In January 2017 12 year old Nicole Thornton petitioned Parliament, seeking access to workplace toilets for people with medical conditions when no public toilet was available.

Nicole has Crohn’s disease. Like the more than 20,000 New Zealanders with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diarrhoea and urgency are frequent symptoms.

Compounding all their medical challenges, fear of having an accident in public can be a major concern of people with IBD. When the need arises, those with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis often do not have time to explain their personal medical histories to a stranger and many business owners are unaware of the challenges they face. While CCNZ offers “I Can’t Wait Cards” identifying those with documented medical conditions where urgent access to a toilet might be needed, many businesses still will not honour the card. As a result, many people are simply afraid to leave home.

Nicole’s petition went to Health Select Committee where she bravely presented testimony. Unfortunately, a bill mandating that businesses provide toilet access to those with medical problems was not recommended. Instead, the committee strongly recommended publicising the “I Can’t Wait” card and “encouraging business owners to allow toilet access via an education campaign”.

On 9 December, Crohn’s and Colitis New Zealand, the Lower Hutt City Council and the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce,  jointly launched a nation-wide campaign for toilet access. Merchants were asked to prominently display a sticker in their window that they honour the CCNZ “I Can’t Wait Card”. The event took place at the Atrium Café in Lower Hutt and received extensive media coverage. CCNZ Ambassador Nicole, CCNZ Chair Richard Stein, Lower Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry, and Chamber of Commerce CEO Helen Down spoke at the event. Numerous business throughout the city are already displaying the stickers.

The campaign will be go into full-swing after the New Year. Three other city councils have already approached CCNZ to promote the stickers. Our goal is to  have stickers in businesses in every city and town throughout the country so people with IBD and other medical problems will feel free to leave home without worry. Both the stickers and the “I Can’t Wait” cards are available at no cost. We need volunteers in every city throughout New Zealand to approach their city councils, chambers of commerce, and local business to endorse and display these stickers. If you can help or need information on how to obtain stickers or an “I Can’t Wait Card”, email Belinda at info@crohnsandcolitis.org.nz.