Have your say on government e-petitions

Mandate paper towels in public toilets for sensory-sensitive people

Submitted by Denise Ann Dack on Sunday 25th January 2026

Published on Thursday 26th February 2026

Current status: Open

Open until: Wednesday 26th August 2026

Current Signatures: 77
(count is updated approximately hourly)

Relevant Departments

Tagged with

Anxiety ~ autism ~ Autistic ~ Avoid ~ Children ~ Clothes ~ Cost ~ Distressed ~ Effective ~ Electric ~ Individuals ~ Mandate ~ Panic ~ Paper ~ People in the UK ~ quiet ~ Restaurants ~ shops ~ Spaces

Petition Action

Mandate paper towels in public toilets for sensory-sensitive people

Petition Details

Require public toilets (including shops, restaurants, and public buildings) to provide paper hand towels as an accessible alternative to electric dryers. This could support proper hand drying and hygiene for people with sensory sensitivities, such as autistic individuals distressed by dryer noise.

Additional Information

Electric hand dryers terrify some autistic children. They can cause them to panic, cry, cover their ears and wipe their wet hands on their clothes. Autism affects 1 in 100 people in the UK; many with noise sensitivities avoid toilets or outings. We think paper hand towels as a quiet alternative are simple, low-cost and effective. They can reduce anxiety, and make public spaces inclusive for autistic children and adults.


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216.73.216.219 Wed, 03 Jun 2026 23:35:13 +0100