25 June 2009

'Changing places' facilities for every community

Photo opportunity: Councillor Borthwick will meet Michael Williams and his mother at the disabled toilet at Windmill Gardens & Beach, Broughty Ferry at 10.50am on Friday, June 26th, 2009.

Depute Lord Provost Ian Borthwick will join a Dundee family to highlight the importance of adequate facilities for disabled people on Friday, as part of National Learning Disability Week.

Councillor Borthwick will meet Nessie Williams and her son Michael (30) at the disabled toilets at Windmill Gardens & Beach, Broughty Ferry, to hear how fully accessible facilities such as these give families such as the Williams’ increased freedom and can make a huge difference to their lives.

The event is organised by PAMIS, a charity working with families caring for a relative with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) and complex health needs in order to raise awareness of a campaign to increase the number of 'Changing Places' toilets, which are needed by anyone who cannot self-transfer on and off the toilet.

PAMIS is encouraging people to sign a petition calling on the Scottish Government to ensure that local authorities provide at least one fully accessible Changing Places public toilet within the centre of all towns with a population greater than 15,000, and within all new large, publicly accessible buildings.

Mrs Williams, who cares for her son full-time, explained how the petition, if successful, could make a huge difference to their lives.

She said, 'Being able to go to the loo is part of life and yet without fully accessible toilets, like this one at Broughty Ferry, most families who have a disabled child or relative have to plan their outings and think, is there a toilet that we can use? Often the answer is no.'

'This is a big issue for families and so going out for the day is limited if fully accessible toilets are not available. We need a lot more of them so that we can get out and about and go where everyone else goes without even thinking about it.'

Councillor Borthwick gave his backing to the campaign, saying, 'I wholeheartedly support this initiative and, clearly, there is a very urgent need for the provision of facilities such as this.'

'I would give every encouragement to those who are working hard to make sure the needs of disabled people and their families are met, and I wish them every success in this campaign.'

PAMIS, a unit within the University of Dundee, provides a wide range of services and projects for people with profound learning disabilities and their families. These include a Family Support Service, information, training, campaigning and advocacy. PAMIS also works closely with other professional organisations in the learning disability field.

Brenda Garrard from PAMIS said, 'The PAMIS Changing Places Campaign has been running for a number of years. We would love to have a fully accessible Changing Places toilet in Dundee City Centre.'

'This would not only meet the needs of Dundee families but also meet the needs of any visitors travelling to the city who have a disability.'

The petition can be signed on the PAMIS website at www.dundee.ac.uk/pamis.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk