Changing Places Ireland information brochure

Changing Places Ireland Introducing fully accessible toilets to public places across Ireland

2

Changing Places Ireland campaign CHANGING PLACES CRITERIA

Changing Places facilities are different from regular accessible toilets in that they include the following extra features: ● Height-adjustable, adult-sized changing bench ● Ceiling track hoist system ● Height-adjustable wash-hand basin ● Adequate space for disabled person and up to two assistants ● Centrally located toilet with space both sides for assistants ● Privacy screen ● Wide paper roll ● Large waste disposal bin

Pictures: (Cover and above) taken from the new Changing Places installation at Áras an Uachtaráin, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8.

3

Changing Places Ireland campaign THE CHANGING PLACES CAMPAIGN Inclusion Ireland is currently working on a Changing Places Ireland campaign which aims to introduce fully accessible toilets to public places in Ireland.

Changing Places facilities are different from regular accessible toilets in that they include additional features such as a height-adjustable adultsized changing bench and ceiling track hoist system.

The Changing Places campaign in the United Kingdom has proved hugely successful since its inception in 2007. There are currently almost 850 fully accessible facilities (at shopping centres, airports and sporting arenas) dotted around the UK including facilities in Northern Ireland.

These facilities have proved a life-changer for thousands of families across the UK and have saved such families from the indignity of having to use toilet facilities that are not suitable to the needs of their loved ones.

Inclusion Ireland formed a Changing Places Ireland working group in 2014 with a number of like-minded individuals to drive the initiative forward.

Inclusion Ireland and the Changing Places Ireland working group believe that the lack of such quality and accessible facilities across Ireland is a societal issue and not just a disability issue.

There are currently three fully accessible toilet facilities in the Republic of Ireland including Trinity College Dublin, Ă ras an UachtarĂĄin and The Lime Tree Theatre in Limerick.

Changing Places Ireland contact details: Phone: (01) 8559891 Email: info@inclusionireland.ie Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChangingPlacesIreland Twitter: @Cha_Places_Irl

4

Changing Places Ireland campaign LIME TREE THEATRE, MARY IMMACULATE COLLEGE, CO LIMERICK The Changing Places Ireland campaign is delighted to see that Mary Immaculate College has installed a fully accessible toilet at the Lime Tree Theatre in Limerick.

The Theatre has a fully accessible toilet that includes facilities such as a height-adjustable wash-hand basin, peninsular WC, full room cover 250kg track hoist, height-adjustable bed trolley and accessible shower facilities.

Prior to the construction of the Changing Places facility, students had to leave the campus when they needed to use the sanitary facilities as the existing independent toilet facilities were not suitable for people with multiple and complex disabilities who have one or two assistants.

The facilities were designed by Hugh Kelly Architects.

Mary Immaculate College runs a ‘Programme in Contemporary Living’ course which is a dedicated third-level academic initiative for adults with intellectual disabilities which MIC has developed in conjunction with the National Institute for Intellectual Disability at Trinity College Dublin.

The central aim of this innovative programme is to promote active citizenship and increased employability for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

It does so by providing a programme which will enable people to develop skills for modern society in an environment which is dedicated to supporting their individual needs.

Mary Immaculate College has a partnership arrangement with Enable Ireland who send occupational therapists with each student who has complex physical needs and who use a power wheelchair.

Hugh Kelly Architects contact details: Finbar O’Brien Hugh Kelly Architects finbar@hughkellyarchitects.ie (061) 275 943

5

Changing Places Ireland campaign LIME TREE THEATRE, MARY IMMACULATE COLLEGE, CO LIMERICK

6

Changing Places Ireland campaign CASE STUDY: ANN & AILIS HEALY, CO WICKLOW

“The thing is that people don’t realise how limiting it is. People think anybody can use a disabled toilet but that’s not the case. Some people can use the disabled toilets if they are able to transfer from the wheelchair to the toilet by themselves or with help.

“But Ailis is totally dependent on a hoist. Like all young women her age she loves to go out for lunch, shop and do all that sort of thing. But she needs a hoist to use the bathroom so her life is limited.

“She has a free bus pass but she can never use it because if you got the bus from Blessington in Wicklow into Dublin you’d have to get the next one back because there are no bathrooms.

“You couldn’t go out for a weekend because the facilities aren’t there. It does restrict life for both of us. If the other people in her centre are going out as a group, they always have to go according to her needs, so they’re restricted as well.”