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 >