Men's Personal Care: Restrooms

I don't know about you but the first thing I do whenever I'm out in a public place and I'm going to be there for a while, I find the bathroom. And it's not just about knowing where it is, you'll also want to know your way around once you're in there so things don't get awkward, if you know what I mean.

So that's what we're going to work on right now, finding and navigating the men's room confidently and independently. Of course, there's no harm in just asking someone which way to go. Just make sure to ask for very specific directions like go left, straight ahead, and so on.

And once you do find the bathroom, is it to the left of the concession stand? Is it directly across from the entrance? Try to create landmarks that'll help you keep track of where it is should you need to go back.

A lot of public places have a sign on the bathroom door in braille. And even if you don't read braille, here's a handy tip that'll keep you from going into the ladies' room by mistake. The braille on the men's door will have less characters. And if it's an option, a family bathroom will always give you more privacy and be easier to figure out once you're inside.

Once you get inside the men's room, listen for audio cues that'll help you figure out the layout like water running in the faucets, toilets flushing, hand dryers, and so on. If there's someone else in the bathroom, you can always ask them to describe the layout or you can have them guide you. Hadley has a whole series of workshops that cover tips for guided walking in depth. You may want to check them out.

The men's room is a classic example of where using a white cane can come in really handy too. Not only does a white cane help identify you as someone with low vision or blindness, you can also use it to locate faucets or toilets and such instead of using your hands. This is also true of a support cane. But if you have to use your hand, just cover it with a paper towel, a handkerchief, or a glove to find your way around.

A quick knock on the door will let you know if a stall is empty of course. And sitting on the toilet is more of a sure thing than standing. But should you have to stand, position your legs at the front of the toilet bowl to help you square up to the back. You'll know your aim is true by listening to make sure it's hitting the water, but give the seat a quick wipe once you're done just to be safe and courteous.

There are some things you can do ahead of time if you know you'll be going out. You can get some specific orientation and mobility training from a specialist. You can download navigation apps to your phone. And you can also get additional training in how to explore new places in another one of our Hadley workshops. There's also a subscription service called Aira, where on-demand live operators can look through the lens of your smartphone camera to offer assistance and/or be your step-by-step guide.

Contact your Hadley learning expert to learn more about orientation and mobility training, navigation apps and tips for guided walking or if you have your own tips to share. Of course, as with anything new, give yourself time, patience and practice, and you'll get there.