12 January 2009

Mencap calls for more Changing Places toilets as part of Learning Disability Week 2009

Mencap will be calling for fully accessible toilets for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities as part of its annual awareness week later this year.

Learning Disability Week will run from 22 - 28 June 2009.  During the week the learning disability charity together with the Changing Places Consortium plan to raise awareness about the lack of Changing Places toilets for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

The Changing Places campaign which was launched in 2006, calls for more Changing Places toilets to be installed in big public places, including city centres, shopping centres, arts venues, hospitals and motorway service stations.

A Changing Places toilet is different to a standard accessible toilet.  It is a room equipped to allow people to use the toilet with assistance or have their continence pads changed. This room should include a toilet with space for a carer either side, an adult-sized height adjustable changing bench and a hoist.

Without access to Changing Places toilets carers are often forced to change family members who have profound and multiple learning disabilities on a dirty toilet floor with little or no privacy. However the alternative is to limit outings to a couple of hours or to not go out at all.

Mark Goldring, chief executive of learning disability charity Mencap, says:

"Mencap is calling for Changing Places toilets to be provided in all big public places.  It is unacceptable that people with profound and multiple learning disabilities have to suffer the indignity and health risks of being changed on dirty toilet floors.  The Changing Places campaign is so important because it is about more than just toilets; it's about people's quality of life."

Mencap plans to develop resources for local campaigners and will be holding events to promote the campaign throughout Learning Disability Week. For more information about Learning Disability Week go to www.mencap.org.uk/ldw

-ends-

Notes to editors

For more information please contact Lucy Hannagan, Mencap press office, lucy.hannagan@mencap.org.uk, 020 7696 6017

• The Changing Places Consortium members are Mencap, PAMIS, Nottingham City Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council, the Valuing People Support Team, the Scottish Government and the Centre for Accessible Environments
• There are currently 63 Changing Places toilets across the UK. The location of existing Changing Places toilets can be found at www.changing-places.org/map.asp
• People who need a Changing Places toilet include those with profound and multiple learning disabilities, some people who have had a severe stroke, some people with acquired head injuries and some frail and elderly people.
• Mencap works with people with a learning disability and their families and carers.
• 1.5 million people in the UK have a learning disability.
• A learning disability is caused by the way the brain develops before, during or shortly after birth. It is always lifelong.
• Learning disability affects someone's intellectual and social development all their life. People with a learning disability find it harder than others to learn, understand and communicate.
• People with a learning disability don't get an equal chance in life. Mencap fights to change laws and services and to provide better access to education, employment and leisure facilities, supporting thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they want.
• It is not a mental illness and should not be confused with mental health issues. It is not dyslexia or aspergers syndrome.
• It used to be called mental handicap but we don't use this term anymore because most people with a learning disability find it offensive.
• For information about learning disability issues please call the Learning Disability Helpline (England) on 0808 808 1111 or visit www.askmencap.info
• For online press information, go to www.mencap.org.uk/press