Many individuals with vital mental or bodily disabilities can’t make the most of an ordinary rest room, as a substitute requiring tools reminiscent of a hoist and height-adjustable altering desk to make use of the toilet in security and luxury. In the UK, grownup altering tables are gaining huge help because of the advocacy of incapacity campaigners and the Altering Locations Consortium. Related campaigns in america are simply getting off the bottom, however there’s some excellent news in America’s airports.
Quite a few airports in america have put in grownup altering stations, which preserve disabled folks off the toilet ground and reduces the stress of flying with a incapacity. Utilizing the data on this article, you’ll have the ability to find grownup altering tables across the nation to raised plan an accessible journey.
ATL — Hartfield-Jackson Worldwide Airport Atlanta
The world’s busiest airport has lastly joined different airports by putting in an grownup altering desk. There is just one such facility within the airport, positioned within the Terminal F departures space close to French Meadow Cafe.
Terminal F is the worldwide terminal, the place most of the longest intercontinental flights depart from. As a result of the airport has a complete of seven terminals, advocates hope that extra grownup altering stations shall be put in. Extra info on Atlanta Airport accessibility is on the market within the Atlanta Wheelchair Journey Information.
AUS — Austin-Bergstrom Worldwide Airport
Development of a 9-gate terminal growth in 2019 introduced an essential new function to Austin Airport — a companion care restroom with an grownup altering desk.
The 137 sq. foot companion care restroom contains a powered peak adjustable altering desk for adults with disabilities and a motorized ceiling hoist/raise switch system. The lavatory additionally has an accessible rest room, bathe/wash function and an adjustable peak sink.
BNA — Nashville Worldwide Airport
A peak adjustable grownup altering desk is on the market in Concourse C at Nashville Worldwide Airport.
The desk is positioned in a household restroom close to Gate C17, which is near the tip of Terminal C. Nashville Airport’s terminals are linked airside, so passengers arriving or departing from Terminals A or B can nonetheless make their solution to Terminal C. Extra info on Nashville Airport accessibility is on the market within the Nashville Wheelchair Journey Information.
BWI — Baltimore/Washington Worldwide Thurgood Marshall Airport
Three of the 12 household restrooms at BWI airport are geared up with an grownup altering station. One is positioned earlier than safety in Terminal A, one inside safety within the connector between terminals B and C, and one other in concourse D at gate D7.
The altering stations at BWI had been a few of the first within the nation. They’re fastened peak, with seize bars on the adjoining partitions. Extra info on BWI Airport accessibility is on the market within the Baltimore Wheelchair Journey Information.
CVG — Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Worldwide Airport
Because of a tip from Kim Boulter on the Altering Areas Marketing campaign, we realized that an grownup altering desk has been put in on the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Worldwide Airport.
The peak-adjustable grownup altering desk is positioned within the household restroom close to gate B13. The power additionally options an accessible rest room, roll-under sink, and a standard child altering station. For extra info on accessible services within the terminal, go to the CVG Airport web site.
DAL — Dallas Love Area Airport
The Dallas Love Area Airport has grownup altering tables positioned all through the airport terminal in all seven of its household restroom services.
Three are positioned pre-security, with the remaining 4 places post-security. The fixed-height altering tables have a most weight capability of 400 kilos. Every facility additionally options an accessible rest room and sink. Particular location info is on the market on the airport’s terminal map.
DEN — Denver Worldwide Airport
The Denver Worldwide Airport has a Companion Care restroom positioned on the west facet of Stage 5, proper off the prepare exit, subsequent to the boys’s restroom.
The Companion Care Room has a remote-control, height-adjustable grownup altering desk. Extra info on Denver Airport accessibility is on the market within the Denver Wheelchair Journey Information.
LAX — Los Angeles Worldwide Airport
Disabled passengers touring by Los Angeles Worldwide Airport could make use of two grownup altering desk services, positioned in Terminals 1 and seven.
“These specially-designed tables for adults enable caregivers to offer help in a fashion that’s rather more comfy and handy for each events,” mentioned Barbara Yamamoto, Chief Visitor Expertise Officer, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). “This is only one extra manner that we’re working to make sure that we offer an distinctive expertise to all our company, together with the disabled and aged.”
The tables have a weight capability of 400 kilos and are energy peak adjustable. In Terminal 1, which serves Southwest Airways, the altering desk is positioned inside a personal, all-gender restroom by Gate 14. In Terminal 7, serving United Airways and United Categorical, you could find a altering desk within the household restroom by Gate 75A.
LAX plans to offer an grownup altering desk in Terminal 3 later this 12 months, and one other within the new worldwide concourse which is able to open in 2020. Extra info on LAX Airport accessibility is on the market within the Los Angeles Wheelchair Journey Information.
MCO — Orlando Worldwide Airport
Orlando Worldwide Airport has put in grownup altering tables in every of its companion care restrooms. At the least one altering desk geared up toilet is on the market on each concourse.
The altering tables have a most weight capability of 400 kilos. They’re energy peak adjustable and may be lowered to inside inches of the ground.
MKE — Milwaukee Mitchell Worldwide Airport
Milwaukee’s Common Mitchell Worldwide Airport options two peak adjustable grownup altering tables positioned close to the Miller Brewhouse in the primary terminal and contained in the household restroom on Concourse D.
Though we haven’t but sourced {a photograph}, Wheelchair Journey reader Meghan has confirmed the existence of the grownup altering tables at MKE and describes the ability as being giant sufficient to comfortably accommodate a wheelchair consumer and companions.
For extra info on wheelchair accessibility in Wisconsin’s largest metropolis, seek the advice of the Milwaukee Wheelchair Accessible Journey Information.
MSP — Minneapolis-Saint Paul Worldwide Airport
Minneapolis-Saint Paul Worldwide Airport has put in three grownup altering rooms with peak adjustable tables. The services are positioned within the D and G concourses and on the arrivals stage of Terminal 1.
Every of the grownup altering rooms function an digital peak adjustable desk with a ceiling observe hoist. Extra info on the airport’s accessibility options is on the market on the MSP Airport web site.
MSY — New Orleans Worldwide Airport
The Louis Armstrong New Orleans Worldwide Airport has two grownup altering tables. One is positioned pre-security within the household restroom adjoining to the TSA safety checkpoint, whereas the opposite is positioned post-security subsequent to the Shake Shack restaurant.
The altering tables are peak adjustable and positioned inside non-public household toilet services which are “freed from any architectural limitations to the handicapped,” in line with the airport. Extra info on New Orleans Airport accessibility is on the market within the New Orleans Wheelchair Journey Information.
OKC — Will Rogers World Airport
Oklahoma Metropolis’s Will Rogers World Airport put in an adjustable peak grownup altering desk in the summertime of 2022.
The grownup altering room is positioned within the central concourse throughout from Gate 18, and it may be accessed from each the ladies’s and males’s sides of the restroom facility. Each entry doorways function locks with a standing indicator that reads “occupied” or “obtainable.” A personal household restroom is positioned close by, alongside the ladies’s restroom entrance. Extra info on the airport’s accessibility options can be found on the Fly OKC web site.
ORD — Chicago O’Hare Worldwide Airport
A brand new accessible toilet by gate F3 in Terminal 2 at Chicago’s O’Hare Worldwide Airport has been billed as probably the most accessible within the nation.
The lavatory contains a motorized hoist/affected person raise, an grownup altering desk (max load of 330 kilos), two accessible showers (roll-in and switch sorts), an accessible rest room with seize bars, sink, emergency pull cords and an computerized door.
Terminal 2 at ORD homes Air Canada, Alaska Airways, Delta, Delta Connection and most United Categorical flights. Extra info on O’Hare Airport accessibility is on the market within the Chicago Wheelchair Journey Information.
PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport
Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport started establishing a prototype for an grownup altering station after receiving a be aware from one household greater than a decade in the past. Retired architect Norbert Senftleben responded, working with the airport’s carpenters to design and construct a prototype.
At present, there are 12 grownup altering stations all through the Phoenix Airport. They’re of a fixed-height design, formed like a mattress, and have seize bars alongside the adjoining partitions.
PHL — Philadelphia Worldwide Airport
Philadelphia Airport’s grownup altering room opened in August 2022, half of a bigger restroom renovation venture that has acquired grant help from the FAA’s Airport Terminal Program.
The altering desk, positioned within the A-West terminal close to gate A14, is of the fixed-height platform selection with seize bars. The power additionally options an accessible rest room and sink. Future phases of the airport’s restroom renovation venture will deliver an extra 3 grownup altering services, deliberate for terminals C, E and F. For extra info on Philadelphia Airport accessibility, take a look at the Philadelphia Wheelchair Journey Information.
PIT — Pittsburgh Worldwide Airport
An airport worker’s autistic son impressed Pittsburgh Worldwide Airport to create a world-class sensory room contained in the airport terminal. The choice was made to incorporate an accessible toilet with an grownup altering desk within the area, which is positioned close to Gate A9 and named “Presley’s Place,” after the boy who kickstarted the venture.
The grownup altering desk is height-adjustable, as is the toilet sink. For extra info on the sensory room at PIT airport, click on right here. Extra info on Pittsburgh Airport accessibility is on the market within the Pittsburgh Wheelchair Journey Information.
SEA — Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport
Throughout a latest renovation of the household restroom within the North Satellite tv for pc Terminal, an grownup altering desk was put in. The power is positioned close to gate N20, and contains a height-adjustable desk.
The airport plans to put in one in its new Worldwide Arrivals Facility, slated to open in 2020. The grownup altering tables are one half of a bigger accessibility initiative, which incorporates new options and providers for folks with auditory, imaginative and prescient and hidden disabilities. Extra info on Seattle Airport accessibility is on the market within the Seattle Wheelchair Journey Information.
Airports That Will Quickly Set up Grownup Altering Tables
The next airports have plans to put in grownup altering tables within the close to future:
- FSD — Sioux Falls Regional Airport has plans to put in a set peak grownup altering desk.
- HOU — Houston’s William P. Passion Airport, a hub for Southwest Airways, plans to put in an grownup altering desk quickly.
Encourage Your Airport to Set up an Grownup Altering Desk
Airports in america are increasing and the variety of folks taking to the skies will increase yearly. Totally accessible loos with grownup altering tables and hoists are a comparatively small funding that may assure that each passenger can relieve himself or herself. Entry to a rest room is a human proper, and grownup altering tables must be obtainable in each airport terminal on this planet, however particularly in america.
For those who’d prefer to see an grownup altering station in your airport, ship the request to the airport’s ADA Coordinator. They’re answerable for making certain that the airport is accessible and welcoming to all, and letters of help from members of the neighborhood can go a good distance.
Does your airport have an grownup altering desk or station? In that case, please ship an e-mail to [email protected] with the small print. We hope to replace this text recurrently, ensuring that each one airports in america with grownup altering services are listed.
