Radolfzell,Germany – A new public restroom facility on the lake promenade in Radolfzell is setting a new standard for accessibility and inclusivity. the project, costing 560,000 euros, prioritizes the needs of individuals with disabilities and includes features designed to accommodate a wide range of users.

Mayor Simon Gröger expressed his pride in the project, stating, We don’t have the savings version here. the facility includes an inclusive warehouse and an employee toilet for the Seebar, with a particular emphasis on the equipment in the disabled toilet.

Key Features of the Inclusive Restroom

• Barrier-free toilet
• Patient lifter moving on the ceiling
• Airtight diaper pail
• Height-adjustable table

Jutta Pagel-Steidl, managing director of the State Association for People with Body and Multiple Disabilities, highlighted the importance of these features during the presentation. I always say with full pants you can’t participate, she noted, emphasizing the need for accessible facilities to enable full participation in public life.

Pagel-Steidl further explained, All people can use this toilet. All people whether they can use a toilet or wear diapers. In addition to the disabled toilet, the facility also includes standard public toilets for women and men, as well as the aforementioned seaside rooms.

Addressing a critical Need

The inclusion of adult changing facilities is a significant aspect of the project. Pagel-Steidl emphasized the importance of providing a dignified space for adults who require diaper changing, noting that previously, individuals often had to resort to changing in nearby bushes or on meadows.

The State Association estimates that approximately 380,000 people in Baden-Württemberg alone are disadvantaged due to inadequate public sanitary facilities.

“Toilets for Everyone” Initiative

The project was made possible through the “toilets for everyone” funding initiative by the state of Baden-Württemberg. While the concept originated in Great Britain, Baden-Württemberg is the only German state with such a funding programme.

It is crucial to note that this initiative focuses on accessibility for individuals with disabilities and is not related to gender-neutral toilets. These toilets are more about people who can use them who cannot use a barrier-free toilet without help, Pagel-Steidl clarified.

Financials and Future Plans

The new equipment in the restroom ranges in cost from 5,000 euros to 11,000 euros. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Integration in Baden-Württemberg provides 90 percent of the funding, up to a maximum of 12,000 euros, through the “Toilets for Everyone” program. The remaining costs for the Radolfzell project were covered by the city and the owners of Seebar, Winfried Kounz and Juliane Meier.

Architect and project manager Margit Klauza stated, The budget was planned at 560,000 euros. We are currently in this context, while noting that not all bills have been received yet.

Dieter Johne, the disabled representative of the district of konstanz, praised the new facility. As we also have many tourists on Lake Constance, such equipment is desirable. he noted that a similar toilet is already available on the island of Meinau and that one is planned for constance, although implementation plans are still pending. It’s a shame that it is not a standard, Johne concluded.