Advocates are making Ohio more accessible to all, one universal changing station at a time.
When you attend a public event, can you use the restroom? Most people take the use of a public restroom for granted. Many people with disabilities do not have that luxury.
A lack of universal changing tables in public restrooms, prevent many growing children and adults with disabilities from living full lives because they and their families would rather stay home than be subjected to having their restroom-related needs taken care of on a restroom floor.
While changing tables are often designed for babies, the needs of individuals with disabilities who have outgrown this stage are frequently neglected. Having a disability should not restrict anyone’s ability to go out or access restrooms equipped with changing tables.
Two Ohio moms, Jennifer Corcoran and Kim Kirkwood-Boulter, were inspired to begin a statewide chapter of Changing Spaces USA after experiencing struggles when caring for their sons away from home. Changing Spaces USA is a national movement to spread awareness of the lack of appropriate facilities for older children and adults with the medical need to use incontinence supplies and to advocate for the need for height-adjustable changing tables in public restroom facilities. Ohio has become the leader of the nation in terms of investment in universal changing tables, thanks to the advocacy efforts of Jennifer, Kim, and other members of Changing Spaces Ohio, according to a January media release from Ohio Governor Mike Dewine.
The media release found here announced the first of 29 universal changing stations planned for Ohio rest areas. While most of those rest areas are outside of ACIL’s service area, a map of the locations shows that two universal changing stations will be added to rest areas in Miami County in 2025. This is one of many notable highlights of the advocacy efforts of Changing Spaces Ohio.
“Our hope is that these universal changing stations and others we will be installing across the state will encourage new possibilities for people with disabilities, their families, and caregivers as they travel Ohio,” said Governor Mike DeWine at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at new I-71 rest area in Fayette County. “By adding this valuable resource to more of our rest areas, we are increasing inclusion and accessibility for everyone to be able to fully experience all that Ohio has to offer.”
Accessibility is at the heart of the mission of Changing Spaces Ohio and Changing Spaces USA. With that at the forefront of their minds, In December 2022 Changing Spaces Ohio Leaders established a nonprofit, Inspired Access Foundation, to raise funds to install more universal changing tables around Ohio, as well as to provide adaptive equipment and other items to increase community accessibility and inclusion, according to www.changingspacescampaign.com/ohio.
Additional advocacy efforts are detailed on the website. For example, in 2023 Changing Spaces Ohio began partnering with Accessible Ohio, an initiative through Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), to consult with businesses on how to become more accessible to all.
Moreover, in April 2023, Changing Spaces Ohio presented to the Ohio County Boards of Developmental Disabilities to encourage them to advocate for universal changing stations in their counties. Since then, many county boards of DD have taken up this cause and have purchased mobile changing units to be set up at outdoor community events such as festivals, as well as installing permanent changing stations in their buildings.
Another highlight of Changing Spaces Ohio advocacy efforts occurred in Spring of 2024 when grant funding became available through the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD). The Ohio County Boards of DD could apply for funding to install universal changing tables in their counties. 49 out of 88 counties applied for funding, and were awarded a grand total of $4.4 Million dollars granted toward installing universal changing tables throughout our communities
According to the aforementioned media release, DODD funded a total of 136 universal changing tables in both rural and urban communities, and various public spaces, including museums, libraries, community centers, airports, fairgrounds, and zoos.
While Changing Spaces Ohio has made great strides in making Ohio accessible for all, there is still a long way to go. If you are representative of an Ohio business, venue, or attraction that would like advice on how to become more accessible, email [email protected] to have an accessibility specialist contact you.
If you or someone you know would like to donate funding for additional universal changing stations in Ohio, visit https://www.inspiredaccessfoundation.com/support-us. If you would like to get involved with Changing Spaces Ohio, email [email protected].
If you would like to rent a portable, mobile, universal changing station to help make an upcoming event more accessible to all, visit https://www.changingspacescampaign.com/temporary-changing-stations-ohio.
Lastly, if you would like to know which businesses, vendors, and attractions throughout the United States have universal changing tables, check out this interactive map on the Changing Spaces USA website that is supported by the Inspired Access Foundation https://my.atlist.com/map/306b2633-4789-4c3c-af67-f948baa51f66?marker_id=8a246646-f172-4c74-badf-7ee639b65414&type=marker&modal_open=true.
