NYS ID Card Available to Ensure Bathroom Access for People With Crohn’s, Colitis

By Reuvain Borchardt

NEW YORK – New York state has made available an ID card for those suffering from Crohn’s disease, colitis or other bowel diseases, to ensure they have access to restrooms.

Under a 2017 bill sponsored by Sen. Simcha Felder, who has spoken of his difficulties with Crohn’s, and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, businesses must grant bathroom use to people with Crohn’s, colitis or similar conditions, even if those bathrooms are generally not available for the public and are employee-only. This applies to any business open to the public during business hours, if there are at least two employees present at the time.  

But businesses had no way of verifying whether a person requesting to use the bathroom indeed had one of those conditions which require sudden and urgent restroom use. Therefore, a 2021 law, also sponsored by Felder and Paulin, required the state health department to create to create a printable card that a person can have signed by a health professional, affirming that they have Crohn’s, colitis or a similar condition.

The card can be obtained by clicking here  https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/crohns_colitis/

“Coping with an illness is hard enough, without added indignity,” said Senator Felder. “This card is a common-sense way to educate business employees of their responsibilities under the Crohn’s and Colitis Fairness Act, and prevent the need to explain or argue over qualifying conditions.”  

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rborchardt@hamodia.com