Changes to Public Restrooms for People with Disabilities

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ADAIR, Iowa — A rest area along Interstate 80 near Adair now features a sign that not only indicates accessibility but also shows a person using a full-size changing table. This addition provides a crucial resource for adults and older children with disabilities who use diapers.

Nancy Baker Curtis, whose son Charlie has a disability, calls the changing table a “beacon of hope.” The electric, 6-foot table can be raised or lowered, allowing for easier and more hygienic changes compared to using bathroom floors or vehicles.

This installation is part of a broader initiative to improve restroom accessibility in places like airports and parks. Many families avoid outings due to inadequate facilities, as Baker Curtis notes: “Charlie deserves to be out in the community.”

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Despite the lack of federal mandates for adult changing tables, some states, including California and Ohio, have begun implementing requirements in public facilities. Advocates like Justin Boatner, who uses a wheelchair, emphasize the importance of these tables for dignity and hygiene, as they prevent uncomfortable delays in changing.

Iowa started adding adult changing tables in 2022 and plans to incorporate them into new and remodeled rest areas, with nine already installed. Michael Kennerly from the Iowa Department of Transportation acknowledged the oversight in restroom design and the urgent need for these facilities.

Costs for retrofitting existing restrooms can reach $14,000, while new constructions are less expensive. Advocates hope to see adult changing tables become as common as infant changing tables in public bathrooms.

Jennifer Corcoran in Ohio has witnessed growing interest in these installations, which are vital for improving travel for people with disabilities. Kaylan Dunlap, an accessibility advocate in Alabama, believes that while progress is being made, widespread adoption of changing tables in public restrooms is still a long way off.