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Legal Resource Centre
Legal Rights · Priority Access
You Have the
Legal Right to Access
a Bathroom. Now.
As an ostomate, you cannot wait. Your stoma makes bathroom access a medical necessity — not a preference. Multiple laws across the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and international frameworks legally protect your right to immediate, priority access to accessible restrooms.
1M+
Ostomates living in the USA alone, protected under federal disability law
18+
US states with Ally's Law — requiring businesses to grant ostomates restroom access
1990
Year the ADA was enacted — over 35 years of legal protection for people with hidden disabilities
The ADA Classifies Your Ostomy as a Protected Disability
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), enacted in 1990, is the cornerstone of disability rights in the United States. According to the United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA), an ostomy is considered a physical impairment that affects a major life activity — specifically, the elimination of bodily waste — and requires a prosthetic device (the pouching system) to replace the function of a body part.
"While many persons who have had ostomy or continent diversion surgery may not consider themselves disabled, they are protected under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) against discrimination."
— UOAA Employment Discrimination Resource, 2021 · ostomy.orgUnder Title II of the ADA, state and local government facilities must make their programs, services, and activities — including restrooms — accessible to people with disabilities. Under Title III, private businesses open to the public (restaurants, malls, hotels, airports, arenas) must provide equal access to accessible facilities.
- 01Public venues with accessible restrooms cannot deny you access to them — doing so constitutes disability discrimination under 42 U.S.C. § 12182.
- 02Employers with 15+ employees must provide reasonable accommodations, including accessible restroom access and adequate break time, under Title I · ADA.
- 03Federal employees and contractors are protected under Section 504 · Rehabilitation Act 1973 — broader in scope than the ADA for federal workplaces.
- 04Under the ADA Accessibility Standards (ADASAD), any facility providing restrooms must include at least one wheelchair-accessible stall — which is also the designated space for ostomates requiring privacy and space to manage their pouch.
- 05Most US states have additional state-level disability laws that may apply to smaller employers not covered by federal ADA provisions.
What This Means For You
You Cannot Be Turned Away
If a venue has an accessible restroom and denies you access as an ostomate, they may be violating federal law. Present your access card and — if access is refused — you can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice (ada.gov) or contact the U.S. Access Board. Many states offer additional protections via state Human Rights Acts. Document every refusal — it is evidence.
Older Than the ADA — and Still Protecting You
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act predates the ADA by 17 years and applies specifically to federal agencies, federal contractors, and any entity receiving federal funding — including schools, hospitals, and universities. For ostomates in these environments, Section 504 mandates that reasonable accommodations be provided, including bathroom access.
This law is especially relevant for ostomates who are students in federally funded schools, patients in federally funded hospitals, or employees of government contractors. Under Section 504, an ostomy qualifies because it substantially limits the major bodily function of bowel or bladder elimination.
Ally's Law: The Right to Use Employee Restrooms in a Medical Emergency
The Restroom Access Act, widely known as Ally's Law, was born from a real incident: a teenage girl with Inflammatory Bowel Disease was denied access to a restroom at a retail store in Illinois and soiled herself in public. Her advocacy — and her mother's — sparked a national movement. The law is named in her honor.
"In states where the law was passed, individuals with certain conditions, such as ostomies or IBD, can present documentation to businesses to gain access to nonpublic bathrooms. Businesses that refuse bathroom access are levied a fine."
— UOAA · Restroom Access Act · ostomy.org/restroom-access-act-2Where enacted, the law requires retail establishments and places of business to allow customers with a documented medical condition — including an ostomy — to use their employee restrooms when no public facilities are available and the need is urgent. Businesses that refuse can be fined.
- 01Currently passed in 18+ US states, including Illinois, Michigan, Texas, Colorado, Connecticut, and Kentucky — with more states actively introducing legislation.
- 02To invoke the law, the customer must present documentation of their condition — such as a signed physician's statement or an ostomate access card — upon request by the business.
- 03The business is not required to modify the restroom — only to grant access to the existing employee facility when medical need is demonstrated.
- 04Businesses that deny access where the law applies may face a civil fine. The exact penalty varies by state.
- 05UOAA provides grassroots advocacy tools — including sample bill language and legislator contacts — to help ostomates push for the law in remaining states at ostomy.org/restroom-access-act-2.
What This Means For You
In 18+ States, a Business Must Let You In
If you are in a state with Ally's Law, you have the explicit right to request access to an employee restroom at any retail establishment — even where there is no public restroom — by presenting your medical documentation or access card. Denial is a fineable offence. Check the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation interactive map (crohnscolitisfoundation.org) to see if your state is covered. If it isn't — UOAA wants your help to change that.
Ally's Law: The Right to Use Employee Restrooms
The Restroom Access Act — commonly known as Ally's Law — was born from the experience of a teenage girl with IBD who was denied restroom access at a retail store in Illinois, and subsequently soiled herself. Named in her honor, the law has since been passed in 18+ US states and requires retail establishments to allow customers with certain documented medical conditions — including ostomies and IBD — to use employee restroom facilities when no public facilities are available.
"In states where the law was passed, individuals with certain conditions, such as ostomies or IBD, can present documentation to businesses to gain access to nonpublic bathrooms. Businesses that refuse bathroom access are levied a fine."
— UOAA · Restroom Access Act · ostomy.org/restroom-access-act-2In states where Ally's Law applies, presenting your SIIL Ostomate Access Card or a UOAA Restroom Access Communication Card constitutes the documentation required under the law. Businesses that refuse face a statutory fine. In states where the law has not yet passed, UOAA and the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation actively support grassroots efforts to introduce legislation — and you can get involved by contacting your state representative.
- 0118+ states have passed Ally's Law — including Illinois, Michigan, Texas, Colorado, Connecticut, and others. Check the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation interactive map for your state's status.
- 02In covered states, retail establishments must grant access to employee restrooms when a customer presents documentation of medical need — refusal results in a fine levied against the business.
- 03UOAA provides a sample bill template and an "Ostomy Champion" advocacy toolkit to help ostomates push for Ally's Law in their state. You can find your state and federal legislators at ostomy.org/find-your-legislator.
- 04Even where Ally's Law is not yet in force, presenting an access card and citing the ADA's public accommodations provisions under Title III · 42 U.S.C. § 12182 remains a powerful tool.
Practical Action
Know Whether Your State Is Covered
Check the interactive state map at the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation website. If your state has passed Ally's Law, your SIIL access card — combined with a brief explanation — may constitute your full legal entitlement. If your state has not yet passed it, consider joining UOAA's Advocacy Network at ostomy.org/join-advocacy-network and pushing for change. Hundreds of thousands of ostomates across the country need this protection.
When the Law Isn't Enough — Human Dignity Is
Not every situation is covered by a statute — but the Open Restroom Movement, a joint initiative by UOAA and the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, calls on businesses and municipalities to do the right thing regardless of legal obligation. The campaign recognises that restroom access is a fundamental human need, and that barriers like "Employees Only" or "Customers Only" signs can be removed through education, awareness, and simple human kindness.
"We want to encourage businesses and municipalities to address the problem of not allowing use of employee restrooms simply because restroom access is a human need, which is best addressed through basic kindness."
— Crohn's & Colitis Foundation · Open Restrooms Movement · crohnscolitisfoundation.orgThe movement's approach is practical: educate business owners that their "employees only" policy creates a real barrier for ostomates — and that opening their restroom may actually increase their business, as ostomates and their communities will recognise and reward businesses that take an active role. UOAA provides a discreet Restroom Access Communication Card that ostomates can present to request access without lengthy explanation.
"May I use your bathroom? The answer should be, of course!" — I became mobilized, gave my handbag to my friend, got in touch with my inner warrior and walked up to the saleslady…"
— Ellyn Mantell, Ostomate · UOAA Real Life Story · ostomy.org- 01The Open Restroom Movement asks businesses to voluntarily open their restrooms to anyone with a legitimate medical need — going beyond the legal minimum to act with dignity.
- 02UOAA's Restroom Access Communication Card is a discreet, printable card available at ostomy.org — save it to your phone or print and laminate it.
- 03Businesses that participate in the Open Restroom Movement gain goodwill in the 1M+ strong US ostomy community — inclusion is good for business.
- 04UOAA explicitly notes: "Unless your state has a restroom access law, there is no legal requirement. This card does not guarantee access. It is ultimately the place of business' discretion." — which is precisely why advocacy for Ally's Law in all 50 states matters.
Find a Restroom Before You Need One
Knowing your rights is essential — but in the moment, you also need to find a restroom fast. The We Can't Wait app, developed by the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation in partnership with UOAA, is a free crowd-sourced restroom finder that helps ostomates and people with IBD quickly locate publicly accessible restrooms anywhere in the United States.
The app is crowd-sourced: every restroom added by a user helps the next person in need. It covers public toilets, business restrooms open to customers, and accessible facilities — and is updated continuously by the community. Think of it as your legal right made practical: the ADA guarantees access, Ally's Law enforces it in 18+ states, and We Can't Wait helps you find it.
Download Free
We Can't Wait — Restroom Finder
Available on iOS and Android. Developed by the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation with UOAA support.
The Equality Act: Reasonable Adjustments Are Your Right
The Equality Act 2010 is the primary piece of legislation protecting disabled people across England, Scotland, and Wales. Under the Act, a disability is defined as a long-term condition that substantially affects day-to-day activities. An ostomy routinely meets this definition.
"Under the Equality Act 2010, it is illegal to discriminate against people with disabilities when it comes to toilet use or access. Any facilities offered must provide equal access for disabled people."
— SecuriCare Medical / Equality Act 2010 guidance · securicaremedical.co.ukThe Act places a legal duty on service providers (shops, venues, transport hubs, public buildings) to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. Granting an ostomate access to a staff or accessible toilet when urgent need is demonstrated is considered a reasonable adjustment — and refusing to make it may constitute unlawful indirect discrimination.
- 01Businesses with accessible or staff toilets have a duty under s.20 Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments — including granting priority toilet access to disabled customers and visitors.
- 02Presenting a SIIL Ostomate Access Card or equivalent toilet priority card strengthens your case for a reasonable adjustment — refusal after presentation may be discriminatory.
- 03Employers must provide adequate sanitary facilities under Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 — and for employees with an ostomy, this explicitly includes accessible restroom provision.
- 04The Building Regulations Part M requires new and significantly refurbished public buildings to include accessible toilet facilities — which must not be locked away from those who need them.
What This Means For You
Reasonable Adjustment Is a Legal Obligation
If a UK business refuses you toilet access despite your hidden disability, they may be breaching the Equality Act 2010. You can report the incident to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (equalityhumanrights.com) or raise a civil claim. Always present your access card calmly first — in most cases, it resolves the situation without escalation.
Employer Duty: Adequate Sanitary Facilities for All
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), require all employers to provide suitable and sufficient sanitary conveniences for their employees — including those with disabilities.
For an employee with an ostomy, the HSE guidance explicitly states that employers must consider the needs of workers with medical conditions affecting their use of facilities, and that reasonable provision — including accessible restrooms within reasonable proximity — must be made. Failing to do so may be a breach of health and safety law as well as disability discrimination.
EU-Wide Accessibility Standards in Public Spaces
The European Accessibility Act (EAA), Directive 2019/882, came into full force in June 2025. While primarily targeting digital and product accessibility, it establishes EU-wide accessibility principles for services and public infrastructure. Member states are required to transpose these rights into national law, supplementing existing national disability legislation.
Combined with Article 26 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights — which guarantees the right of disabled persons to participate fully in social life — EU citizens with an ostomy have a strong legal foundation to expect accessible facilities in public and commercial spaces.
- 01All 27 EU member states have national disability anti-discrimination laws that protect ostomates as persons with a hidden disability affecting a major bodily function.
- 02EU Charter · Art. 21 prohibits discrimination on grounds of disability in all areas governed by EU law — including access to public services and buildings.
- 03EU Charter · Art. 26 specifically guarantees integration and participation in community life for persons with disabilities — which includes dignified access to sanitary facilities.
- 04Countries such as Germany (AGG – Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz), France (Loi du 11 février 2005), Spain (LGDPD 2013) and Poland (Ustawa o rehabilitacji) all contain provisions protecting ostomates' rights to accessible facilities.
What This Means For You in Europe
Your Rights Exist in Every EU Country
If you are refused access to an accessible restroom across Europe, the applicable national law will determine your remedy. In all EU countries, an ostomy constitutes a protected disability. Present your multilingual SIIL access card — it contains the message in English, Spanish, German, French, and Polish, covering all major jurisdictions. If access is denied, contact the relevant national equality body or ombudsman.
The Highest International Standard for Disability Rights
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), ratified by 186 countries, is the gold standard of international disability law. It defines disability broadly — as the interaction between a person's impairment and environmental barriers — and places obligations on states to remove those barriers.
"States Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure to persons with disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, transportation, and other facilities and services open or provided to the public."
— UN CRPD · Article 9: Accessibility · United Nations, 2006Under Article 9 (Accessibility), states must ensure that persons with disabilities have access to facilities and services open to the public — explicitly including sanitary facilities. An ostomate, whose impairment directly affects their use of and need for such facilities, is squarely within this protection.
- 01CRPD · Art. 9 requires accessible sanitary facilities in all public buildings and services — including urgent, priority access for those with medical necessity.
- 02CRPD · Art. 25 affirms the right to health — including access to health-related services and prosthetics. An ostomy pouch is classified as a prosthetic device under the Social Security Act.
- 03CRPD · Art. 19 protects the right to live independently and participate in the community — which is impossible without dignified, accessible bathroom access.
- 04186 states have ratified the CRPD, making it the most widely ratified UN human rights convention — your rights are recognised nearly everywhere on Earth.
Global Protection
Your Dignity Is a Human Right
The CRPD is not merely aspirational — ratifying states are required to report on implementation and can face scrutiny by the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. If your country has ratified the CRPD and fails to provide accessible facilities, that is an internationally cognisable human rights failure. You have global law on your side.
A National Campaign for Dignity Beyond the Law
UOAA has partnered with the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation on the Open Restroom Movement — a national advocacy campaign calling on businesses and municipalities to voluntarily open their restrooms to anyone with a documented medical need. The movement exists because law alone is not enough: restroom access is a human need, best addressed through education, awareness, and basic kindness.
"We want to encourage businesses and municipalities to address the problem of not allowing use of employee restrooms simply because restroom access is a human need, which is best addressed through basic kindness."
— Crohn's & Colitis Foundation · crohnscolitisfoundation.org/openrestroomsBusinesses that participate benefit too: the 1M+ strong US ostomy community, plus millions living with IBD and other conditions, actively choose and recommend businesses that treat them with dignity. Open restrooms mean open doors to loyal customers.
- 01Download the UOAA Restroom Access Communication Card at ostomy.org — save it to your phone or print and laminate it for your wallet.
- 02Share the campaign with local businesses: crohnscolitisfoundation.org/openrestrooms gives businesses everything they need to participate.
- 03Join UOAA's Advocacy Network to push for Ally's Law in the remaining states — find your legislator at ostomy.org/find-your-legislator.
Find a Restroom Instantly — Anywhere
The We Can't Wait app is a free, crowd-sourced restroom finder developed by the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation with UOAA support. When urgency strikes and you need a restroom now, the app locates the nearest publicly accessible option — including business restrooms open to customers and accessible facilities.
Every user who adds a restroom to the map helps the next person. The database grows continuously, making it the most comprehensive restroom directory for people with urgent medical needs in the United States.
- 01Search by location — find the nearest accessible restroom in real time, before an urgent situation becomes an emergency.
- 02Contribute to the map — add restrooms you discover so others in your community can benefit.
- 03Completely free — available on iOS and Android. Search "We Can't Wait" or visit crohnscolitisfoundation.org/wecantwait.
Your Practical Toolkit
Rights + Resources = Freedom
Your legal rights are your foundation. Your SIIL Ostomate Access Card is your credential. The We Can't Wait app is your map. Together, these three tools give you confidence to live fully — to travel, to shop, to work, to be in the world — without fear of being stranded without a restroom.
The Official UOAA Access Card — Always in Your Pocket
UOAA provides an official Restroom Access Communication Card — a discreet, wallet-sized card that explains your medical need to business staff without requiring you to disclose personal medical details verbally. Save it to your phone or download the print version from UOAA's website.
Important UOAA disclaimer: Unless your state has a restroom access law, there is no legal requirement for businesses to comply. The card does not guarantee access — it is ultimately the place of business' discretion. However, paired with knowledge of your ADA rights and a calm, confident presentation, it resolves the vast majority of situations without escalation.
- 01Download & print the UOAA card at ostomy.org/open-restroom-movement-2 — available as PDF and mobile image.
- 02The SIIL Ostomate Access Card (this page) is a premium complement to the UOAA card — available in 5 languages for international use.
- 03For TSA travel situations, UOAA also provides a TSA Communication Card — available at ostomy.org/ostomy-travel-and-tsa-communication-card.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Ostomates Ask Most
Clear answers to the legal and practical questions that matter most when you need a restroom — right now.
Yes. According to the UOAA, an ostomy is considered a physical impairment that affects a major life activity — specifically the elimination of bodily waste — and requires a prosthetic device (the pouching system) to replace the function of a body part. This meets the ADA's definition of disability under 42 U.S.C. § 12102. You are protected whether or not you personally consider yourself disabled.
It depends on your location. In the 18+ US states where Ally's Law (Restroom Access Act) has passed, retail businesses must grant access to employee restrooms when you present documentation of medical need — and refusal results in a statutory fine. In other states, the business has discretion, but denying access to a disabled person may still violate the ADA's public accommodations provisions under Title III. In the UK, refusal may constitute a breach of the Equality Act 2010.
Ally's Law — formally the Restroom Access Act — requires retail establishments to allow customers with certain medical conditions (including ostomies and IBD) access to employee restroom facilities when no public facilities are available. It was first passed in Illinois in 2005, named after a teenager with IBD who was denied access at a store. More than 18 states have since passed it. Check the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation interactive map to confirm your state's status.
Present your SIIL Ostomate Access Card or the official UOAA Restroom Access Communication Card calmly and without over-explaining. The card does the work for you. If access is still denied, you can state: "I have a medical condition covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act and/or the Restroom Access Act. Refusing access may constitute unlawful discrimination." In most cases, presentation of the card alone resolves the situation immediately.
Yes. All 27 EU member states have national disability anti-discrimination laws, and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (Articles 21 and 26) prohibits discrimination on grounds of disability. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), ratified by 186 countries, explicitly requires accessible sanitary facilities under Article 9. In the UK, the Equality Act 2010 imposes a duty on service providers to make reasonable adjustments — including restroom access. Germany (AGG), France (Loi 2005), Spain (LGDPD) and Poland all have specific national provisions.
Document the refusal — note the business name, date, time, and name of the person who refused. Then: USA — file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice at ada.gov or your state's Human Rights Commission. UK — report to the Equality and Human Rights Commission at equalityhumanrights.com. EU — contact your national equality body or ombudsman. A written record is essential if you decide to pursue a formal complaint or civil claim.
Yes. Under Title I of the ADA, employers with 15 or more employees must provide reasonable accommodations — including accessible restroom facilities and adequate break time to manage an ostomy pouch. In the UK, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 require employers to provide suitable sanitary conveniences for all staff, including those with medical conditions. Failure may constitute both a health and safety violation and disability discrimination.
The SIIL Ostomate Access Card is a professional communication tool. In states with Ally's Law, any documentation demonstrating medical need is sufficient — your card qualifies. In all other jurisdictions, the card serves as a clear, multilingual presentation of your medical situation that — combined with knowledge of your rights — is highly effective in practice. It is designed to work alongside, not replace, applicable law. The UOAA note: "It is ultimately the place of business' discretion whether bathroom access is granted."
A joint campaign by UOAA and the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation calling on businesses and municipalities to voluntarily open their restrooms to anyone with a legitimate medical need. The premise: restroom access is a human need, best addressed through education and basic kindness. Businesses that participate gain goodwill among the millions of people living with IBD, ostomies, and other conditions. Learn more at crohnscolitisfoundation.org/openrestrooms.