Families back effort to improve facilities for severely disabled

EXETER has no public toilet facilities that meet the needs of people with severe disabilities, a new campaign has found.

Thousands of carers in the South West are being forced to change their children on dirty toilet floors, according to learning disability charity Mencap.

The Changing Places consortium, supported by Mencap, has launched a campaign this week calling for fully accessible toilets, known as Changing Places toilets, to be available in all big public places.

Denise Clarke, of Kipling Drive, Exeter, is full time carer for her 13-year-old son Liam who has profound and multiple learning disabilities. She is backing the campaign.

She said: "It breaks my heart every time I have to lay Liam down on a dirty toilet floor, but my only other option is to change him in the back of our van.

"If I am on my own with Liam I need to come home to change him as I can't lift him on my own. If there were more Changing Places toilets our lives would be dramatically improved and it would give us the freedom to get out."

Her friend, Liz Deacon, from Beacon Heath, whose 14-year-old daughter Emily attends Honeylands School with Liam, is also fully supportive of the campaign.

She said: "I think it's fantastic. It can't come soon enough.

"On Saturday I was at the Honeylands School fete and a lot of the parents were in agreement.

"There is nowhere in Exeter, except at Crealy.

"The nearest place with proper facilities is apparently Plymouth.

"It would make a big difference if there was somewhere to go in Exeter."

More than 19,000 people with a disability in the South West are being denied access to public toilet facilities with adequate changing facilities, according to the Mencap figures.

Mark Goldring, chief executive of Mencap, said: "We need the support of the public to ensure the government makes Changing Places toilets mandatory in all new big public places.

"We urge the public to take a minute out of your day to sign our online petition on Mencap's website.

"Your help will make a huge difference to the lives of some of our most vulnerable citizens."

Mencap is calling on the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to change building regulations to make Changing Places toilets mandatory in all new public places.

They will present an online petition to the DCLG in October.

For further details about the campaign visit www. mencap.org.uk/changelives.