USING ACCESSIBLE URINALS TO MAINSTREAM MOBILITY DISABLED STUDENTS

THE EMOTIONAL COST AND ECONOMIC COST OF PUTTING MOBILITY CHALLENGED STUDENTS INTO MAGNET SCHOOLS IS TOO HIGH A COST TO PAY IF THOSE OBSTACLES WHICH PREVENT THESE STUDENTS FROM MAINSTREAMING CAN BE REMOVED. WITH MOBILITY IMPAIRMENTS, BATHROOMING IS OFTEN THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OBSTACLE. IT IS TOO PERSONAL AND NECESSARY FOR CASUAL DISREGARD OF THIS NEED. WITHOUT DESIGNATED ASSISTANCE, MOST PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT NOW MAINTREAMED, CANNOT USE A RESTROOM. THIS DESIGNATED ASSISTANCE COSTS SCHOOL SYSTEMS SIGNIFICANT SUMS OF MONEY. THIS NEED OF ASSISTANCE IS A DETRIMENTAL EMOTIONAL TOLL ON THE STUDENT REQUIRING SUCH OUTSIDE HELP. A DESIGN FOR A NEW ACCESSIBLE URINAL HAS BEEN DEVELOPED WHICH WILL ALLOW A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF MOBILITY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR BATHROOMING NEEDS WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE FIXTURE IS ALSO DESIGNED SO THAT IT FITS INTO THE EXISTING DESIGN AND FUNCTION OF SCHOOL RESTROOMS WHICH WOULD MEAN THAT THE ADDITION OF SUCH URINALS WOULD HAVE NO NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE FACILITIES OR BUDGETS OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS. IT IS PROPOSED THAT POTENTIAL USERS FIELD TEST WORKING PROTOTYPES OF THIS NEW ACCESSIBLE URINAL AND THAT DATA BE COLLECTED AND ANALYZED.