DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am in a wheelchair, so I must use the accessible restroom when out in public. On at least four occasions, I have waited a long time for the only stall I can use, while an able-bodied person (obvious when they exit) has been in the stall on their cellphone.
The worst was at the airport, where there were about 20 stalls -- all empty except the one I needed -- and an employee was in there. One can see through the crack that someone is in there on their phone.
Is it OK to speak up and ask them to move to another stall?
GENTLE READER: And thereby admit that you're peeking at them through the crack?
Miss Manners has the utmost sympathy for this predicament and agrees that able-bodied people using your only accessible bathroom as office space is terrible. However, given the choice between which practice is more impolite -- theirs or being spied on in the bathroom -- she is afraid that you still would lose.
Nevertheless, if you said in a loud voice to no one in particular, "Oh, no, you go ahead; I am waiting for the accessible stall," Miss Manners would back you up.