All too often businesses will pull out the argument that they don’t need to improve toilet facilities because they are already “meeting minimum legal standards”.
They are, after all, providing a “toilet-with-a-wheelchair-logo-on-the-door”. They don’t see the need to do anything else.
Indeed, an Asda store recently won praise for putting another sign on that door to remind people that not all disabilities are visible, that not everyone who needs to use that toilet will be using a wheelchair. It is a positive step and I think that more places should give that reminder.
The reason Asda felt the need to use the extra sign is because most people assume that the only people who need those toilet facilities are wheelchair users.
Yet one of the big groups of people who cannot use these toilets are wheelchair users.
There are many full time wheelchair users who are completely independent people, totally able to self-transfer if they can get their powered wheelchair next to the toilet.
Clearly not happening here.
Bins in the way and the toilet is too close to the wall. Powered chairs have a big base and wheels behind the seat.
Even for someone who can manage a few steps, the rails on only one side are not helpful. Many people need to get their chair in front of the toilet to transfer.
People who can self transfer using their upper body strength cannot use this toilet.
Turning is not easy either.
It would be impossible to lift Adam out of his chair and onto the toilet in this room.
It would be impossible for friends of mine who use powered chairs but who can self-transfer to use this toilet. They are unable to use this toilet.
Adam is not able to self transfer. He needs a hoist to lift him from his chair and to support him when using the toilet. He cannot use a toilet without a hoist. He cannot use this toilet.
So who exactly are these toilets with a logo on the door aimed at?
Not us.
Not most of the disabled people we know. Disabled by unusable facilities!
Can you imagine not being able to use the toilet when you were out?
Can you imagine if there was one but the room was too small to actually walk into it?
Or maybe it was set up high and you couldn’t reach it?
How would you feel if the management told you that it didn’t matter whether or not you could use it, they had provided all they needed to.
That logo on the door might as well say “NO ENTRY”.
Would you want things to change? Please click here to sign a petition to help bring change for hundreds of thousands of people.
Ordinary Hopes 
It must be extremely frustrating. Companies do need to make more effort to accommodate their customers.
What frustrates me also, is that I live in a fairy progressive country (I live in Denmark), yet the buses and some of the trains aren’t disability-friendly. Most have steep steps with no ramps, plus there’s no room for a wheelchair or pram on my local buses. Yes, the staff will come out and assist people to get on the bus/train, but I still think that’s the bare minimum being offered. There’s just no need for steep steps.
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This blog post just goes to show how changing places can help every single disabled person, in a changing places, my brother would have dignity, safety, time, space and space for a carer/parent to help. He does not need a changing bed or hoist. He can transfer (with two bars or people to help) to use the toilet. He is in a large powerchair so often does not fit in the toilet or if he does it is very right and so is in danger of falling a lot of the time. He needs a lot of time to use the facilities as due to autism too he has to think and it can take him a long time to decide to transfer. But that’s impossible when they decide to stick a basic small toilet with one bar in the male and female toilets and call it a ‘disabled’ toilet. The door must remain open whilst he tried to trsnsfer to toilet, has to loose dignity by people seeing him struggle in a female before moving chair out and shutting the door. It also has no room for carer so when help is needed the door must be opened again where people waiting can see a 19 year old young adult on the toilet!
Many of his friends need the hoist changing bed and space and many of his friends just need bars, space and time. A changing place fits all needs so it’s time they fitted these instead of a bare minimum toliet and as you say stamp a sticker on the door! Well done for all your hard work.
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Thank you Caitie.
The right facilities make such a difference. They provide dignity and safety as well as actually enabling people to “go”.
Your brother deserves better. Please share the petition and ask everyone you know to do the same. We can chip away place by place but what we really need is legislation.
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This must be so frustrating. Must admit it’s not something I’ve thought about until now but for those who could sleep transfer this wouldn’t be possible like you say. Shows we need to raise awareness about the challenges people with physical disabilities are facing. #anythinggoes
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I have several friends who are very able people, who can’t stand but don’t need any level of care. Yet they are completely disabled by most “disabled toilets”.
I hurt my back very badly a year ago and can no longer lift my son. The very people designers have in mind when they plan these facilities, can’t use them. I am very aware that there are a lot of people with less obvious disabilities who use them but they call them “hidden disabilities” for a reason. Designers of these facilities are not thinking about them, hence the wheelchair logo, which really might as well say “no entry”.
Thanks for reading and taking something away from it.
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Will sign the petition! It’s nice to know though that big shops are trying to make a difference. Would love it if the others would follow too.
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I’ve signed. I can only imagine how frustrating it would be!
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Thank you.x
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Thanks for sharing. I’ve just signed the petition, which is almost at 30k signatures! Change will come. It has to!
Kat x
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Thank you.x
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It must be so upsetting and frustrating when you want to take your son to the toilet and there is not enough room like this place 😦 I hope things get changed. This looks like a big area but why is everything crammed into one corner. A little bit of thought here and it could have been a lot better …
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A little bit of thought would go a long way!
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That must be so incredibly frustrating. I can’t imagine what that must be like and I hope the petition starts some change.
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Oh goodness – I just haven’t thought of this. To be honest, I use the disabled loo because baby changing is usually in there. I am off to sign the petition now. Good on you for raising awareness. Kaz x
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Thank you for signing. I am guessing that you find those rooms a tight squeeze with a baby so can probably imagine how hard it would be with a powered wheelchair and a person almost as big as you who cannot stand up.
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I have been following your story with this and it just shocks me the companies lack of understanding or taking any responsibility. I’ve already signed the petition and the standards need to be changed!
Jordanne || Thelifeofaglasgowgirl.co.uk
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Thank you. It matters and it really helps to have more people who understand and care.
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This is so frustrating. Hope the petition will make difference.
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Off to sign the petition now. Something truly needs to change. Fingers crossed this helps to get the ball rolling for you and others in the same situation x
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It frustrates me so much when I see the struggles you have in day to day life with your son. In such a modern and forward thinking country, I can’t believe we are still failing our disabled citizens. I will once again sign the petition and hope these small changes that some businesses have made will become the norm with other businesses following suit.
#KCACOLS
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