disabled products & services
Changing the options away from home
Architect Vaila Morrison explains why appropriate toilets away from home are essential for disabled people
Planning, building and financial constraints influence every- one’s ability to do everyday things when away from home –pick up the groceries, go to the shops, enjoy a cup of coffee, go to the toilet – things that play a crucial role in everyone’s lives. We go to the toilet on average eight times a day, so if you are
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sending any time away from home, you will need to find a toilet. Most people don’t even give this a second thought, as there are toilets everywhere you go, even at temporary events. Legislation is very clear about adequate numbers of toilets for different building types, and occupant capacities – if you are able to use a standard toilet cubicle, that is. For many, the type of toilet available –or unavailable –is a pivotal consideration as to where they go. The recent Lords Select Committee report into the impact
of the 2010 Equality Act highlighted that “Many restaurants, pubs and clubs are difficult to access, with many not providing basic facilities such as a disabled toilet.” Under said Act, ‘service providers’ are required to make reasonable adjustments- includ- ing to the built environment- to address issues that would put a disabled person at a ‘substantial’ disadvantage. The Act calls for reasonable adjustments to be made before
the need arises. Although most public buildings will give access to a standard wheelchair loo, if you need any degree of help to go to the toilet, the majority of these toilet facilities just don’t provide enough space, nor the right equipment. It’s an issue that affects up to:
•1.5 million wheelchair users •One in 10 people who have either bladder or bowel incontinence
•1.5 million people with a learning disability •1.2 million people living with stroke •Up to 100,000 amputees •30,000 children with cerebral palsy •13,000 people with acquired brain injuries •100,000 people with multiple sclerosis •350,000 people with a neural disease that means they need help with daily life
•75,000 people affected by spina bifida As a mum to a child with complex needs, I know from
personal experience just how much impact appropriate toilet
facilities have on our decision to go somewhere – or not. It influences even when and where we do our weekly shop. You wouldn’t expect a parent to put their baby on a public
toilet floor to change a nappy. Indeed you may not even put your handbag down on one, But for the adults and children who are unable to stand, and need assistance to be cleaned or changed as part of their personal care regime, that is the reality they face. That is the reality my daughter faces. Either that, or we stick close to home, cut our trip short, or don’t go at all. Changing Places toilets were conceived to address this
issue, and have had great success. There are now over 850 open across the UK. Changing Places are provided in addition to conventional Document M type wheelchair-accessible toilets, and provide at least 12m2
of space – enough to
accommodate the user and up to two carers – a hoist and adult-sized changing bench. It would be fantastic if Changing Places were installed everywhere the public go. For large new buildings e.g. transport
Continued overleaf...
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n an ideal world, everyone would be able to access life beyond their front door with the same degree of ease. But unfortunately we don’t live in an ideal world…yet!
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