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Today marks a significant milestone in the fight for Changing Places toilets - Changing Places Toilet Awareness Day, which celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Changing Places toilet campaign. For a quarter of a century, campaigners and the Changing Places toilet consortium have been working tirelessly to raise awareness and campaign for more of these life-changing facilities for disabled people, their families, and their carers.
What Are Changing Places Toilets?
Changing Places toilets are designed to accommodate individuals who are unable to use standard accessible toilets. Changing Places toilets are equipped with extra features such as:
A height-adjustable changing bench for comfort and ease.
A ceiling track hoist to help transfer users from wheelchairs safely.
A large space to allow for carers and assistants to assist comfortably.
A centrally placed (peninsular) toilet so that carers can assist a person onto the toilet
A Safe, clean, and dignified environments that make personal care needs manageable.
These facilities are critical in ensuring that users are able to participate in everyday activities without barriers.
A Look Back: 20 Years of Progress
It all started in 2005 when the Changing Places toilet campaign was born. The initial goal was simple yet powerful: to ensure that people with disabilities could access clean, safe, and functional toilets when they went out into their community and travelled throughout the UK. Prior to the campaign, many individuals had no choice but to rely on inadequate, unsafe, or sometimes humiliating alternatives, such as changing their loved ones on a toilet floor or the car boot.
Since then, thousands of Changing Places toilets have been installed in public spaces across the UK, and the campaign has sparked a global movement. The 20th anniversary today isn’t just a celebration of how far we’ve come—it’s also a reminder of the ongoing need for more inclusive Changing Places toilets.
Why Do Changing Places Toilets Matter?
- Dignity and Respect: Having access to a proper, clean, and private space for personal care is essential for maintaining the dignity of people with disabilities. Without these facilities, many people are forced to stay at home, limiting their ability to engage in society.
- Inclusion and Independence: Changing Places toilets make it possible for individuals to attend events, visit public spaces, and travel, knowing that they have the facilities they need to be self-sufficient.
- Support for Carers: These toilets are not just for the individuals using them—they also provide crucial support for carers who assist with personal care. The extra space, equipment, and accessibility features make the process much easier and safer for both the user and the carer.
- Health and Well-being: The hoists and adjustable benches in Changing Places toilets help reduce the risks of injury or discomfort, ensuring users can manage their personal care needs in a safe, clean environment.
The Road Ahead
Despite the progress made over the past 20 years, there’s still much work to be done. Changing Places toilets are still not available in many key public spaces, and many individuals continue to face barriers in their daily lives. The campaign is not over - today serves as a reminder of the ongoing need to ensure that every person, regardless of their disability, has equal access to public spaces and services.
As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Changing Places toilets, let's continue to raise awareness, advocate for more facilities, and push for a world where everyone can live without limits. Join the movement. Support Changing Places toilets. Make the world more accessible for all.
For more information about Changing Places toilets and for free advice contact consortium chair PAMIS (Promoting A More Inclusive Society) by emailing changingplaces@pamis.org.uk.