Changing Places unveils new adult changing toilet in Huyton’s Centre for Independent Living
A new adult disabled changing-room has been unveiled in the Centre for Independent Living, Huyton.
The facility is designed to give adults with severe disabilities somewhere to be changed comfortably, as normal baby changing rooms are too small.
The changing room is one of only five in Knowsley to be approved by Changing Places, a company that creates adult changing toilets in Merseyside.
A Changing Room toilet is different to a normal changing toilet — they’re larger, with more equipment, including a height-adjustable changing bench and hoist.
Natalie Briggs, office manager at the Centre for Independent Living, said: “We’re very proud to be one of the only centres in Knowsley to have a changing room approved.
“Disabled adults and carers don’t have to be a registered service user with us to have access — they just have to call into the centre.
“It’ll give disabled people somewhere comfortable and reliable, and Knowsley people can be confident to know what they’re using.”
The changing room was unveiled by Paula Thompson, the founder of a local autism support group that uses the centre to host its activities.
Mrs Thompson, chair person of Plan B, said: “I just think it’s brilliant — there should be these changing rooms in every shopping centre, as far as I’m concerned.
“It’s disgraceful that disabled adults have to be changed on the floor by their carers because everything in the normal rooms is too small.
“Let’s face it; we all take going to the toilet for granted. Imagine if we all had to lie on the floor to get changed.”
During the unveiling speech, Mrs Thompson said: “Changing Places is a growing national campaign to enable a quarter of a million adults with profound learning disabilities to use a toilet safely, comfortably and with dignity.
“Special thanks goes to North West Boroughs Healthcare, who have made this happen, and particularly Linda Farrington, Nicky Over, Sara Harrison, and Natalie Briggs, who followed up our suggestion to have this designated as an official Changing Space.”
Any carers or disabled people who would like to use the changing room can call the CIL on 0151 244 4070.
