This session was devoted to the issue of changing places and their provision (or lack of). Evidence was given of how the lack of these forced people who needed them to change their behaviour (e.g., curtail opportunities for going out or travelling). It was pointed out that it is not mandatory in building regulations for new builds to include these. The Changing Places Consortium, founded 2005 and co-chaired by Muscular Dystrophy UK and Scottish charity PAMIS, is pressing for strengthening of certain building regulations to make provision mandatory in all large new builds.
The absolute number of changing places in the UK is much too low at 1,202 and represents a real barrier to user's lives.
Useful sites: http://www.changing-places.org
http://changingplaces.uktoiletmap.org
It was also noted that even some of the retail outlets which had signed up to Purple Tuesday (see other post) had themselves little or no provision.
A minister for Local Government, Rishi Sunak, spoke. He said he was pressing the case for more provision in government. He also said had had no personal experience of this issue but was very keen to learn so he could move things forward.
I raised the point that relevant pupils in schools needed this provision on a more-than-once daily basis, not just when they were going out somewhere, and this was noted.
Zac Kerr, who campaigns on this issue ( http://www.changing-places.org/get_involved/read_about_local_campaigns/blogs_by_campaigners/zack_kerr%E2%80%99s_blog-_campaigning_for_changing_places_.aspx), was present, and reported his successes, which generated a heartfelt round of applause. One point he raised was that sometimes existing accessible toilets can be upgraded to changing places at relatively low cost. This point is useful when encountering the argument that it will cost 100k to provide this facility, etc.
The chair, Lisa Cameron MP (SNP) will be writing on behalf of the APPG to institutions in various sectors to encourage them to prioritise this.
The minutes of this meeting will eventually appear on the website https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/policy-campaigns/all-party-parliamentary-disability-group-appdg#contribute, through which anyone may also contact the Secretary to enquire about attendance and/or submitting evidence on particular issues. It's open to all!
Max
