First of all I want to say THANK YOU so much to all those who have posted comments on my very first blog. It’s an honor to receive such positive feedback and it makes it so much more worth it as I strive to raise awareness for IBS.
So, I’ve recently signed up for New Alerts by Google, a feature I feel comes in handy when you want to stay up to date on the latest or you’re waiting for something specific to surface. Everyday for the past 3 or 4 weeks, I’d get a list of news articles that relate to my keywords, which includes “irritable bowel syndrome” and “IBS”. Generally, I try to weed through some of the articles and I usually don’t find anything worth mentioning, until today.
In an article by Joe Soucheray, of Pioneer press, he speaks of Erin Murphy, a legislator in St. Paul, Minnesota who is trying to pass legislation that allows frequent bathroom users to use restrooms that are normally banned from the public by businesses. This proposition would provide passes to said users (criteria for possession is not mentioned) that he or she could present to a business to gain access to their otherwise private restroom facilities. A business would face a fine should it reject the pass holder, per the article.
It appears Joe Soucheray is not in favor of this legislation by stating “…..perhaps 35,000 Minnesotans have a medical condition that requires them to suddenly seek a facility while there are 5 million of us or so who need, say, highways.” It’s clear to me reading this article, as I am sure was intended, that he thinks it frivolous and illogical. Surely a “neighborhood” business would allow you to use their restroom, especially if they know you, right???
While I can understand his point that there are many issues in any community that need to be addressed with certain priority assigned, this article is a principal example of what we’re all up against. If IBS and other digestive disorders were considered an official “disability”, an article like this, in my opinion, would cease to exist.
That being said, we may not be able to meet the needs of those with “non-disabilities” or conditions not recognized as disabilities, but we are talking about a basic human need here. There are food-stamps provided by the government so those without basic needs like food and water can survive and you want to call allowing people access to restrooms illogical??? Not to mention the major difference in expense we’re talking about.
What I take away from this article is not the negative response by one journalist who would never bother to walk in someone else shoes, but the positive aspect that people are starting to pay attention. Even talking about it is a major step forward, let alone possibly passing legislation related to what those with IBS often experience. Sure, carrying a frequent bathroom user card could be humiliating, but not as bad as soiling your pants!!
Perhaps I’ll write Erin to see how it’s going and ask what, if any, personal experience led her to become and advocate for those who live their lives in a bathroom. J
If you have no critics you’ll likely have no success. -Malcolm Forbes
Article link: http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/state/minnesota/16822551.htm
Erin Murphy link: http://erinmurphy.campaignoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={760E339B-E3C4-4AC6-9531-98B78C194084}&DE={4D5FFDE6-CDA4-4E9D-B040-4751222F0D00}
