‘Spend a Penny for PAMIS’ and help flush away exclusion

Published On Thu 16 Oct 2014 by Grant Hill

University of Dundee-based charity PAMIS is inviting members of the public to flush away exclusion by spending a penny to support people with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) and their families.

The ‘Spend a Penny for PAMIS’ campaign will see workplaces across the country raise money and awareness of the group’s work during World Toilet Day on Wednesday, 19th November.

People with PMLD and their families face many barriers to accessing and participating in the community. PAMIS works on a number of fronts to enable inclusion and improve their quality of life, including campaigning for assisted changing toilets – known as Changing Places – in every town centre with a population greater than 15,000 and within each new public building in Scotland.

Changing Places toilets are different to disabled toilets as they contain specialist equipment including hoists and adult-sized changing benches to allow those with complex disabilities to visit public conveniences more comfortably. Extra space is also incorporated to accommodate up to two carers.

Director Loretto Lambe said, “We want to encouraging workplaces to raise awareness of the difficulties people with PMLD have while attempting to access suitable toilet facilities in Scotland. Back in 2006 PAMIS started the ‘Changing Places’ campaign to ensure there was provision of accessible toilets for people with PMLD and their families and carers.

“Without these facilities, families have to change the person they care for on a cramped and dirty toilet floor. The alternative is to limit outings to a few short hours – or to not go out at all. We’re asking organisations and people to help us flush away this exclusion.”

World Toilet Day is the brainchild of the World Toilet Organization (WTO), a global non-profit organisation committed to improving toilet and sanitation conditions worldwide. Founded in 2001 with 15 members, it now has 151 member organisations in 53 countries working towards eliminating the toilet taboo and delivering sustainable sanitation.

Founded 22 years ago, PAMIS is the only organisation in Scotland that works solely with people with profound and multiple learning difficulties and their families. 

People with such complex disabilities require a high level of support. The majority are lifelong wheelchair users and are also likely to have sensory impairments with either vision or hearing affected, and in some cases, limitations to both senses. More than 230,000 people across the UK are estimated to require personal assistance to use the toilet.

More information about Spend a Penny for PAMIS is available at www.pamis.org.uk, or to make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/spendapennyforpamis/.  

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
Tel: +44 (0)1382 384768
Mobile: 07854 953277
Email: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk