Flushing Out Accessibility: Toilets Around Perth, Scotland Project

The ISPA project has consistently highlighted that one of the biggest barriers to accessibility for older and disabled people is something many others take for granted: toilets.

Before disabled people can even think about enjoying an event, travelling, or taking part in community life, they face the extra mental load of planning ahead - mapping out accessible routes and checking whether suitable toilets will be available. When that information is missing, outdated, or inaccurate, it creates anxiety and can turn what should be an everyday activity into a major challenge. In short, reliable information about accessible toilets can be the difference between an inclusive or an excluding environment.

On 15th August 2025, ISPA Research Fellow Dr Dianne Theakstone joined a group of ISPA Community Peer Researchers to audit public toilets in Perth, Scotland. This blog follows their journey across three sites, sharing both the audit process and the lived experiences that highlight just how much accessible toilet provision matters for dignity, safety, and inclusion.