2 April 2013
New phase of Changing Places campaign launched
Picture shows Alex and Christina Thomson with their daughter Elaine
University of Dundee-based charity PAMIS has launched the next phase of a campaign demanding greater provision of facilities for those who require personal assistance to use public conveniences.
PAMIS staff, service users and their families were at St Enoch Centre in Glasgow to launch the campaign, which calls for 100 'Changing Place' standard toilet facilities to be established across Scotland this year.
People with profound and multiple learning disabilities 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, and this campaign is one such venture.
Assisted changing toilets - known as Changing Places - 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.
St Enoch Centre contains the only Changing Places toilet in Glasgow's city centre, one of just 83 of its kind across Scotland. PAMIS aims to ensure there is at least one public toilet built to the Changing Places standard in every town centre with a population greater than 15,000 and within each new public building such as shopping centres, concert halls, railway stations etc.
Elizabeth McBride, PAMIS Futures Project Officer, said: "To mark our 20th anniversary we are calling for at least 100 Changing Places facilities to be established across Scotland this year, and we hope that in the future we will see the addition of many more.
"All over the country disabled people and their families miss out on everyday activities because of a lack of suitable facilities. People have to either change their loved ones on dirty toilet floors or simply not go out.
"The number of people with complex disabilities is growing and we are all living longer - so more people are likely to need access to Changing Place toilets in the future."
Founded 20 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.
Attending the launch of the campaign were Alex and Christine Thomson from Dundee, whose daughter, Elaine (30) suffers from microcephaly, a neuro-developmental disorder.
As a result of her condition, Elaine is wheelchair-bound. She is unable to communicate and needs 24-hour care. For the last few years Elaine has lived in supported accommodation. Her family care for her overnight once a month and take her out every weekend.
Alex said: "Often when we're out with Elaine the only facilities available are for baby changing which means we have to change her while she stands. If she had a bed to lie on, the experience would be much more dignified and comfortable for her and a lot less stressful for us.
"As my wife and I have got older, we are less able to look after Elaine physically as she is a fully grown woman and we have difficulty supporting her weight."
As part of its campaign, PAMIS is distributing a new directory of Changing Places toilets. To obtain a copy or have facilities added please see www.pamis.org.uk.
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
MOBILE: 07854 953277 |
