A public inconvenience: better toilets for inclusive travel

Document summary

This coproduced study drew on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to inform a Human Rights-based design. Using photographic images and reflective diaries, twelve participant co-researchers investigated the quality of public toilets when travelling in Scotland for people with dementia and other physical and cognitive impairments. Data were analysed using constant comparison and critically reflexive, group enquiry to produce contextualised evidence of toilet utility from the user perspective. Essential themes revealed major challenges associated with toilet accessibility, usability and design, emphasising the distressing sensory experience of the user when confronted with an inadequate or inaccessible toilet. Substantial overlap in needs was demonstrated but a few unique requirements aligned with specific disabilities were recorded for attention. Our findings highlight two key issues: 1) existing Standards are often unmet; 2) current Standards require review and endorsement by people who represent the full range of access needs.Points of Interest This article reports on a co-production study that researched the critical Human Rights issue of accessible toilet provision for disabled people and carers when travelling. As integral team researchers, disabled people (including people with dementia) and carers played a catalytic role in directing the research outcomes demonstrating the meaningful involvement of seldom heard groups in research. Findings accentuate the high emotional costs of inadequate toilet provision. We identified substantial overlap in the experience and needs of people with different impairments seeking to find and use toilets when travelling but detected a few unique requirements aligned with specific disabilities.