Disabled Changing Facilities: A Mother's Fight for Dignity

A mother from York is advocating for improved changing facilities for disabled children in public spaces. Ella Dean highlighted that standard baby changing units, with a 15kg limit, are inadequate for her four-year-old daughter, Ada, who has a severe brain injury. This necessitates changing Ada on toilet floors, which Dean describes as degrading and a violation of basic human rights.

Dean has launched a government petition, already signed by over 5,500 people, demanding larger venues provide accessible changing benches. These benches offer a stable and hygienic platform for individuals needing assistance with changing due to incontinence or mobility issues. The lack of such facilities significantly impacts families, limiting their ability to participate in everyday activities and family outings.

The CEO of the Changing Places Consortium emphasized that while new buildings increasingly include Changing Places toilets, many existing venues still lack essential equipment. She warned against partial solutions that may create unsafe situations or undermine the need for fully equipped facilities. Ensuring dignity, safety, and inclusion for disabled individuals and their families remains a key focus.