AirPortRestRoomDLP©2010.mov

Using a Public Restroom by Dr. Liane Holliday Willey, Dr. Stephen Shore and Dennis Debbaudt.

This short video excerpt from Debbaudt Legacy Productions in progress video Autism & Safe Travel with Dr. Stephen Shore© 2010 illustrates what some of the public mens room social rules and violations can be.

• avoiding eye contact
• choosing a urinal or stall as far away from the other person as possible
• looking straight ahead or up and down when using a urinal or stall
• washing up and walking out without engaging in conversation  

Social Rules for Using a Public Ladies Room differ from the mens room. Chit chat conversation is normal. For example, asking another woman where they got their blouse or t-shirt or giving a compliment on their appearance is OK. 

Eye contact is typically acceptable. It is not, however, standard to talk to ladies in the public restroom, once you are using the stall. An exception?  Passing toilet paper under a stall divider to a stranger in need who asks is not considered an unusual or suspicious activity. 

For Educators: The norms in a ladies room, however, would be considered unacceptable behavior in a public mens room. Moms and female teachers should carefully consider the male and female social differences of restroom use.

Social and Personal Safety Tips for using either a ladies or mens public restroom:  

A public restroom can be found at interstate rest areas, airports, restaurants and most public buildings. A private restroom is the one at your home and, to a lesser degree, your hotel room. Remember that hotel walls are notoriously thin. The songs you sing can be heard in the next room! 

Do not comment on the noises you hear coming from another stall! If someone is ill or needs your help, they will likely speak out to ask for help. If however, you do think someone is in a situation that requires serious help, seek out and ask a restroom attendant, store manager or security personnel for assistance.  

Anyone using the public restroom is in a vulnerable position that a criminal could easily take advantage of. Be aware of your surroundings and do what you can to keep yourself out of harm's way. If you are all alone when you go a public restroom, extra careful to lock your stall door behind you and select a stall near the exit so you can make a fast escape if you absolutely had to. 

Additional Social and Personal Safety Tips for using a either male or female public restroom:

• Keep stall doors locked
• Watch your purse, briefcase, wallet and personal belongings
• Use long strap with pull twist to secure your bags to the stall door hook
• Do not carry large amounts of cash
• If possible, carry a cell phone

Here are few tips in case you do need to contact or interact with security or law enforcement:

• Carry and know how to safely produce an ID card
• Develop and carry an autism information card
• Carry the phone numbers of trusted and reliable relatives and friends

If you lose the ability to speak when under stress, consider wearing a MedicAlert bracelet or one that lets the reader know this and that you have an information card.

Develop a Plan for Safe Use of a Public Restroom

1. Discuss the risks with people that you trust
2. Develop a personal plan of how you will use the restroom
3. Practice safe use of the restroom by role playing with people you know and trust
4. Develop a generic or personal disclosure handouts
5. role play when, where and how you would use them
6. Adapt and amend your plan. They're not written in stone.

We hope this video was useful for you. Don't forget, when you're using a public restroom, safety is about you and your belongings!

Category:

Education

Tags:

• AirPortRestRoomDLP©2010
• autism
• autism spectrum
• asperger
• asperger syndrome
• hidden curriculum
• unwritten rules
• rules of the men's room
• special education
• transition to adulthood
• stephen shore
• dennis debbaudt
• liane holiday willey
• debbaudt legacy productions