Changing Places Toilets
Changing Places
Toilets are different to Standard Accessible Toilets they meet
the needs of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities and their carers with extra features such as,
A height adjustable adult sized changing bench, A tracking hoist system or mobile hoist, A centrally placed toilet
with space either side for carers, and adequate floor space with size guidelines of12m2 (3m x4m). There are now
over 500 registered Changing Places Toilets registered in the
UK and just a few in Australia. "Come on Australia it’s time for
Change"
Thousands of people
need the Changing Places toilets that would help
them to enjoy the day to day activities many of us take for granted.
People with profound and
multiple learning disabilities, as well as other serious
impairments such as spinal injuries, muscular dystrophy,
multiple sclerosis or an acquired brain injury, often need extra facilities to allow them to use the
toilets comfortably.
Changing Places toilets are different to standard disabled toilets with extra
features and more space to meet these needs. Without these facilities, families have to
change the person they care for on a cramped and dirty
floor. The alternative is to limit outings to a few short hours or not go out at
all
The Changing Places Consortium
has launched its campaign on behalf of those people who
cannot use Standard Accessible
Toilets.
Each Changing Places toilet provides:
 The right equipment
- A height adjustable adult-sized changing
bench
- A tracking hoist system, or mobile hoist if this is not
possible.
 Enough space
- Adequate space in the changing area for the disabled person
and up to two carers
- A centrally placed toilet with room either side for the
carers
- A screen or curtain to allow the disabled person and carer
some privacy.
 A safe and clean environment
- wide tear off paper roll to cover the bench
- a large waste bin for disposable pads
- a non-slip floor.
What do we want?
The Changing Places campaign is calling for Changing
Places toilets to be installed in all big public places.
This includes:
• city centres
• shopping centres
• arts venues
• hospitals
• motorway service stations
• leisure complexes
• large railway stations
• airports.
Changing Places toilets should be provided in addition to
standard accessible toilets.
The Sign of Change
Changing Places Symbol
On July 19th 2006
The Changing Places campaign launched a new symbol for Changing Places toilets.
The blue and white circular image was designed to
highlight the differences between a standard accessible toilet and a Changing
Places toilet. The symbol was unveiled by disabled artist and author
Alison Lapper at the launch of the Changing Places campaign at Tate Modern.
Graphic designer Sacha Dunning explains: “A Changing Places
toilet is different to a standard disabled toilet. This room should include a toilet with space either side for a carer, an adult-sized
height adjustable changing bench and a
hoist. It was important to communicate all of these elements clearly
through the design, which uses a circular shape to represent the
Changing Places space.
By depicting the key elements in a simple rounded style and
using a recognisable colour scheme often used for signs, we hope to have achieved something that is accessible and
familiar and will be used across the country.”
Using the symbol
If you have a Changing Places toilet at your
venue which meets the minimum standards for a Changing Places
toilet, you should use the Changing Places symbol on your signage. Using the Changing Places symbol will help families to
easily identify that your venue has a toilet which meets
their needs.
The Changing Places symbol is available to use on the door of
your Changing Places toilet, on wayfinding signage, and in promotional literature. Please read our guidelines for
using the Changing Places symbol.
Guide to Changing Places Facilities
http://www.pamis.org.uk/cms/files/publications/Changing%20Places%20a%20Practical%20Guide.pdf
By John Bedwell Sydney Consultant for Obvius Access
Consultants
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