The holiday season is one of the busiest travel periods of the year, bringing millions of families to airports, resorts, amusement parks, ski mountains, and other destinations. While these places are designed to feel magical and stress-free, families and caregivers of older children or adults with disabilities often face an unseen challenge: the lack of safe, dignified spaces for personal care.

For architects, facility managers, builders, and planners, this gap is both a risk and an opportunity—the chance to create environments that truly welcome every guest, starting with universal changing tables.

Why Should Destinations Offer Adult Changing Tables for Guests?

Destinations should offer adult changing tables because they provide a safe, dignified, and accessible space for travelers with disabilities who need assistance with personal care. During peak holiday periods, record crowds, long lines, and extended hours make the lack of such accommodations especially challenging, forcing families to improvise in unsafe or uncomfortable ways. Adult changing tables allow guests to navigate busy environments with confidence, reducing stress for both the individuals and their caregivers, and ensuring that every visitor can fully enjoy their experience.

Why Decisionmakers Should Prioritize Universal Changing Stations: The Business Case

For architects, specifiers, contractors and other decisionmakers, incorporating adult diaper changing stations into designs or renovations offers clear professional advantages: it demonstrates foresight in accessibility planning, aligns with universal design principles, and ensures that spaces are compliant with ADA guidelines and emerging best practices. Beyond compliance, decisionmakers benefit from enhanced visitor satisfaction, lower operational headaches, and reduced risk of complaints or liability, making universal changing tables a small investment with a large impact on both guest experience and a project’s long-term success.

Benefits to Each Role:

Architects: Future-proof designs • Universal design • ADA compliance

Facility Managers: Happier visitors • Safer spaces • Fewer complaints

Builders & Contractors: Cost-effective • Easy to install • Avoid retrofits

Executives & Leaders: Commitment to equity • Strengthen brand • Better accessibility

Key Spaces for Universal Changing Stations

Simply put, every public destination should provide a safe, dignified space and changing table for adults with disabilities to manage their personal care needs. High-traffic locations where universal changing tables (UCTs) are especially critical include:

·        Airports, train stations, and other transportation hubs

·        Stadiums and arenas

·        Parks and recreation spaces

·        Amusement parks and entertainment venues

·        Government buildings

Providing UCTs in these spaces ensures accessibility, comfort, and dignity for all visitors while supporting inclusive design and enhancing overall guest experience.

Read More: 

10 Public Spaces That Need Adult Changing Stations Now

Universal Changing Table Legislation Map

Choose the Best Adult Changing Table for Your Guests

For architects, facility managers, and builders, specifying a universal changing table doesn’t have to be complicated. The Sova Ascent is designed for easy integration: it mounts to most walls, requires minimal modifications, and comes with simple installation guidelines—making it quick to include in new builds or renovations. Its durable, easy-to-clean surface, 500-pound weight capacity, and adjustable height accommodate caregivers and users of all sizes, while built-in safety features like guard rails and automatic obstruction detection ensure compliance and reliability. Choosing the Ascent allows decisionmakers to enhance accessibility and guest experience without the headache of complex installation or costly retrofits.

The holiday season underscores the need for accessible personal-care options. Universal changing tables provide safety, dignity, and comfort for travelers with disabilities while simplifying operations and ensuring compliance. Architects, facility managers, and builders can make a big impact with a small investment—enhancing guest experience, easing staff workload, and strengthening the destination’s brand. Accessibility should never be an afterthought, especially during peak travel times.