20 ways increase bathroom accessibility at your workplace or event
Let’s talk about poop and accessibility!!!
Lol. Not just poop though, let’s talk about all things people need to do in the bathroom and accessibility!
Given you are a being who uses the bathroom, I’m sure I don’t need to tell you…bathrooms are VERY IMPORTANT! And having a clean, private, and safe place to take care of bathroom needs is critical to creating an accessible environment. Everyone deserves dignity and care in this very personal and vulnerable space.
Here is a non-exhaustive list things people might need to do in the bathroom at your workplace or event:
Administer medications
Emergency bodily needs around pooping, peeing, or vomiting
Generally needing to poop/pee so it doesn’t get to emergency
Chest feeding/pumping
Change a diaper
Period* related care
Wash their hands/other parts of their body
Change their clothes
*Not all people call their period a period. Please do not assume what people call processes that happen to their body, especially as they relate to gender. Some other things people call their period are their cycle, moon, bleeding, but you can never know for sure unless you ask.
So what does bathroom accessibility look like when planning an event? Here are 20 prompts:
Be clear about how many toilets/urinals/bathrooms there are in or near the space
Be clear about how many people will be in the space compared to the number of bathrooms
Be clear about how people will get to the bathroom from the main space (i.e. are any steps to climb or bumps to step over to get into the bathroom, and if there are how many steps, or how big of a bump?)
Be clear about any terrain people might need to know about getting to the bathroom (i.e. is it a paved path, dirt path, etc.)
Be clear about how far the bathroom is from the main space
Be clear about if the bathroom is wheelchair accessible
Be clear about the size of the bathroom, especially if it is a small bathroom!
If possible, ensure the bathrooms are gender neutral. If they are not, communicate that ahead of time
Have a plan for keeping the bathroom clean and stocked throughout the time you’re holding the event
Create a private, clean, quiet space for folks who need to chest feed or pump
If there is a possibility of beings attending the event that need a diaper change, be clear about if there is a space change a diaper
Have a sharps container in the bathroom
Have tampons and pads in the bathroom
Get a bidet (for cleanliness and sanitation)
Get a squaty potty (for digestion pain and support)
Have something available for scent control like Poopourri (for sensory and sanitation support)
Have a sign that tells people to please clean the toilet bowl and put the seat down if they get anything on the toilet bowl or put the seat up
Ensure any signs about what you can flush down the toilet are gender neutral (i.e. please only flush toilet paper down the drain, use the garbage for antyihng else. Our plumbing is very sensitive!)
Have bottled water in the bathroom
Encourage folks to advocate for their bathroom needs!
Here is an example of an accessibility bathroom blurb for an event description:
There are two bathrooms in the space. One is about 20 feet from the main entrance and one is about 50 feet from the main entrance. Both bathrooms are gender neutral. Both bathrooms have one, single person, wheelchair accessible stall and two standing urinals. The path to get to the bathroom is flat and wheelchair accessible. There is a sharps container in each bathroom. Depending on the time a day, there may be a short line for the stall. If you are having an emergency and need to use the bathroom, but there is a line, we encourage you to speak your needs and ask to use the bathroom before other folks in the line so long as there aren’t other folks also having an emergency.
BATHROOMS ARE SERIOUS! Bathroom clarity and care is a critical part of accessible event planning.
For more on accessibility and event planning, check out my impactful facilitation and event planning resource guide and workbook. If you’re looking for transparent, accessibility centered, and creative event planning or support, I’d love to talk about working together.