It’s been two weeks since the Washroom Inclusivity Project finished its first phase, with two days of inventory completed and four training sessions well attended. As I sit here reflecting on my time with the project, what really comes up is how I felt during the training sessions, as volunteers were encouraged to go around and share why they were interested in the project. I heard dozens of people share their passion, their commitment to equity, their well thought out insights about why washroom inclusivity is important. I was in awe. Having worked on the project for 8 months, and becoming so involved with logistics, communications, and all the back end work to make the project run, I must admit my passion for the cause became a bit obstructed. But that was only until that first training morning, where through others’ reflections, I was reminded of why I care, why it matters to me, and why I am so passionate about equity, community, fairness. I guess my awe was pretty obvious, as a co-worker came to tell me: “Mari, your eyes were glowing when the volunteers were sharing, and you just had the hugest smile!” Yes, it was hard to hide my enthusiasm. I am proud to have been part of this wonderful project, and I am excited to see what new opportunities and collaborations may come out of it.

Turns out we are not the only ones busy populating databases with accessible and gender inclusive washrooms. Refuge Restrooms, a US based website about to be launched, plans to have thousands of inclusive washrooms listed.  Other than the cool icon, the best part of this project is that users will be the ones to add listings to the database. We at WIP will make sure to include the data we gather during our Inventory next week. Speaking of which, it’s not too late to sign up to volunteer, and help us map out washrooms at U of T!

Bringing my kids on campus can often turn out to be quite the experience. Like that time I brought my then 3 year old daughter and 1 year old son to accompany while I ran a few quick errands. As soon as we arrive, the 3 year old begins: "Mommy, I have to poo". So we begin the search for a single user washroom. With the two of them in tow, I figured that the privacy and extra space of a single user washroom would make things easier. And so, after some searching, we find one. By then she “really” has to go, and we barely make it in time. As I am assisting her with her business, the one year old starts toddling around the washroom. His first stop: toilet paper roll. His first job: unraveling it. I stop him before he’s done with the roll. A few seconds later, he is licking the outside of the sink. I yell out a NO! and lunge to stop him, almost dropping my daughter inside the toilet bowl (I had been holding her tiny body until then). Luckily, she doesn't fall in. As I washed her hands, I made the mistake of thinking to myself: ”what else could possibly go wrong?” And just then my son finds a shiny yellow strip on the wall and… presses it (the emergency alarm, that is).

We are not the first university to launch a campaign about washrooms on campus and the equity issues involved with them. Our friends at George Brown College recently ran a nice campaign called “Free to Pee”. Focusing on the issues of the transgender community, they came up with some pretty great slogans. Take a look at a couple of my favourite posters from their campaign.

(From http://freetopeegbc.com/)

What I love the most about U of T’s Washroom Inclusivity Project is that it integrates a whole bunch of equity areas around one issue. One of the most powerful things I’ve gotten out of my involvement with the project so far is that while there are very unique aspects that are specific to each of the groups we are working directly with (parents, trans people, Muslims and people with accessibility needs), the commonalities and intersections are equally as important. At the end of the day, it really is all about respect.

WIP started, just a few months ago, when it was warm outside and I didn't have to struggle with my kids for half an hour to put on their jackets and mittens.  I did some research to find out what other universities were doing to support student parents. I came across a journal article* reviewing campus resources across North America, that was quite surprising to me. There is simply not a whole lot that universities in this continent seem to offer for student parents. It actually made me feel quite lucky: U of T has a whole office with a reasonable budget devoted to family issues for students, staff and faculty. The Family Care Office  not only offers tons of groups and workshops to support parenting, they also help with practical things such as childcare, parental leave and so much more. It’s actually a great place to get some help adjusting to the dual demands of academia and parenting. And there sure is some getting adjusted needed. As the authors of the study quite nicely put it, there are many similarities between the demands of raising a child and being an university student: “If one were offered a purview into homes across the country in the wee hours of the night, one might find both academics and parents pacing the floors, searching and pleading for that elusive cocktail of soothing strategies to lull a crying baby to sleep or the rhetorical flourishes needed to complete that vexing chapter.” But when it’s both of those things at once, it takes some juggling and a whole lot of support to work it through. * "Making Space for Graduate Student Parents” by Kristen W. Springer, Brenda K. Parker and Catherine Leviten-Reid, published in the Journal of Family Issues on April 2009.