Irish campaign for accessible changing places
Standard toilets and accessible WCs do not always meet the needs of all people with disabilities. For example, people with serious impairments such as spinal injuries, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis or multiple learning disabilities require extra facilities that are not provided in standard toilets or accessible WCs. That’s why accessible changing places are important.
Changing places facilities are combined toilet, shower and changing rooms specially designed for use by people with complex and multiple impairments/disabilities that require the help of up to two carers, with extra space and facilities to allow them to use the toilet. Changing places need to be suitably sized (4 metres by 3 metres) and need to be fitted with an over-head tracked hoist system to allow carers to hoist and move the person within the facility, a changing bench, shower and peninsular WC.
Ailis Healy (28) has cerebral palsy and is a wheelchair user. Ailis has invited national disability organisations in Ireland to support the campaign and to consider taking an active role in the promotion and raising awareness of appropriately equipped accessible toilet facilities throughout Ireland. Inclusion Ireland, the national association for people with an intellectual disability, is already backing the campaign.
The campaign is recommending:
- Creating an awareness of the need to provide changing places in Transport terminals; Sports and leisure facilities; Motorway services; Museums, concert halls, art galleries and other cultural centres; Stadia and large auditoria; Shopping centres; Educational buildings (e.g. schools, colleges and universities) and health facilities.
- Mapping and identifying available changing places within Ireland and the creation of a website to promote same.
- Targeting hotels and hotels chains and lobbying for them to install at accessible changing places and equipment in order to obtain the appropriate ‘Changing Place’ status.
- That the public sector ensures facilities that are open to the public (town halls, main public libraries, and civic centres) cater for a wide diverse range of users and provide changing places.
- Liaising with larger shopping centres/shops that may have options to install equipment in order to obtain the appropriate ‘Changing Places’ status.
For further information on the campaign, please contact us on 01-4151285 or e-mail [email protected] and we will forward additional relevant information.
For further details on the design of accessible changing places please click on this link.
