Universal Design in Sanitation
Universal Design in Sanitation explores how sanitation systems can be designed to serve everyone, regardless of age, gender, disability, or ability. The knowledge brief introduces the principles of Universal Design and demonstrates how inclusive sanitation promotes dignity, safety, health, and equal participation through thoughtful planning, design, and management
- Explains the concept of Universal Design and why inclusive sanitation benefits everyone, including persons with disabilities, older adults, children, caregivers, and gender-diverse individuals.
- Examines barriers faced throughout the sanitation journey, from locating and accessing toilets to using facilities safely, independently, and with dignity.
- Introduces practical design principles, stakeholder responsibilities, and low cost, high impact interventions to create universally accessible public sanitation systems.
- Provides actionable recommendations, common myths, an inclusive toilet checklist, and curated resources to support policymakers, practitioners, educators, and sanitation professionals in embedding Universal Design into WASH systems.
