I volunteered with the American Restroom Association in 2007 to help consolidate their impressive research on the lack of public toilet availability. With ARA co-founder Robert Brubaker I co-authored US Public Health Mandates and the Restroom Problem in America: A Call to Action. (
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/49198738/us-public-health-mandates-and-the-restroom-problem-in-phlush) Our paper was accepted for the 2007 World Toilet Summit in Delhi, India. As a member of the World Toilet Organization, the American Restroom Association then secured a scholarship for me to present the paper in person. Participation at the Summit put me on a new life path and Jack Sim, WTO's dynamic founder, remains a personal hero and friend.
The American Restroom Association has made great strides in recent years but there is much to be done. As Margaret Mead pointed out “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” I encourage everyone to address the universal human need for clean, safe places "to go" by volunteering with ARA or otherwise contributing to it.
@Gotta_Go Campaign appreciates and supports the research and advocacy of the American restroom association in working toward our shared mission to increase PT awareness and access to clean, safe, fully accessible public toilets.
The American Restroom Association helps to make public restrooms better. The shy bladder syndrome community see the benefits of gender-neutral, single-occupancy toilet rooms. These also help mothers with children, opposite-sex caregivers, the transgender and in reducing waiting lines (potty parity). Floor to ceiling compartments in gender-neutral, multi-stall restrooms (where designed properly) can provide these benefits too.
I have participated in several of American Restroom Association's member meetings. I know the ARA is an incredibly hardworking organization fighting for the basic human right of accessible restrooms. Especially with COVID19, the issue with restroom accessibility has only been emphasized. For example, many rest-stop restrooms had closed doors and businesses closed down public access to restrooms. Behind the scenes, ARA continues to make efforts to communicate with the proper people to advocate for restroom access, sanitation, and safety for all people. Many don't know this is a great need until its a great need for them! Kudos to the ARA, all the connections that are being made and all the hard work that is being done!
I’ve been on the Board of Directors of the American Restroom Association starting with its founding in 2004. Ever since then we’ve been continuing to make great strides in advocating for safe, clean, accessible, available, and well-designed public restrooms throughout the US. It’s a public health issue that affects us all. I’m proud to serve with this dedicated team of experts who strive to improve public restrooms for all of us.
A fantastic organization that delivers a huge impact for size/current funding. My fellow board members are all experts in a wide variety of fields, and I thoroughly enjoy working with them. We are currently improving our advocacy program greatly which should end up helping all Americans live healthier and safer lives. The group continues to make strides in its core areas of education, assisting municipalities install more public restrooms, and participating in International Plumbing Code discussion (which affects 100s millions around the world).
Available public toilets are among the cheapest public health, and a human right that nobody wants to talk about. The ARA is doing a great job serving this important mission!