Making more washrooms accessible in time for World Toilet Day

November 19 is World Toilet Day, an international day of awareness about the sanitation facilities that we so often take for granted.

Access to toilets should be available to everyone, yet people with disabilities frequently struggle to find facilities designed to serve them.

The University of Toronto recognizes the importance of quality washrooms to everyone’s physical and mental wellbeing, which is why Facilities & Services works hard to provide an inclusive environment. 

Adam Lucas, a property manager at Facilities & Services, discusses the ways the department is working to provide accessible washrooms for all genders and persons with varying abilities. 

“We’re focusing on replacing fixtures, sinks, mirrors, and doors to meet our communities’ needs and up-to-date accessibility requirements,” Lucas said about the specific actions taken to achieve this. “We’re also converting gendered washrooms to all-gender washrooms to further accommodate U of T’s diverse population.”  

“Progress has been steady, and we plan to have 10 to 15 washrooms renovated by April,” Lucas said. 

The City of Toronto’s accessibility design guidelines outline specific strategies and recommendations for addressing the needs of people with disabilities, including those who use mobility aids, to create a barrier–free environment.

“The goal is to promote autonomy and cater to people of all ranges of mobility,” Lucas said.  

“For instance, people in wheelchairs should be able to open doors unimpeded, and those with service animals should have enough space for them.” 

“As an international and diverse school,” Lucas said. “U of T is always striving to be the forefront of inclusivity and updating its facilities to stay ahead of the curve.”