Disabilities can make it difficult for an individual to access and enjoy public spaces within their communities. Some of which include local recreational parks, arenas, stadiums, and other large meeting spaces. This is particularly true when it comes to restroom facilities.
Unless adequate adjustments are made to meet their needs, individuals with disabilities and their families have a difficult time enjoying time out in public.
"At least for us, we found in our experience that we were able to use facilities that were available to everyone. What we found over time, however, as our son got older and his needs changed, public restroom facilities just didn't meet our needs," said Cody Craynor, father of a child with Down syndrome.
Craynor's son is now 15 years old and is over 115 pounds, approaching 5 feet.
"Say for example in a typical public restroom you have a changing table designed for a baby or a toddler. Those changing tables aren't made for individuals that big. Which means we're simply not able to use those and it puts us in a position where we needed to decide what we would do to change our child because he's not potty trained," said Craynor.
Besides the example given by Craynor, people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, as well as older people find difficulties in public restrooms.
ADA-compliant toilet facilities are often insufficient in meeting the needs of those with disabilities. Many of the ADA guidelines were initially designed to assist war veterans who had the upper body strength to lift themselves onto a toilet from a seated position. Since the initial designs, more needs have become apparent.
In recent years, communities in the United States have become more inclusive and accommodating of those with various developmental disabilities. There have been more efforts in integrating people into the society. Which leads to the conclusion that existing guidelines do not meet the needs of thousands of people today.
For instance, in the absence of satisfactory accommodations, parents of older children who use diapers may have to change their child on a bathroom floor. Changing an older child can be physically demanding for the parents.
“No one should have to change their child on a bathroom floor because it's unsafe, unsanitary and undignified," said Craynor.
In the United Kingdom, there has been an effort to install Changing Places toilets in public places such as shopping centers, stadiums, and arenas. These toilets meet beyond the standard and regulation requirements.
Changing Places toilets feature additional equipment such as adjustable-height changing benches, hoists, a garbage receptacle in proximity to the toilet, and sufficient room around the toilet for as many as two assistants.
Today, there are nearly 1,000 Changing Places toilets located across the United Kingdom. This change occurred because people in need of these adaptive toilets, along with their advocates, persuaded business owners, community developers, and public officials to install these spaces as a community service.
In hopes of making a difference in the United States, there are different forums, groups, and organizations who are making efforts in promoting change and solutions in providing sufficient accommodations to meet the needs of those with disabilities. A team of BYU students was also involved by researching the topic of respite rooms and key publics involved.
“Getting in and out of the stalls, getting onto the toilet seat, if there isn't a seat cover, if the toilet is too loud... or unlocking and locking the stall can be kind of confusing if you have an intellectual disability and you want to go potty by yourself. That can be kind of hard too,” said Cathy Colton, an occupational therapist for the Alpine School District.
Some challenges in creating the same movement in the United States are cost, incentive and need.
To implement a better-equipped restroom, there will be a cost to those who run the space. Some changes may be simple, such as changing the height of hooks or providing a bin for medical waste disposal. However, installing a new changing table or creating enough space around the toilet would consist of more time and effort.
Another challenge is the incentive. The one incentive is goodwill. However, for some small businesses, this may not be sufficient enough to make changes to their buildings.
"To build goodwill and to go about this the right way, it needs to be done through persuasion and by encouragement and demonstrating that it's the right thing to do not just for people not just for businesses but that it makes it common sense," said Craynor.
There are over 39 million American adults with a physical functioning difficulty, stated the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention research in 2015. There are 325.7 million people in the United States as of 2017. Putting things in perspective, the impact of implementing change in public restrooms may seem insignificant. However, to the individuals and families involved, it is essential.
“We would be able to do everything that a normal family does. We would take her to our sons' soccer games or the movies. The reality of being a special needs parent is that it is very isolating and it's difficult to go many places. It would reopen a wound that, for us for 13 years, we haven't been able to have," said Sydni Knowlton, executive director of the Utah Kids Foundation.
Even if the need may be small compared to the rest of the population, the change it will bring to the individual and family will be significant.
"My son's toileting needs will likely change over time. So I'm not sure that this is an issue that will forever impose a limit. But it's clear to me that his opportunities are only augmented by something like an enhanced adaptive restroom. I'm optimistic that people are looking for ways and opportunities to better include people with disabilities. We've been able to bring out a lot of people into our son's life who are supportive and encouraging and are really broadening his horizons. Having facilities to meet his toileting needs would only make that even better," said Craynor.