Welcome

America’s advocate for the availability of clean, safe, well-designed public restrooms.

American Restroom Association’s (ARA) goal is nothing less than a full-scale toilet transformation in this country so that our public restrooms are no longer a laughingstock among the developed world. Only by working together and forming a strong advocacy group for decent public toilets are we going to be able to bring about the necessary changes in our public accommodations.

ARA President Dr. Steven Soifer, Ph.D. has the last word in this article from the New York Times (subscription required) asking “Why are public restrooms still so rare?” The article wraps: “Mr. Soifer of the American Restroom Association believes that the issue in the U.S. should be addressed on a national level rather than having a patchwork of individual solutions. His group has had multiple meetings with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services hoping it would step in to handle public restrooms — much like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is responsible for toilets in the workplace — but to no avail. ‘Given that this really is a public health issue, someone has to take responsibility,’ he said, ‘and no one is.'”

Listen to ARA Board Member Chad Kaufman, President of the Public Restroom Company, discuss restroom privacy on the inaugural “Really? No, Really?” podcast with Seinfeld star Jason Alexander.

ARA Board Member Megan Welsh Carroll captures the issue for Californians in an opinion piece for the LA Times which was noted again on route-fifty.com in “Cities struggle to solve the public restroom problem.”

Points of Light Foundation spotlights ARA Board Member Amith Saligrama in “Massachusetts Teen Advocates for Public Bathroom Accessibility” – 12-7-23

Read more about our efforts in this article “Starbucks under pressure to keep restrooms open to public” from The Guardian also featuring Dr. Steve.

Click below to learn more about American Restroom Association efforts:

What can I do about dirty, closed, or inaccessible public facilities?

Public Restroom Quality Initiative

What is required of my business? What should I expect from establishments I frequent?

Code Improvement and Design Initiative

My child won’t use the bathroom at school. What can I do?

#WellPass: ARA’s School Wellness Initiative (Gr. 6-12)

How can I help ensure adequate facilities for all people?

#PottyParityNow: ARA’s Gender Equity Initiative

“Do public restrooms make you nervous? You are not alone.” • ARA Co-Founder & President, Steven Soifer • TEDxUniversityofMississippi 2019 (12 min. video)

Introduction to the American Restroom Association “We are the ARA” (1 min. video)

 

ARA CELEBRATES WORLD TOILET DAY

Contact Us

American Restroom Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 21237
Catonsville, MD 21228

Phone:  800-247-3864
Email: getinfo@americanrestroom.org

An independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2004

MEDIA: Let us connect you with the best expert to support your news and media projects.

INVENTORS, MANUFACTURERS, SUPPLIERS, & SERVICE PROVIDERS: We want to hear your stories about how you are leading change in restroom design and maintenance!

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