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Changing Places |
Mencap Campaigns for
'Changing Places Loos'
Mencap, that marvellous national organisation that works on behalf of people with learning disabilities, is leading a campaign that wants to see a useful percentage of accessible toilets fitted with both adult sized changing boards and hoists. There are many disabled people who suffer the indignity of having to lay down on a public toilet floor so that their carer can aide them in their toiletry needs, as it is the only safe (?) flat area that may be used in private. This indignity needs to be brought to a halt as soon as possible.
The Local Campaigning Group.
Sunderland People First are the well known and respected local organisation that works for the benefit of people who are disabled by learning disabilities. They have been talking with Mencap and are strongly in agreement about the need for accessible toilets to contain hoists and adult changing boards. It was Sunderland People First who invited the DAS to discuss the campaign and we at the DAS have every intention to promote and support this campaign. There are several other local organisations fully supporting the campaign and the Sunderland Carers' Centre were one of the first to become involved. We now ask you to highlight this need in our community at every opportunity that presents itself. There are real people, local people suffering regularly because of the lack of such facilities. You can help end it.
The Lack of facilities.
The full implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), especially since 2006, has led to many people wondering why equality of access is still denied to a growing number of citizens. These are those disabled people who require the use of a hoist so that they may transfer from their wheelchairs to somewhere else. That need includes transfer to a toilet. How many accessible toilets (publicly accessible) have you seen that also have a hoist and an adult sized changing board? Disappointing isn't it.
Disabled People suffering.
Think for a moment what it must be like, first being severely disabled, secondly being mostly reliant on others to help you through every day and finally knowing that wherever you wish to go, shopping, to the town, to the theatre, the sea front or a city park, if you require a toilet you will have to make your way home regardless of how little time you have had at your chosen destination. Your carers or family will also have to put up with it. What choice do they have?
Well there is one choice that some people are all but forced into if they want to extend their time away from home and its facilities. It is not something that most people would agree to lightly. It often leads to a loss of dignity, but it is often the only option available. Continence pads.
Yes there are disabled adults using continence pads purely because there are few accessible WCs with hoists locally available. As a fellow citizen does it make you feel good? No? Well that's fair enough.
Those disabled citizens don't feel good about it either. Remember, we are not talking about a care need due to a medical problem. We are talking about a loss of dignity because the facilities that all non-disabled citizens would rightly demand, are not available to all who require them. i.e. A public toilet that they can use. The population is aging so more and more people will find themselves in the same difficult situation.
The Challenge
We should make it one of our goals to have strategically placed accessible toilets with hoists and adult sized changing boards fitted in our home city of Sunderland. Our city could lead many in the UK in providing these much needed facilities for our fellow citizens. So please, wherever you see it, please support the Changing Places Campaign. Let others know what you know. We must keep pushing for these facilities. They are far too important for too many people.
The Changing Places Toilet.
A Changing Places Toilet needs to be much larger than a usual *Accessible Toilet.(*As described in Part M of the Building Regulations. For Best Practice note the recommendations in BS8300 instead.) This is because of the need for a hoist and also for an adult sized changing board. A full list of the requirements of a Changing Places toilet may be found at the website.
See the campaign at www.changing-places.org
Or contact The Disability Alliance Sunderland (DAS): 0191 5662154
Email: enquiries@dasunderland.com
and we will do our best to answer any questions that you may have.
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