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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, often in a small cubicle, 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. Several towns and cities across the nation have made a start, including our own Sunderland, Gateshead & Newcastle. However there is more to be done and your support could be invaluable in helping us reach our goals.
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 contacted 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 continue promoting and supporting this campaign. There are several other local organisations fully supporting the campaign and the Sunderland Carers’ Centre were also one of the first to become involved. The Sunderland based Disability Independent Advisory Group (DIAG) helped bring this need to the attention of our local council who then reacted so well in supporting the need for such facilities. We ask you to continue highlighting this need in our community at every opportunity. There are real people, local people suffering regularly because of the lack of such facilities. You can be of great help.
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? Not many for sure.
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 apart from struggling to change you on an often fouled public toilet floor and risking their health by being forced to lift you down and back up in such a restricted place?
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 also often leads to a loss of dignity, but it may be the only option available. The use of continence pads!
Yes there are disabled people, including adults, using continence pads purely because there are few accessible WCs with hoists & changing boards locally available. As a fellow citizen does it make you feel good? No, of course not. You know it’s not right. Will you help to put it right?
Many severely 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 someday more and more people may find themselves in the same difficult situation. All the more reason to act now.
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. Sunderland has made a start with some excellent facilities but more are needed. 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 as well.) Extra space is required 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 their 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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