Incontinence at School: are Schools well equipped?

Incontinence at School: are Schools well equipped?

According to the National Association for Continence, 15 million children aged 5-17 suffer from some type of incontinence. That's one out of every six kids. And yet, there is very little information available on how schools deal with this issue. In this blog post, we'll take a look at what schools are doing (or not doing) to accommodate students with incontinence, and what more can be done to ensure that all children have access to a quality education.

The first thing we need to understand is that there are different types of incontinence, and each type requires a different type of accommodation. For example, children with daytime wetting accidents will need access to clean clothes and a place to change. Children with fecal accidents will need a safe, private place to clean up and dispose of soiled clothing. And finally, children who suffer from urinary leaks will need access to absorbent products like pads or diapers.

Now let's take a look at what schools are doing (or not doing) to accommodate children with incontinence. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer, as each school approaches the issue in a different way. Some schools have designated "incontinence rooms" where children can go to change their clothes or use the restroom. Other schools allow children to use the nurse's office or the restroom closest to their classroom. And still other schools do not have any formal policies in place, instead opting to deal with incontinence on a case-by-case basis.

There are pros and cons to each of these approaches. On the one hand, having dedicated incontinence rooms gives children a safe, private space where they can take care of their needs without fear of embarrassment or judgement. On the other hand, some children may feel isolated or stigmatized if they are singled out and required to use a separate room. Additionally, dedicating an entire room to incontinence can be logistically difficult for schools, as it requires additional staff and resources.


There is no easy solution when it comes to accommodating children with incontinence in schools. However, it is important that schools have some kind of policy in place so that all children feel safe and comfortable at school. If your child suffers from incontinence, talk to their teacher or school administrator about what accommodations are available and make sure that your child's needs are being met.