The Medina County Board of DD knows people with mobility issues – senior citizens, veterans, people with disabilities – want to enjoy all their community has to offer, but most often encounter barriers such as restroom access which stops them from attending and enjoying these opportunities. The Mobile Changing Unit is provided – free of charge – by the MCBDD to local community events to provide dignity, full inclusion, and accessibility to quality restrooms in the community. This gives people who have mobility limitations a safe and dignified place for personal care. It ultimately allows them to enjoy participating in events without having to be concerned about a normal, daily activity others take for granted – restroom accessibility.
As part of its ongoing Committed to Inclusion initiatives, the MCBDD has contracted with Momentum Refresh, a company which provides mobile changing units to venues throughout Ohio, to fully fund the costs to provide its services for local Medina County community events. The Mobile Changing Unit offers many amenities including: a platform chair lift to enter the vehicle, a height adjustable adult-sized changing table (with shower capability), a toilet/bidet with adjustable grab bars, an adjustable ceiling hoist for transfer assistance, a height adjustable sink, privacy curtains, hygiene supplies (gloves, changing pads, sanitizer, etc.) and a dedicated team of trained professionals to clean the space between uses and to answer questions.
“We want to give opportunities to not only people with developmental differences, but anyone with mobility issues the chance to fully participate in their community and to enjoy recreation and social activities with everybody else,” states Stacey Maleckar, MCBDD Superintendent. “We are very excited to provide this resource within our community and to make an impact locally for those who need it most.”
The Mobile Changing Unit made its debut at the Taste of Wadsworth event benefiting Wadsworth Community Radio on July 17 and next at the Medina County Fair (July 29 – August 4).
