{"id":2841,"date":"2014-04-07T17:34:24","date_gmt":"2014-04-07T16:34:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gpsj.co.uk\/?p=2841"},"modified":"2014-04-13T20:27:55","modified_gmt":"2014-04-13T19:27:55","slug":"changes-places-can-change-lives-for-all","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gpsj.co.uk\/?p=2841","title":{"rendered":"Changing places can change lives – for all"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"clos-o-mat<\/a>

clos-o-mat at the Everyman Theatre<\/p><\/div>\n

Robin Tuffley, marketing manager at Clos-o-Mat, examines why we should provide better accessible toilets\u2026<\/p>\n

\"clos-o-mat<\/a>

clos-o-mat at Paddington<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

How often do you go the loo in a day? The average is up to eight times! Imagine how that impacts on your daily life if you need help to carry out this most basic personal hygiene.<\/p>\n

Inclusivity and accessibility have been \u2018buzzwords\u2019 for a while in any building design, but they are being given new impetus: BS8300:2009- design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people- code of practice, lays down a whole new standard for toileting provision in any building where there are lots of people- from student accommodation to public and civic environments- a code of which many people are unaware.<\/p>\n

The Standard follows on the heels of the Department for Communities & Local Government\u2019s \u2018Improving Public Access to Better Quality Toilets- a Strategic Guide\u2019, in which a key recommendation is that local authorities make appropriate provision for disabled public toilets, and establish specialist disabled toilets in major centres of population. Baroness Kay Andrews observes in the Guide \u2018a lack of accessible and good public toilets affects not only the quality of our town centres\u2026it also reduces the dignity and quality of people\u2019s lives. After all they are one of the basic facilities that residents and visitors alike depend on.\u2019 Her views are reinforced by a survey by Help the Aged, which found many people make a conscious decision NOT to visit somewhere if they believe they cannot find a suitable public toilet.<\/p>\n

The need for accessible\/ disabled toilets is clear: 10.5m people ie 1 in 6 of the UK population have limiting illness which impinges on their ability to carry out daily life- including going to the toilet. Some 20million are affected by bladder and bowel continence. Research shows \u00bc million people including those with profound and multiple learning disabilities and a range of other physical disabilities cannot use standard accessible (Document M compliant) toilets because they need support from one or two carers, or need changing. The Government\u2019s Office for Disability Issues has a vision that by 2025, disabled people in Britain should have the same opportunities and choices as non-disabled people to improve their quality of life and be respected and included as equal members of society.<\/p>\n

BS8300:2009, and the Building Regulations Approved Document M 2013 include as \u2018desirable\u2019 a whole new concept- Changing Places toilets. These involve the creation of larger, better equipped accessible toilets compared to conventional accessible Document M versions, which only address the needs of someone who can toilet unaided. Each Changing Places toilet aims to meet the needs of people who need a carer to assist, and provides as a minimum:<\/p>\n