Flush away exclusion by spending a penny

Published On Thu 29 Oct 2015 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 individuals and workplaces across the country raise money and awareness of the group’s work during World Toilet Day on Thursday, 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.

Chief Executive Jenny Miller said, “We want to encourage 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.

More than 230,000 people across the UK are estimated to require personal assistance to use the toilet. 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.

PAMIS are using World Toilet Day to bolster their campaign, and are asking for organisations to register their support and make a donation that will be used to further the work they carry out on behalf of PMLD people and their families.

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