NHS Changing Places Template

I support this as there is a major shortage of Changing Places toilets, especially at hospitals.

People without disabilities take it for granted that toilet facilities will be available wherever they go and this may be so for disabled toilets, but quality will be a factor.

But with Changing Places this is far from the case, and if they are not available this is a major restriction on the freedoms of persons who really need them.

For when you want to go, then you want to go, but if the right facilities are not there then what can you do, for you still need to go.

A Wheelie Great Adventure

According to Government figures, fewer than 40 hospitals in England have a registered Changing Place facility. The reality of this situation is that disabled children, teenagers and adults have no safe toilet to use when attending hospital appointments or when visiting friends and family in hospitals.

Disabled people, and their carers, are being put at risk, due to manual moving and handling techniques being used without appropriate equipment. Disabled people are being put at risk of pressure ulcers due to being sat in soiled pads for prolonged periods of time. All of this while in a hospital setting, in outpatient departments, clinic departments and for anyone just wanting to visit their loved ones.

The Department of Health in England have made available 2 million pounds to provide Changing Places toilets in acute hospital settings. Hospital Trusts do need to apply.

Below is a template to use, in order to request…

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Petition update · Changing Places toilets on Victoria Derbyshire Show · Change.org

Here is a link to the full film that appeared on the Victoria Derbyshire Show, a couple of days ago. Please watch and share x

Source: Petition update · Changing Places toilets on Victoria Derbyshire Show · Change.org

In Britain, it’s not just the train toilets that disabled people can’t get into | DisabledGo News and Blog

For the majority of us planing an outing is not that difficult, but when a disabled person and especially a disabled person using a wheelchair, this can be a minefield.

you need to double check everything and then you can not be guaranteed that all will go to plan. For all transport needs to be adequately accessible and so do the venues and this includes the toilets. What can be stated as being accessible is many times not correct. This may not be intentional by the transport providers and the venue operators, but mainly through their ignorance of the different aspects of disabilities and the varying requirements.

Even if all are suitably accessible will there be a sufficiency of the numbers available. Bus seating being only one example for there will only be one space available and this could be already taken by standing passengers or passengers with prams, who may be reluctant to move from a disability space and I believe that there is no lawful requirement for them to do so, just respect for the disabled person or persons.

Until there is a lawful requirement to provide full disability access and the educating of the Government, business and the general public there can be no full equality for people who are disabled, for the Equality Act is not sufficient.

 

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A few years ago I met friends at a restaurant that had been getting great reviews. I triple-checked that they had wheelchair access (their website made no mention of access) and was assured that they did. Google Street View – I’d checked – showed a mammoth step, but they promised me a ramp. The ramp, as I found when I arrived, was a hastily arranged plank of wood, which they were hoping to shunt me up. Failing that, the chef and waiters would carry me – Cleopatra-style, but without the dignity. “Don’t worry,” the manager said. “The chef is very strong.” Options limited, I reluctantly agreed.

Source: In Britain, it’s not just the train toilets that disabled people can’t get into | DisabledGo News and Blog

How wheelchair friendly is your town? | Care Industry News

How wheelchair friendly is your town? This is the question mobility company Fenetic Wellbeing asked five bloggers in a recent campaign to review the wheelchair

Source: How wheelchair friendly is your town? | Care Industry News

Asda applauded by UK charity for displaying a new disabled sign on its toilet that shows ‘not every disability is visible’ : Sun.

Guest post: Do disabled loo designers see us as a genderless entity? — Scope

Call our free helpline (Open 9am – 5pm weekdays) 0808 800 3333 helpline@scope.org.uk We provide free, independent and impartial information and support on the issues that matter to disabled people and their families. Sign up for our email Receive all the latest news and information about Scope Sign up Community guidelines | Accessibility | Privacy | Cookies | Terms

Source: Guest post: Do disabled loo designers see us as a genderless entity? — Scope

Changing toilet options away from home | Care Industry News

Enjoying time away from home is being made easier with the launch of a new solution for accessible toilets- Space to Change.

Source: Changing toilet options away from home | Care Industry News

Starbucks apologises for telling woman she was ‘not disabled enough’ to use the toilet

Original post from Disabled Go News

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Miss Challis, a supervisor for a care agency, told the Standard: “We went into Starbucks to get a coffee but before that mum needed to use the toilet.

“My mum loves their mugs, so was adding one to the mini-collection, and we wanted to sit down and have a drink because mum needed a rest.

“Both toilets were locked so I asked the lady is she wouldn’t mind opening them for me.

“She looked my mum up and down and said ‘she isn’t disabled.’

“Mum replied with ‘not every disability is visible.’

“From that she reluctantly opened the door, looked my mum up and down again, and said ‘you look perfectly fine to me.’

“To my utter shock I went over to ask to speak to the manager. He said he wasn’t going to deal with it, he didn’t even apologise.”

The manager told Miss Challis that English was not the staff member’s first language, but she said the pair felt this was “no excuse” and left the store.

She said; “From there we went to sit down and have a drink elsewhere and mum was very, very upset and felt humiliated.

“I was so upset; when my mum is upset I’m upset and she’s a very strong woman so seeing her break is heartbreaking for me.”

Miss Challis said the incident has put her off visiting Starbucks in future, telling the Standard: “I used to go there quite a bit, and I’ll never ever use them again – Costa all the way.”

A spokeswoman for Starbucks UK said: “We have investigated this matter and would like to pass on our apologies to the customer affected. Our toilets are always available for our customers use.”

Liz Sayce, chief executive of Disability Rights UK, said the incident highlighted the need for companies to be more aware of unseen disabilities.

She said: “There has been a legal obligation since 1999 to offer equal access to services to people with any form of disability.

“I’m glad that Starbucks has apologised, but we really need companies to make it clear to all their staff that they have a legal duty to make services accessible to people with any kind of disability.

“So often the public thinks that because the the person isn’t using a wheelchair they’re not really disabled.

“Disabilities like arthritis, diabetes, heart conditions are just as real.

“It can be very upsetting if you are not welcomed and a service is not made accessible to you.”

Read the full article online: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/hold-waiting-for-additional-comments-starbucks-apologises-for-telling-woman-she-was-not-disabled-a2916486.html

Roisin Norris

Hi I’m Roisin Norris, Digital Marketing Executive at DisabledGo and I will be uploading blogs and news for you all to read.

More posts from author   …………..’

Service station Welcome Break causes fury ‘after saying it isn’t interested in providing new disabled toilets’

Original post from Disabled Go News

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Service station Welcome Break has caused fury after being accused of saying it’s “not interested” in providing new disabled toilets.

The roadside firm was contacted by campaign group Changing Places who offered to install new disabled toilets in their service stations.

However, the campaign group was left furious when it claimed Welcome Break replied, saying: “Thanks for the interest in Welcome Break, unfortunately this isn’t something we would be interested in at the moment.”

This led to a storm of protest on social media, with some users saying they will boycott the service station.

Lianne Watt wrote: “That’s a disgrace” while Kerry Bignell added: “Shame on them. They are not so Welcome are they!”

Changing Places say there toilets are essential to all severely disabled people.

They say standard disabled toilet are not accessible for many, especially those who need a hoist and a changing bed.

In a statement today, Welcome Break said its comment which sparked the controversy was in response to the company attending an event, and not over the installation of new disabled toilets.

A spokesman said: “Welcome Break takes the comfort and safety of all its customers very seriously. Each of our sites offers the highest standard of disabled parking, access and toilets as required by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. This includes our hotel facilities.

“It is our priority to ensure all our customers can enjoy a safe and high standard visit to our motorway service areas.

“Our correspondence with Changing Places was made in reference to our attending an event and was not an opinion on its products and initiatives.

“Welcome Break always gives appropriate due consideration to the provision of facilities whenever there are developments on our sites, and will continue to do so.”

Read the full article online: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/service-station-welcome-break-causes-5992255

Roisin Norris

Hi I’m Roisin Norris, Digital Marketing Executive at DisabledGo and I will be uploading blogs and news for you all to read.

More posts from author   …………’

To the Woman Who Tutted at Me Using the Disabled Toilets

Being judgemental is not a good trait, as in most cases those that do are not aware of all or in deed any of the factors regarding the situation they are judging.

Kindness Blog

Dear lady who loudly tutted at me using the disabled loos,

I know you saw me running in, with my able bodied legs and all. You saw me opening the door with my two working arms. You saw me without a wheelchair. Without any visible sign of disability.

You tutted loudly as I rattled the handle with my hands that work perfectly and my able voice call to my kids that I’d be out in just a minute.

My lack of wheelchair may have suggested to you that I was some lazy cow who didn’t care. Some inconsiderate bitch who was using something I wasn’t entitled too. (I actually carry a card to explain that I’m entitled to and have a disability key if you’d have cared to ask). You may have seen my face blushing as I caught your eye and assumed I was showing guilt at blagging the…

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