Getting more disabled people into Journalism.
By Jill Clark
A DISABILITY IS A ABILITY TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY
By Jill Clark
Today
(19th July) is changing places awareness day. For you who don’t know what changing places
is, let me explain.
Standard
accessible toilets do not meet the needs of all people with a disability. Over
¼ million people in the UK with a disability need extra equipment and space to
allow them to use the toilets safely and comfortably. These needs are met by
Changing Places toilets. So, a changing places toilet have the all Right
equipment in it such as a hoist, a changing bed and it is very big to move
around for a wheelchair user and 2 carers. I am just one of these people.
Everyone
goes to the toilet up to 10 times a day or may be more but sadly this is very
difficult for a lot of disabled people who requires a changing places toilet
because of the lack of changing places.
In
Scotland, there is 270 changing places and 26 in Glasgow (where I live) even
although this is better than it was when I started campaign 10 years ago there
is still a lot of work to be done.
As
a disabled person who like to go out and about a lot I always work my day or
trip around where I can get to a changing places and let me tell you it isn’t fun! Who would
of thought that getting to the toilet would be a big problem? Well, that is
my life and many others. Like I said
there is just 26 changing places in Glasgow now but there is still a lot of work to be done. For example, I would like to see some
restaurants, pubs, parks, supermarkets, hotels and many more places. So, this changing places awareness day I want
to make everyone aware of the importance of changing places toilets and the
need of them everywhere! can I ask
everyone who is reading this post to share this to show your support for
changing places toilets pleas? And together we can make the world a more
inclusive place! #CPAD24 #inclusion
Written by Jill Clark
Clydebank is
my local shopping centre, where I go a lot.
But it was getting difficult to go there because I couldn’t get the
toilet in the centre because I require a hoist to get to the toilet. I remember one time my Mum and myself asked at
the information desk if they had a hoist in the toilet, but sadly, they said
no. We thought it was terrible because
they just had a baby changing toilet installed but they didn’t have the right
disabled toilet. So, I decided I was going to get a Changing Places toilet
installed in Clydebank shopping centre.
It was back
in 2018 when I started campaigning. First
of all, I wrote a letter to the shopping centre with TAG‘s help and lucky enough
they got back to me quite quickly and asked to meet with me.
At the
meeting I explained my issues and how it would make such a difference if they
installed a Changing Places toilet to a lot of disabled people, including
myself. The manager seemed very positive that they could get a Changing Places
installed. This was a very good start, but little I did know that we had a long
road ahead!
After that
first meeting, I kept emailing them to see what was happening, but I just kept
getting same answer, that they were waiting for all of the planning to go ahead.
This took years! I was getting
frustrated. I know these things takes
while and it can’t happen overnight, but it is an important facility to have in
the centre.
In 2020 the
world closed down so; I knew that would hold everything back.
In summer
2022, I got email to say that Clydebank got the go ahead for the changing
places and I was delighted to hear it, but it took another year and half to
build it.
It was
summer last year when they finally started to build the toilet. I was so glad
to see it started. A few months later it
wasn’t finished and I started to wondering if it will ever open!
I kept
emailing the manager and I kept being told it was all ready, but it needed to
be officially signed off. Once again, I was very frustrated. Knowing it was
ready, but it couldn’t be used. Finally, on the Friday before Christmas, it
opened at last! I was emailing the
manager every day that week before Christmas, then on the Friday I heard that it
was open, so me and my Mum went straight
to Clydebank to see it.
That first
time that I saw the Changing Places I thought it was a fantastic facility and I
couldn’t believe that it was opened!
The facility
is next to shop ability. There is a
button you press and someone will come and open it. I know that some people
don’t like this way because they need to wait but, in my opinion, this is
better because it is locked so everyone can’t use it because this toilet
facility is for someone who requires a hoist or a changing bed.
Inside the
toilet, it is very big with a ceiling hoist and a changing bed. I know there is 1 hand bar but there should
be 2, but I know that Clydebank is getting this sorted with a couple more
things.
Having the Changing
Places in Clydebank now is so much better for a lot of disabled people and for
me personally. It means that I can go
to my local shopping centre and get to the toilet!
Even
although it took about 6 years, I am very proud of myself that I campaigned for
a Changing Places toilet in Clydebank, it is my great success!
If you wish
to get some more information on this or give feedback. All of my contact details is under contact me
on this Website.
Written by
Jill Clark
It is always
good to do something for charity, so when someone suggested that I should do
the kilt walk, I thought yeah, it sounds like fun!
So, I signed
up for the kilt walk or wheel in my case on the 28th of April.
Kilt walk is
Scotland’s largest mass participation walking event with over 145,000 people
taking part since 2016.
The
kind-hearted Kilt walk community have taken big strides for charities close to
their hearts and together with The Hunter Foundation, have managed to raise a
staggering £42.5 million to date. All funds raised have been distributed to
3,330 Scottish Charities.
I have
decided to do the kilt walk for The Advisory Group or TAG for short, somewhere
very near to my heart.
The Advisory
Group has been going since 1996 to enable people with disabilities to have a
stronger voice in the services they use and in their local
communities.
It is run by
disabled people for disabled people, to promote inclusion and fight
discrimination. It became a registered charity in 2012 and has over 500
members. There are 14 regional TAG groups across Scotland. TAG supports people
to respond to issues and concerns raised by individuals both locally and
nationally. But perhaps the most important work we do in making Scotland a more
inclusive place for everyone to live.
TAG helps
disabled people like myself to make life more inclusive through campaigns or
through setting up activities in the
country like football or dance club.
I have been
involved with TAG for about 10 years now.
Over the 10 years TAG has helped
me to start my campaign. My campaign
is for more Changing Places toilets in Scotland. Standard accessible toilets do not meet the
needs of all people with a disability. Over ¼ million people in the UK with a
disability need extra equipment and space to allow them to use the toilets
safely and comfortably. These needs are met by Changing Places toilets. A Changing
Places toilet has all the right equipment in it such as a hoist, a changing bed
and it is very big to move around for a wheelchair user and 2 carers.
Through the years I have managed to open a few Changing
Places toilets, including Clydebank shopping centre, Queen street station,
River Side Museum, Science Centre, Burrell collection and many more.
With my
campaign TAG has helped me to make videos, to write Blogs and articles and TAG
has given me many opportunities to do some public speaking.
I feel that
it’s time to give thanks to TAG by fund raising money for TAG. The money that I raise will help TAG to
continue to help me with my campaign and run activities in the community.
If you wish
to sponsor me please follow this link The
Advisory Group is fundraising for The Advisory Group (justgiving.com)
Written by
Jill Clark