Utah Chapter

The Utah Chapter of the Changing Spaces Campaign is led by Advocate Bridgett Farmer.

Email: ChangingSpacesUtah@gmail.com

Facebook: Changing Spaces Utah

Instagram: @Changing_Spaces_Utah

Bridgett Farmer with daughter Mila, Changing Spaces Utah advocates 2

Adult Changing Station Sign

Bridgett Farmer with daughter Mila, Changing Spaces Utah advocates

Bridgett Farmer with daughter Mila, Changing Spaces Utah advocates 2

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Hi, my name is Bridgett Farmer, and I am the Utah Chapter Lead for the Changing Spaces Campaign.

I am a wife, mother, and advocate. As an Autistic woman, I live this work both personally and professionally. I am also the proud mother of a medically complex daughter.

Mila is 7 years old. She is Autistic, nonspeaking, and has a rare neurological genetic disorder called METTL23. Because of her medical needs, Mila is not potty trained and requires full assistance with personal care. She has outgrown standard baby changing tables, and Utah, like many states, currently has no legislation requiring public places to provide adult changing stations.

We need to change this narrative. Mila—and thousands of other Utah children, adults, and elders with disabilities—deserves dignity. Dignity means not being changed on a dirty public bathroom floor.

This issue is bigger than one family. Many people with disabilities cannot use a standard accessible restroom, even with assistance. Individuals who use incontinence products often need to lay down to be changed safely and properly, and standard restroom stalls are simply too small to accommodate caregivers safely.

There is a common misunderstanding that the disabled community is small. It is not. It includes our neighbors, family members, children, veterans, and elders. Without height-adjustable, adult-sized changing tables, families like mine are forced to make an impossible choice: stay isolated at home, or place the person we love on a public bathroom floor. This is inhumane, poses severe health risks to disabled individuals, puts caregivers at risk of injury, and creates liability risks for businesses.

I became the Changing Spaces Utah Chapter Leader because no one should have to make that choice. My hope is that together we can spread awareness, advocate fiercely, connect families, educate our communities and businesses, and pass legislation in Utah that guarantees dignity for all.