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Passengers in wheelchairs can't use most airplane washrooms. That could change (techxplore.com)

submitted 9 months ago by L4s@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

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Passengers in wheelchairs can't use most airplane washrooms. That could change::With airplane bathrooms inaccessible to most people with disabilities, those who use wheelchairs have a necessary pre-flight routine: Dehydrate and hope for the best.

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[–] fubo@lemmy.world 14 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

This specific article text appears to have originated on a "custom health content provider" called HealthDay.

Original: https://consumer.healthday.com/passengers-in-wheelchairs-can-t-use-most-airplane-washrooms-that-could-change-2665762945.html

Language curiosity: The article uses the term "washroom". US airlines use "lavatory", as does the new regulation (see below). General US usage is "bathroom", even without a bath; most other Englishes would say "toilet" or "WC". This article may be AI-generated, but the AI is Canadian.

That said, here's an NDRN statement from last year on the proposed rulemaking and here's NPR reporting on it ... and here is the actual rule as published in the Federal Register.

In summary:

The rules apply to new aircraft, and to aircraft where the lavatory is replaced.
Aircraft have to be equipped with onboard wheelchairs.
Required lavatory features include grab bars, accessible faucets, and room for a wheelchair user to transfer themselves from an onboard wheelchair to the toilet seat.
Flight attendants need to be trained in helping onboard wheelchair users.
They have to have signs saying the lavatories are accessible.
Airlines have to figure out how to handle medical waste (e.g. used needles) safely.