AKRON, Ohio — The first universal changing station is now open in the Akron Municipal Courthouse.

The station is in the Caregiver Room, designed to provide a private, secure space for nursing mothers and now for those with disabilities or medical conditions who need the station.

“Providing accessibility for everyone is important to us,” said Administrative/Presiding Judge David Hamilton. “This addition ensures children and adults with special needs who visit our courthouse will have those needs met in a dignified, respectable manner.”

Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board fully funded the project using the American Rescue Plan Act grant money. The station was purchased from Foundations Wordwide Inc, which is headquartered in Richfield, Ohio.

Universal changing stations are like an infant changing table, but reconstructed to hold adults, regardless of height, weight or mobility levels. 

Akron Municipal Courthouse said in a news release it believes this to be the first station installed in a courthouse. 

The station is available to court users and the public during the building’s open hours between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The courthouse is at 172 S. Broadway St. in Akron.