Changing Places are public bathroom facilities for people whose needs aren’t met by a common, or even standard accessible toilet. In many cases, these people rely on at least one, sometimes two caregivers to assist them.

Why Do We Need Changing Places?

Without suitable equipment, such as an adult changing bench or ceiling track hoist, many disabled people must be laid on the floor of public toilets to be changed. It’s undignified, unhygienic and puts caregivers at risk of injury — particularly if they’re forced to manually transfer a disabled person between a wheelchair and a toilet.

How Changing Places Differ from Accessible Toilets?

A standard accessible toilet is designed to be used by people who are disabled but are still able to transfer themselves to the toilet, clean themselves and go about their business in relative comfort.

Accessible toilets are fantastic, but some folks have much more intensive needs than others. For example, a severely disabled person with complex needs may not have the ability to self-transfer or use a toilet, and require additional space and equipment for them to be changed.

What Equipment do Changing Places Provide?

Changing Places facilities should be provided in addition to the full range of single­-sex and standard accessible WCs and baby change facilities. Whether it’s a modular Changing Places toilet or an adaption of an existing room, each CP facility should provide:

1. The right equipment, including a height adjustable adult-sized changing bench and ceiling track hoist system (or mobile hoist if this isn’t possible).

2. Adequate space — providing 12sqm for the disabled person and two carers, including a centrally placed toilet with transfer space either side and a privacy screen.

3. A safe, clean environment, with wide tear-off paper roll to cover the bench, a large waste bin for disposable pads, and non-slip flooring.

-> Click here to view our full Changing Places specification.

Changing Places Consortium

The Changing Places Consortium launched a campaign back in 2006 on behalf of everyone who can’t use standard accessible toilets. Working at a local and national level, they lobby businesses, attractions and councils to provide better facilities for severely disabled people.

Members of the Changing Places Consortium are: Muscular Dystrophy UK; PAMIS; Centre for Accessible Environments (CAE); and the Scottish Government.