Join the Ten Club! Pearl Jam's Official Fan Club
Mike McCready Discusses the Restroom Access Law with KING-5 TV
05.17.09
Mike McCready and fellow Crohn’s and colitis activist Broh Landsman appeared on KING-5 Morning News this week to help lay out the facts about the recently passed Restroom Access Law in Washington State.
With a series of safeguards in place for both consumers and business owners, the Restroom Access Law was created to help individuals with certain medical conditions, such as Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis, easy access to employee-only restrooms in retail establishments.
Check out the video of Mike’s interview and a personal note from him below.
http://www.king5.com/video/healthlink-index.html?nvid=361634&shu=1
For more information on “Ally’s Law” - the Illinois legislation that started it all, other states that have passed similar legislation, and how you can help, visit www.crohnsandme.com
To find out more about Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis, visit www.ccfa.org.
A note from Mike:
I would like to personally thank Ally Bain, Lois Fink, Senator Kline, Representative Liias, Governor Gregoire and the Washington Restaurant Association for helping to draft this resolution, as well as all of the supporters who have aided in successfully passing the Restroom Access Law.
Until a cure is found, millions of fellow Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients and I struggle to find a bathroom when an attack happens. While doubling over in immense abdominal pain, we have about 5 seconds to locate and make it to a restroom. The fear of not having easy access to a restroom wherever you are is at times crippling and has made many IBD sufferers prisoners of their own homes. Crohn’s, colitis and other autoimmune disease sufferers have a hidden disability — we may look “normal” on the outside, but we require the same compassion and understanding as any of those with a more visible affliction.
I am relieved (pun intended) that future patients -- especially kids and their parents — are now able to carry cards or medical notes that guarantee them access to employee-only bathrooms. Thanks to all the businesses that understand. This law will now make going out in public easier and encourage more Crohn’s and colitis patients to confidently venture outside their homes.
Thanks,
Mike McCready
©2009 Pearl Jam. All rights reserved.
Comments
Very good initiative. A person I know has recently been diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Hard times are ahead..
Hopefully, in practice, this access to employee-only restrooms will be given without much hesitation.
Great news. While I understand that employees of businesses have the right to a clean restroom, I also believe patients with life altering diseases should be given special treatment. Way to go, Mike!
This is great
my partner lives with Crohns and finds it hard to find compassion from people who often dont understand, changes in the law like this make his life so much easier!
excellent work Mike!
Mike,
Great work in creating this tremendously compassionate law. My brother has UC and has found himself on the ugly and embarassing end of an episode after being refused access to employee facilities numerous times.
You lead a great purpose-driven life and are leaving the planet a better place!
Keep on rockin' in the free world!
Thanks again, Mike, for your help in raising awareness and increasing support for IBD.
very cool and very thoughtful thing to do
As an UC sufferer for 12 years I know full well the perils of not being able to find a bathroom. This may seem like a small victory to some, but to those who suffer, directly or indirectly, it is huge. Way to go Mike, your celebrity has helped an otherwise faceless disease gain some public awareness.
Oh my God Mike, my dad could not thank you and the org. enough!
Mike McCready is going straight to Heaven. Keep up the GREAT work Mike.
Thanks, Mr. McCready, for your work!
I've lived with UC since I was 16 (15 years). Not easy for my family and I while in High School, and I learned alot of preventative maintenance once I got out of college (in collage, not so good...). An awareness that will last perhaps for the rest of my life.
This is an awesome continuation of your raising awareness on behalf of CCFA.
Even though I know what I do now, LIFE happens and many times it is not an option to go to work. I'm a manger at a manufacturing facility, so everything is employee-only. Telecommuting is essential for me, I just wish I didn't have to take a "sick day" to be legit...
Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow at Safeco!
~kw
Good work Mike
I am a fellow Crohns sufferer and I have been in some very embarassing situations. I live in Italy where Crohns is a completely ignored illness (recent survey of Italian doctors shows that more than a third does not even know how to spell Crohns!!!).
A similar law should be passed here (I will talk to the local association) as I have been blocked more than once from using the toilets of bars and shops unless I first purchase something. They don't realise that there is no time to do so.
On behalf of many Italian Crohns sufferers thanks for ytour good work on prooting awareness of these illnesses
JPS
It was listening to Mike on Health Talk about two years ago,and I
somehow stumbled upon this drug called LDN which I take to this day
for multiple sclerosis.
Thanks Mike
mike im glad you made this a law! they should also do it if you pee alot for diabetis!!!!thanks mike! your the best!
Mike i hope Your all activity about this case will help to make this law. I hope in my country too, I can't stand easily and see howmy mother suffer from pain.
Small steps can change not only law, but the way people se others.
I just signed up for the "Take Steps" walk on June 20th in Chicago to support a friend with Crohn's:
http://online.ccfa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=TS_homepage
and encourage everyone to do so! They are held on varying days throughout the country.
Great work Mike!
I'll be honest, I have an "I Can't Wait" CCFA card in my wallet, but am sometimes reluctant to use it because I'm afraid store owners aren't aware of Crohn's & colitis.
The more awareness raised and legislation passed, the easier it will be for patients to find restrooms when they need them.
Also, I like the fact that you referenced these conditions as a disability "on the inside". IBD patients can sometimes suffer silently.
Your openness and candor is something that continues to inspire me to do my part locally.
Thank you again for your work and putting a face on this disease!
Cheers,
Brent (PBM)
Thanks Mike for all that you do! I was diagnosed in '04. It can be so hard sometimes. Thanks for raising awareness.
Hey Mike and all involved with this!
My Mom almost died when she was two years old from ulcerative colitis. My Grandma used to tell me her mouth was so full of sores it bled when she tried to feed her. Ironically, because of her condition she was starving anyway. The doctor told her there was nothing else he could do and it was up to the "Man Upstairs". My Grandma was a four foot nine inch fireball, and she was a fireball of prayer. Well, I'm here so that means Mom lived but she had to learn how to walk, talk, and eat all over again.
Mom had a colonoscopy a few years ago and at her follow up appointment the doctor asked her how long had she had Crohn's. She told him if she had Crohn's she didn't know it! Now it's two years later, hands full of pills and gallons of shot glasses full of Aloe juice (I got a kick out of watching her throw back that Aloe juice!) At her last scope a few months ago, the doctor told her he saw nothing but scar tissue! Yeah!
So Mike, Everything You Do Means Something To Somebody! Awareness is huge! My Mom went through it for years and I had no idea.
May God bless you and all involved with his richest blessings!