that require them to offer public restrooms. :(

[wyldkatt]

Well, at least there was not an accident...

YOU have nothing to be humiliated about! In fact, you should write a letter to the store saying that while the employee was gracious to you, they need to consider their customers with disabilities. The law requires it actually, for reasons just like this.

Sorry you went thru this ordeal.

[AfterMyNap]

Well, at least there was not an accident...

YOU have nothing to be humiliated about! In fact, you should write a letter to the store saying that while the employee was gracious to you, they need to consider their customers with disabilities. The law requires it actually, for reasons just like this.

Sorry you went thru this ordeal.

BINGO!!!!


Write to everyone, the town council, chamber of commerce and anyone else you can think of. The store owes you an apology and if they have an ounce of class, it will come in the form of a hefty giftcard with a sincere plan to rectify the situation.

Pull out the big guns, B2, it was wrong. Period. They need to address the federal law of ADA compliance and there are plenty of 1-800-generic lawyers who would be more than happy to help you prove it.:mad:

[NurseNancy]

I 3RD THAT!

i would start writing letters.
find out who the head of the store is and then the head of the company.

i'd be out for blood.
that just wasn't right.

i'm very glad you made it.
i would have needed a WC to make it out of the store.

[SallyC]

How awful for you..:mad: . I'm glad you made it. I wouldn't have..:D

I agree with AMN...Embarrass them back..:cool:

[Friend2U]

It is just down-right scary to be in situations that you have NO control over.:mad: I am so sorry you had to go through that... but glad it didn't turn out any worse. :hug:

[starfish]

Believe or not, there are some people who make a living rectifying situations like this for the disabled.

My cousin knows someone in a wheelchair who has a longstanding relationship with an attorney to handle these situations to make it better for everyone.

A letter is in order for sure to make them aware of the situation. I am glad you were treated well.

Your situation was food for thought for everyone else who may be in this situation one day.

[Kitty]

I agree - you should let the store know that what they offer as a restroom is insufficient. I'm not sure of the laws - and if a store posts that they have no public restroom they can deny the public access to the one the employees use - but it's worth researching.

I rarely go anywhere that I don't know exactly where the restrooms are. And which stores have the cleanest ones (I detest public restrooms but sometimes we just don't have a choice).

Sorry you had such a rough time of it, B2Y. :hug:

[yeahbut]

I also agree... don't let thing slide. You need to push. Cause all the "what if's" you just descibed could really happen!

Push this one to the full, B2U :mad:

[Jodylee]

Don't feel humiliated B2Y!! They should feel humiliated not you!! I've had a public 'accident'! I didn't really feel humiliated, mainly just angry because of the entire situation, ya know?? I agree with everyone else, write a nice complaint letter! At the very least they should send you a gift card! You can even look online for their customer service number. I've gotten some good results with just one phone call :).

[Blessings2You]

Thanks, everyone! I did write a letter last night, and will check to see how it sounds in the light of day--you know how that works.

I'm going to start with the small guns.

First, I don't know if there is any law that a place that doesn't serve food is required to have a public restroom. That would certainly shed a different light on things. But if they do, in fact, have a public restroom, I would assume it would be required to be accessible to ALL the public.

I take part of the blame for assuming, and for not following my usual policy of knowing how far away the nearest bathroom is at all times. Ack.

If I don't get satisfaction from the letter to the corporate headquarters, I'll decide if I want to pursue it or not. I want things to be done right, but I don't want to live in a constant state of aggrevation.

[Jules A]

While I totally have sympathy for this horrible situation I have to repeat that stores in my state have no legal requirement to provide rest rooms for customers.

I definitely patronize stores that do provide nice clean restrooms but I look at it as a perk not something I am entitled to.

[SandyC]

One quick way to find out if they need to have a bathroom is to call the ADA and ask. Then you can decide which way to go. Although, I agree that a simple nice letter may make a difference in the long run.

Here is the ADA number: 800-514-0301 and here is their FAQ website if you prefer to look it up: ADA FAQ (http://www.ada.gov/q%26aeng02.htm)

[greta]

One thing that stood out to me was that you felt humiliated. There really isn't any reason for you to feel humiliated. I'm sure the girl at the top of the stairs was happy to not have to go back to work right away:p and the other girl sounds sweet - she certainly didn't fault you for being slow, and if she did, who gives a carp! You kept it together and made the trip slowly but surely. Please don't be embarrassed!

[Jo*mar]

Our small town post office had a new ramp and curbs put in but they never painted for easy visibility for over a month - so i finally wrote a short note about accessibility & visibility {tripping hazard} and put it in the drop off box - 2 weeks later it was painted.

I was really surprised that a gov agency was lax on something like that.

Some times a note or call to the local store manager might be all that is needed.

At the very least a sign saying "no public restrooms" or such would have been nice.

I have a nervous tummy/bladder at times so I know how you felt.
I tend to shop at stores with handy restrooms myself.

[KarenMarie]

I also agree... don't let thing slide. You need to push. Cause all the "what if's" you just descibed could really happen!

Push this one to the full, B2U :mad:

I also agree - don't let it slide - write letters - any place in MA that hasn't a public restroom has a sign on the door making that known - I haven't found the same to be true in ME and there doesn't seem to be a law providing handicapped access up here - I should be writing letters also -