A public inconvenience: better toilets for inclusive travel

Abstract

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.

Keywords:

• Public toilets
• accessibility
• dementia
• physical and cognitive impairments
• human rights
• coproduction

Acknowledgements

The work on which this article was coproduced involved the following people/organisations: Agnes Houston (Scottish Dementia Working Group); Andy Hyde (Upstream); Jenny Miller (Promoting a More Inclusive Society [PAMIS]); Participant co-researchers (PCO) including Susan Burt; Pat Graham; Mike Harrison; Carolynne Hunter; James McKillop; Steve McPhail; Emma Pauley; Martin Robertson; Laura Rutherford; Susan Weir. Also, with thanks to staff from the community theatre group, Active Inquiry and the College of Arts, Humanities and Applied Social Sciences Knowledge Exchange and Impact Grant, the University of Edinburgh for funding the costs of developing, producing and filming the dramatic performance of project findings. We would also like to express our gratitude to: the two members of staff from Scotland’s Urban Past (Mark Scott and Tom Crowther) who collaborated with us, providing photographic training and support for PCO data collection, contributed to the design of outputs, and helped out at the three Gatherings; People First for PCO support and organising a venue for play rehearsals; and, the students on placement at PAMIS who attended the Gatherings and assisted PCO data collection.

Declaration of conflicting interests

The Author(s) declare(s) that there is no conflict of interest.

Data availability statement

The data set associated with this paper can be accessed via the UK Data Service, ReShare]. repository at https://reshare.ukdataservice.ac.uk/854233/, reference number [854233].

Notes

1 The National Key Scheme (NKS), previously referred to as RADAR keys, offer disabled people independent access to locked public accessible toilets around the country. (Disability Information Scotland 2019)

2 Main train station in the capital city of Edinburgh

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the Disability Research on Independent Living and Learning [2C1\100056] and the College of Arts, Humanities and Applied Social Sciences Knowledge Exchange and Impact Grant, the University of Edinburgh, and DRILL (Disability Research on Independent Living and Learning).