Muscular Dystrophy UK becomes co-chair of Changing Places Consortium

Charity Muscular Dystrophy UK is taking over as co-chair of the Changing Places Consortium, the campaign group calling on fully accessible toilets.

MDUK are taking over from Mencap to lead campaigning activity across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and will co-chair alongside PAMIS, which leads all Scottish activity.

The campaign, which has been in existence for the last 10 years, recently celebrated the 1,000th Changing Place toilet, which opened in Retford, Nottinghamshire. Over a quarter of a million disabled people require these specialist toilets, which have more space and additional equipment, including height-adjustable changing benches and hoists. Without facilities like this, many disabled people and their families face either not going out at all or being changed on a dirty toilet floor.

Robert Meadowcroft, Chief Executive of Muscular Dystrophy UK, said:

“The Changing Places Consortium has already delivered fantastic results, securing over 1,000 facilities which ensure dignity and safety for disabled people around the UK. Seeing a Changing Places toilet sign shows an airport or shopping centre is fully accessible for a disabled person, and we need to see a lot more go up in the coming years.

“Our charity has a proud heritage of fighting for better facilities and access for disabled people, a heritage we can draw on to drive the Changing Places toilets campaign forwards. An estimated 70,000 people live with a muscle-wasting condition in the UK, and many can benefit from the use of a Changing Places toilet. There is lots more work to do in raising awareness and improving building regulations to ensure better facilities for all disabled people, and we are excited to work with PAMIS and the rest of the Consortium to make it happen.”

Find out more about the Changing Places Consortium at www.changing-places.org

Image credit Changing Places

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