More Public Bathrooms
A number of parents, teachers, and other caregivers responded to our first video podcast – a VODcast – about the challenges public bathrooms present to those assisting teens and adults with autism with their personal needs. In today’s podcast, we are sharing just a few of the comments submitted.
Listen Now:
or
continue reading
A mom said that public bathrooms are a serious issue for her family. Their teenaged son is non-verbal and needs assistance with every step of toileting. He resists assistance by yelling loudly and sometimes kicking or hitting. She definitely gets strange looks when she takes her tall son – who looks just like any other 16-year-old boy – into the restroom. But, she empahsized that the problem goes far beyond the issue of men’s and ladies restrooms. Her husband has received many strange looks and reports to security when helping his son in a public men’s room.
A professional colleague, Gloria, spends a lot of time out in the community with individuals with autism. She recommended using the restrooms in the back of large department stores since they are usually less frequented than those by the front doors or the check-out lines. She said, “Find those less used areas, and most of the time you’ll be the only one in there!”
Gloria also suggested asking a store employee for assistance. They can go to the restroom to see if it is occupied, and will usually help monitor the door if you have to be there with someone who needs assistance. She added that the “more mature, adult workers are definitely more helpful with this than younger, teenage workers who don’t seem to have as much patience and/or who don’t understand the significance of the need.”
What experiences have you had with public bathrooms? What ideas do you have for dealing with the challenging issue ? We welcome your comments. Just click on the comments button or send an e-mail to talk@FAQautism.com.
NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. Feel free to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. Send email to talk@FAQautism.com And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com
Automatically generated related posts:
- Public Bathrooms We receive many inquiries about the issue of public restrooms...
- VODcast: Public Restrooms Moms often dread the need to use public restrooms with...
- Public vs Private Behavior Most of us know that some behavior that is acceptable...
- Public Restrooms What about public restrooms? A mom wrote: “I’m a mom...
- Public Announcements Some things should just be kept private, but, for some...