Changing Places Toilets

Diversi-TIES · Joined: 09 Jan 2010 Posts: 49

Thousands of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities cannot use standard accessible toilets. They need support from one or two carers to use the toilet or to have their continence pad changed. Standard accessible toilets do not provide changing benches or hoists. Most are too small to accommodate more than one person. Without Changing Places toilets, the person with disabilities is put at risk, and families are forced to risk their own health and safety changing their child/youth/spouse on a dirty toilet floor. This is dangerous, unhygienic and undignified.

It is now accepted and expected that everyone has a right to live in the community, to move around within it and access all its facilities. Government policy promotes the idea of ‘community participation’ and ‘active citizenship’, but for some people with disabilities the lack of a fully accessible toilet is denying them this right. There are almost no public Changing Places toilets in the UK. Providing these toilets in public places would make a dramatic difference to the lives of thousands of people who desperately need these facilities.

A Petition was started by myself, here, on the Isle of Wight and though a high level of petitions have been returned, many haven't.
DAVID'S STORY - David has profound and multiple learning disabilities. He requires total care due to quadriplegic cerebral palsy. He has epilepsy, severe scoliosis, dystonia, and digestive problems that require him to be fed by gastrostomy.

David requires total care and support for all his day-to-day needs, and requires support to enable him to participate in any meaningful activity. David uses a special moulded wheelchair – that is larger than many regular wheelchairs – to get around. He is doubly incontinent and therefore needs pads to meet his continence needs.

David enjoys a very good quality of life. He attend a day centre from Tuesday to Friday, and goes to College every Monday. He enjoys a variety of activities including using the spa pool, sensory cooking, drama and computing.

He loves visits to the cinema, ten pin bowling and animal parks. Like any teenager, he loves to go shopping for clothes, DVDs and music. David is an outdoor person, and loves going out and about for the day in his adapted minibus.

David needs to use a Changing Places toilet when he is away from home. He requires a height adjustable changing bench so his carer can change his pad, and a hoist so he can be helped to transfer safely from his wheelchair to the changing bench.

But the lack of Changing Places toilets in public places means that David’s life is restricted.

When he is taken out from his day centre he cannot be changed as paid carers are not allowed to lift people without the use of a hoist. As a consequence, his activities have to fit around when his continence pad needs changing, restricting his choice of activities.

When David and his family go out and about, they are forced to attempt to change David in facilities which do not meet their needs. This is dangerous, undignified and can be distressing.

David's mum Liz told me "On a recent trip to visit relatives, my husband and I tried to change David in a service station’s disabled toilet. The cubicle was so small we had to leave the wheelchair outside while we manoeuvred David out from his chair and onto the floor. There was no room for us to kneel down with David, so we had to bend over him to change him, which was extremely strenuous."

"The worse was to follow, as we found there was no room for both of us to safely get hold of David to lift him back into his wheelchair. So I had to lift him up from the ground myself and manoeuvre him into his chair outside the cubicle. I was nearly in tears, as I was so anxious not to drop him, or fall with him, in such an awkward position. We have never used a similar facility again."

Due to the lack of suitable Changing Places toilets, David and his family have tried to find their own solution – but this is far from ideal.

"At weekends or during the holidays, we take David out in his minibus which has darkened windows so he can be changed inside. David is now a fully-grown man, taller than me, and it is extremely difficult to change him in this way. I have to manually lift David out of his wheelchair and then kneel with him in my arms as I manoeuvre him through the door onto the floor of the van – it is absolutely back breaking!"

The provision of Changing Places toilets in public places would open up a whole new world of possibility to David and his family, as well as having a major positive impact on their health."

"If Changing Places toilets were provided in public places it would make a huge difference to both David’s life and my life. David’s basic human rights and dignity would not be compromised – that in itself would make a difference to my life! My health would certainly improve, with a reduction in the amount of manual lifting I have to do."

"David’s choices and opportunities within the community would open up – how I would love to take David to the theatre, shows, and exhibitions! Visits that I can only rarely make with David now."

"David could also take part in activities with support from his carers, which only I will take part in at the moment due to the health risks associated with changing David. He could enjoy trips or activities with other friends he has made through his day centre or college. How normal is that for any 19 year-old young man!"

Useful link - http://www.changing-places.org/

I would ask those that received them in the Carers Newsletter, the LINk Newsletter and the Isle of Wight Association for Spina Bifida's Wightlink News take a few minutes to fill in and return the petition to the FREEPOST address given.

The petition can be found on page 4 of this LINk Newsletter - http://www.makesachange.org.uk/cms/site/docs/Isle%20of%20Wight/Newsletters/IoW%20Link%20Newsletter%20Final%20Nov%2009.pdf

Also should anyone wish to support the Isle of Wight Campaign, please do not hesitate to contact me and I will ensure you receive the petition for your completion. I can be contacted on IoW 740756, or via e-mail at alwidav@sky.com. Regards, Alan Davies.

Diversi-TIES · Joined: 09 Jan 2010 Posts: 49

There is to be a meeting on the 26th January from 12 noon, at The Isle of Wight Society for the Blind, Millbrooke House, 137 Carisbrooke Road, Newport, PO30 1DD.

Michaela Whitaker, community development officer from MENCAP will be guest speaker. Michaela will give an informal talk, about other campaign successes and how they have been achieved etc, how Mencap can help and how she can be involved and open it up to discussion. Parking is at the rear of the building, but space is limited.

Public transport links are good, bus service number 7 Newport – Carisbrooke – Shorwell – Brighstone – Freshwater.

Tea/coffee and biscuits will be provided.

Venue is wheelchair accessible, and meeting room is on ground floor.

Would those attending please contact me (Alan Davies) asap. Tel number IoW 740756 or via email at alwidav@sky.com

Diversi-TIES · Joined: 09 Jan 2010 Posts: 49

There is to be a Changing Places type facility at the Riverside Centre in Newport. Whilst I appreciate that this facility will be an asset at the Centre, I do not see how this will benefit the Island Community as a whole.

EinsteinsGhost · Joined: 20 Jun 2008 Posts: 91 Location: Ryde

Hi Divers,

Come on now! It's a a good start. Why so negative? I have every sympathy with your aims, I really do, but given the public finances at the moment, worthy though you cause may be, just be glad you have this at least.

Wight Portal · Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 89 Location: Carisbrooke

I'm going to reply to your posts Divers-TIES, as I know what it's like to be talking to yourself, go see my site and see what I mean.

The subject of disability is ignored, swept under the carpet, 'There for the grace of God go I, or any of my loved ones' is the war cry of the able bodied society.

Your description of David's plight just to be a part of the community is intolerable in this day and age.
We have rules coming out of our ears for minority groups, whether it be race, religion or sexuality, but we have failed big time when it comes to disability.

Diversi-TIES · Joined: 09 Jan 2010 Posts: 49

EinsteinsGhost · Joined: 20 Jun 2008 Posts: 91 Location: Ryde

A tad over- dramatic divers! As said, I really do sympathise with your aims but please! Look at what is happening in Haiti! Get some perspective.

Diversi-TIES · Joined: 09 Jan 2010 Posts: 49

Diversi-TIES · Joined: 09 Jan 2010 Posts: 49

Joyce is 33 and is events and promotions officer for the organisation PAMIS. Joyce really enjoys her work – which has only been made possible because a Changing Places toilet has been installed in the building she works in.

"I have cerebral palsy and have quite high support needs for everyday tasks,"

Joyce explains. "I use a powered wheelchair at all times and I need full assistance in personal care, including going to the toilet.

"PAMIS, at the University of Dundee, have put in a Changing Places toilet with all the equipment I need – a hoist, peninsular toilet and plenty of space for two carers.

Without this facility I would have to stay at home, as my paid personal assistants are not allowed to lift or transfer me without a hoist due to moving and handling policies. I would therefore miss out on the benefits of working and making a real contributing to helping other people with disabilities."

As well as her job, Joyce also enjoys reading, listening to music, and going out and about in her local community to places like pubs and restaurants. But she has not been so lucky in finding Changing Places toilets in these places, meaning her social life is restricted.

"It is very difficult to go out because very few places have accessible toilets for people with disabilities, and those that have do not meet my needs. My days out have to be cut short because there are no Changing Places toilets with the right equipment and room to manoeuvre my wheelchair.

"If Changing Places toilets were provided in public places it would really change my life. As a disabled woman, this would enable me to go out whenever I liked –instead of having to plan my life around when I have to go to the toilet!"

Diversi-TIES · Joined: 09 Jan 2010 Posts: 49

Diversi-TIES · Joined: 09 Jan 2010 Posts: 49

Diversi-TIES is an online group aimed at all Groups UK wide, through which individuals with a physical and/or sensory impairment can come together. Individuals within the Group will be supported when they seek to consult with private, public and third sector suppliers of goods and services. This will result in the removal of barriers which disable people with an impairment. Link - http://wight-access-group.webs.com/index.htm

Diversi-TIES · Joined: 09 Jan 2010 Posts: 49

Two more NHS dentists open. One in Freshwater, one in Ryde (see article in County Press). Do not ring NHS Helpline as article states, you have to registrer online at www.hampshiredentalhelpline.nhs.uk

Diversi-TIES · Joined: 09 Jan 2010 Posts: 49

Diversi-TIES · Joined: 09 Jan 2010 Posts: 49

Diversi-TIES is an online Group based on the Isle of Wight, through which individuals with a physical and/or sensory impairment can speak as one. Individuals within the Group will be supported when they seek to consult with private, public and third sector suppliers of goods and services. The aim being, the removal of barriers which disable people with an impairment.

Diversi-TIES can be found on Facebook, here on the Isle of Wight Forum and also has a dedicated website http://diversi-ties.webs.com/

Please feel free to pass this info on to someone you know who may wish to contribute to as a volunter and/or may benefit from the support of this Group.

Alan Davies
Diversi-TIES

Diversi-TIES · Joined: 09 Jan 2010 Posts: 49