Commentary: A simple addition to public restrooms will help NYers

Originally published in the Times Union on June 3, 2024

Summer unofficially kicked off on Memorial Day weekend, and ball games, the beach and boardwalks beckon. Part of any trip could be a stop in a public restroom, but what if you are a person with a disability, a veteran or a senior citizen who uses a wheelchair?

This necessary visit presents a unique challenge because there is no easy way to change an adult diaper. A new piece of common-sense legislation will change that and make travel more dignified in any season.

The Traveling with Dignity Act will mandate height-adjustable adult changing tables in public venues across the state with capacities above 2,500, and at public rest stops for both older locations and new construction, with full rollout by 2030. The result: a more accessible state for millions of our fellow neighbors.

While this is not a new idea — if it’s enacted, New York would be the sixth state to pass similar legislation — it is a breakthrough that, through a simple addition to existing spaces, deepens our collective commitment and expression of inclusivity and equality.

Through my work with Constructive Partnerships Unlimited, an organization supporting more than 1,000 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in New York, I have seen the inadvertent barriers that still exist and inhibit the people we support from achieving truly fulfilling lives. I am proud that a bi-partisan coalition in the Senate and Assembly has given the Traveling with Dignity Act their full endorsement.

New York currently ranks fourth in the nation in the number of older adults, with that population set to increase. We also are home to the fifth-largest veteran population in the country, with more than half over the age of 65, according to the Office for the Aging. Beyond just people with disabilities, the Traveling with Dignity Act is a workable addition to strategies for groups that need adult changing tables now, and who will command a greater share of residents in the coming decades.

No matter which team you may cheer on, all of us can agree that every fan at the stadium deserves to use the restroom without losing their self-worth. This bill is a chance to make it a summer to remember, for all the best reasons, for everyone across New York.

-Joseph M. Pancari, President & CEO, Constructive Partnerships Unlimited