Today is Changing Places Awareness Day – an annual event highlighting the importance of fully-accessible toilets, which are used by more than a quarter of a million people in the UK.
Calling for more fully accessible toilets
Together, we work with PAMIS and co-chair the Changing Places Consortium. We campaign for Changing Places toilets to be installed in all big public spaces, with more needed to ensure people can fully access their community.
Changing Places Awareness Day marks the official launch of the campaign, which started back in July 2006. Allowing us to celebrate our achievements to date and to thank the dedicated campaigners, who fight for change.
What is a Changing Places toilet?
Currently, over 2,400 Changing Places toilets are installed in the UK. The Changing Places Consortium works with a range of companies, providers, venues and government departments to further increase this number.
Different to a standard accessible toilet, they have extra space (12 sqm) to help accommodate larger wheelchairs and the presence of carers to assist and support the users. It has specialist equipment such as an adult size changing bench, ceiling track and hoist, peninsular toilet, and height adjustable sink.
The toilets provide a lifeline for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, hidden or physical disabilities, like muscular dystrophy. Without these toilets, people are restricted, preferring to not leave their homes, limit fluid intake, or having to be changed on dirty toilet floors.
Changing Places in numbers
- 2,457 Changing Places toilets registered.
- 460 registered over the past year, seeing a 50% increase on the year before.
- New sites opening at Blackpool Zoo, Butlins, New Forestry England and P&O Ferries.
Call for more Changing Places
Our Director of Care, Campaigns and Support, Rob Burley, said: “For some, a standard accessible toilet won’t meet their needs, which is why we’re proud to be the co-chair of the Changing Places Consortium.
“A person living with a muscle wasting or weakening condition might be in a large-powered wheelchair, so may need extra space to manoeuvre, need assistance from a family member or a carer and require some of the specialist equipment provided in a Changing Places toilet. People tell us that without a Changing Places toilet, they’ve had to risk their health and safety and that their dignity has been impacted by having to be changed on a toilet floor, rather than having access to hoists and adult changing benches.
“Legislation calls for them to be mandatory in new buildings over a certain capacity, but given the difference these facilities make, we encourage all venues to install a Changing Places toilet, regardless of size, as it will make a huge difference.”
Changing Places facilities provide a lifeline
Kerry Thompson was diagnosed with a form of muscular dystrophy (FHL1) and regularly uses Changing Places toilets. She said: “Taking a simple trip out can be a military operation. I have a check list of things to take, especially if it’s more than a few hours. The biggest problem I face when going anywhere is using a disabled toilet. I find some are simply too small to fit me and my wheelchair in, and it can sometimes feel very claustrophobic. Manoeuvring can also be tricky or near impossible. My only option is sometimes having to wait until I get home. However, I suffer with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), so holding it can prove really challenging.
“When I found out about the Changing Places toilets campaign, I wanted to get involved and help spread the word on how important these facilities are to so many people, like me, and their families and carers. It makes such a huge difference.”
- Learn more about the Changing Place campaign and how you can support
- Find out more about the Changing Places Awareness Day
- Why not share your muscular dystrophy story with us?