adrian_turtle: (Default)
adrian_turtle ([personal profile] adrian_turtle) wrote in [community profile] accessibility_fail 2010-06-19 02:56 pm (UTC)

Syne asked if she was okay -- if she needed help of any sort. "I'm fine," the woman said.

"Are you ok" is a question that usually doesn't have anything to do with disability. Most people (with or without disabilities) tend to hear it as "Do you need help right now?" She's fine. She can vomit without assistance, thanks. I have OFTEN said "I'm fine," when I really meant, "You can't help. Leave me alone."

I disagree with Sami that vomiting implies anorexia or bulimia. The open door suggests the woman hurried into the bathroom with a sudden need to throw up. I've experienced that from migraine, motion sickness, side effects from medication, unusual food sensitivities, and ear infections. I've never personally been pregnant or drunk, though I understand they have been known to cause vomiting. As somebody said above, knee problems can make it really hard to get up after puking in a standard bathroom stall without grab bars.

I understand going into the bathroom and being annoyed to discover that the accessible stall is not available. But in a situation like this, I think it's problematic to say something more policing than, "Are you almost done? I need to use that stall."

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