Changing Places

Standard disabled toilets do not meet the needs of thousands of people, including 40,000 people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD).

Without adequate 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 not go out at all. Changing Places toilets have a height-adjustable changing bench, a hoist and plenty of space - and can make all the difference to someone with PMLD.

To find out why Changing Places toilets are so important, watch our campaigns video and hear from mother and daughter Bethan and Lowri.

Changing Places toilets have a height-adjustable changing bench, a hoist and plenty of space. Mencap is part of the Changing Places consortium and we believe that:

• Changing Places toilets should be installed in all big public places, including shopping centres, arts venues, stations and airports, in addition to standard disabled toilets
• Planning guidance and regulations should be updated to ensure all new buildings have to include a Changing Places toilet.

In collaboration with the Changing Places Consortium we are:

• lobbying public places to install Changing Places toilets in their venues
• campaigning for a change to building and planningregulations so new buildings have to include a Changing Places toilet. Read about our recent success in getting Changing Places toilets included in British Standard 8300:2009
• mapping Changing Places. You can see a map of all the existing Changing Places toilets on the Changing Places website.