Dina--my husband works for a large drug store chain. They do not as a rule
let the public use the restroom. #1 they have no one to keep it clean. #2 It
is accessed through the stock room which has many $$ of merchandise, &
sometimes lots on the floor.

If someone asks if a childd can use it..(or elderly or handicapped) they can
only say yes if they have enough help to send someone to open door turn on
lights & stand outside door for security.  In this day & age of high
expenses & hard to find help in the retail field..they hardly ever have help
to do that. They usually run with a Manager & 1 cashier...& locked in
pharmacy Tech & pharmacist. So to let someone in would mean leaving front
with no cashier, or closing the register..When they get a truck in & have
another person doing pricing., or have help setting up a sale they would
send them to do it...but there is no law in Ct anyway that says they must
have a public restroom...Infact when our family had a store in a large mall
here..the restroom was upstairs in a loft for employees to eat & have
lockers etc. & the permitt from the town said "Only employees will use".
It is a hard issue....I have a friend who keeps a femal urinal in her van
for just such a reason & takes meds that makes for these emergencies.  She
knows where every McDonalds & Burgerking is!!    Joy
----------
>From: [log in to unmask]
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: ADA question
>Date: Thu, Jun 1, 2000, 12:30 PM
>

>Hi all,
>
>I was wondering if anyone knows whether or not a business place like a post
>office or a bank is in violation of the ADA laws by refusing entrance to the
>restrooms for a disabled person?
>
>Here's a common scenario: I have gone into a bank or a post office and I have
>asked if I can use the restroom since I NEEDED to use one ASAP or risk the
>chances of an accident. I have been refused because "they don't have a
>bathroom on the premises," but that I should be able to go the restaurant or
>whatever other store nearby instead. I have told them that my bladder is
>close to bursting. Usually this happens when I have had a long drive, and
>have drunk enough water for my bladder to need to go URGENTLY ASAP. I am at
>these places because of business purposes, not as a convenient place to stop
>and ask.
>
>If I could do that without any problem, I wouldn't be asking them for their
>"exclusive bathroom."  Have any of you encountered this and what do you do
>about this? Is there a definite way to find out if they are in violation or
>not?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Dina
>