TRANSPORTATION MATTERS for IOWA

“We have been forced to use unsanitary public restroom floors or use our van as a changing space which lacks privacy and is not feasible in winter months,” explains Haar. “Bronwyn deserves to have her privacy protected and be able to use the restroom while remaining clean, warm, and safe like anyone else. Unfortunately, most people don’t understand the huge limitations meeting a basic need like restroom use can cause until you’re faced with caring for someone with special needs.”  

Last year legislation was proposed that would have required Iowa DOT rest areas to include adult changing stations in rest areas to assist families caring for older children and adults with special sanitary needs. While the bill did not become law, the Iowa DOT knew that we needed to move forward with ideas presented in the legislation. With the guidance of advocacy groups, we are now working to resolve the issue of the availability of a dignified and respectful way to meet the basic sanitary needs of families like the Haars at Iowa’s modern rest areas.

Director of the Design Bureau, Mike Kennerly, said, “Before the legislation came up, we had not even conceived of this issue. However, once we heard the plight of these families, we knew right away that providing these accommodations was the right thing to do.” 

Kennerly had the opportunity to meet with an advocacy group to hear their stories and begin planning for change. “I was able to talk to these families about their struggles. I very quickly moved from my initial idea that ‘this is the right thing to do’ to ‘we have to do this.” I left that meeting with tears in my eyes knowing that something most people take for granted can be so difficult for some,” he said. “It hit me right in the face that we need to make changes so that these families have a place to take care of their loved ones most basic of needs.”

With the full support of Iowa DOT management, Kennerly tasked Steve McMenamin, Iowa DOT rest area administrator; Seana Godbold, Iowa DOT chief landscape architect; and our rest area consultant team at Snyder & Associates and CRW Architecture, to retrofit the family restrooms in existing modern rest area buildings and plan for adequate space in family restrooms in future rest area buildings. The new area will provide space for discreet and sanitary care for families with older children and adults who need additional assistance using rest area facilities.

Haar said, “These adult-size changing stations will really open up Iowa to persons with disabilities who want to travel. I can tell you these adult-size changing stations will make a huge difference in many lives, ours included.”