Inclusive design of school latrines – how much does it cost and who benefits?

• WEDC research shows that the additional cost of making a school latrine accessible is less than 3% of the overall costs of the latrine. • The most cost-effective way to improve access for children with disabilities is to incorporate accessibility into the design from the outset (inclusive design) rather than making expensive changes later. • Inclusive design means a user-friendly, child-friendly design, which benefits all users, including adolescent girls, small children, and children who are sick. • However well designed the latrine, other factors such as location, distance and approach path affect accessibility and need to be part of planning and design.