How NY Sen. Pam Helming's advocacy helped bring adult changing stations to Thruway rest stops

A chance encounter nearly three years ago led to the New York State Thruway unveiling its first adult changing station at a rest stop near Syracuse this week.

In July 2021, state Sen. Pam Helming had a meeting at a diner in central New York when she was told Joanie Mahoney, the former Onondaga County executive who now chairs the Thruway Authority's board of directors, was also in the restaurant.

Helming, who shared the story during an interview with The Citizen Wednesday, said she approached Mahoney about adding adult changing stations to the new Thruway rest stops. 

"I talked to (Mahoney) about the need and she jumped on board right away," Helming said. "She thought it was a fantastic idea and said she would take it back to the board and discuss it with them." 

After the conversation, Helming felt optimistic. She followed up by sending letters to the Thruway Authority reiterating her support for including adult changing stations at the reconstructed rest stops.

The inspiration for Helming's advocacy came from her family — she has relatives with muscular dystrophy who are in wheelchairs — and constituents who attended mobile office hours.

Helming, whose former district included parts of Auburn and Cayuga County, heard from families about the struggles they faced while traveling between Rochester and Syracuse with children who have physical disabilities.

If there was bad weather, she was told parents would have to lay their children on the floor of the rest stop restroom. If it was nice outside, they would lay a blanket on the grass and change them there.

"There's no dignity or respect in that," Helming said.

The timing of the feedback coincided with the Thruway's plan to revamp its 27 service areas. The $450 million project to rebuild or renovate the rest stops began in July 2021 — the same month Helming made her pitch to Mahoney in that Syracuse-area diner. 

Warners Service Area, a rest stop along Interstate 90 west of Syracuse, was the 15th rest stop to reopen this week. It is the first equipped with an adult changing station. The adult changing station includes an adjustable table with a padded cushion and a strap.

When the Thruway Authority announced the reopening of the Warners Service Area, Mahoney issued a statement praising Helming.

"Senator Helming's support was instrumental in making this a reality and I'd like to thank her for her tireless advocacy on behalf of those with disabilities and their families and caretakers," Mahoney said.

Four other Thruway rest stops — Angola in western New York, Ontario near Rochester, Pattersonville in the Capital Region and Sloatsburg in the lower Hudson Valley — will have adult changing stations. Those service areas are scheduled to reopen later this year or in 2025. 

Helming acknowledged that it feels good to see the product of successful advocacy, but she credited the families who raised awareness about the challenges they face while traveling and the Thruway Authority for heeding calls to include adult changing stations in plans for select service areas.

"It was a great team effort," she said.