Every Disabled Child Matters - Issue 8

[ukyp]

By Corey Scott

http://www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk/203361.html

Just remember that our Government promised in 2004 that all public buildings should be accessible to all members of society and it’s now 2008 and we are still bringing up questions surrounding the design of buildings.

Disabled people always seem to have to go into a building using a separate entrance to everyone else, always having to go around the side/back where there could be a ramp. How would that be fair when it always feels that the disabled person and carer/parent has to go on what seems to be a marathon to get into somewhere?

This now brings me onto addressing new buildings. With the current building regulations in place, the regulations are so out-of-date they seriously need to be addressed by a body of people including different disabled people, planners, architects and other officials.

One personal example that I have come across is when I was at my work experience at Accrington and Rossendale College at the end of June 2008. This is a new build of two years and they had inadequate toilet facilities. Toilets were situated in the wrong place and I could not use the toilet as my wheelchair would not fit through the door, but one thing they did consider was putting a disabled sign on the door. No hoist had been fitted and there was no changing bed. I had to use a urine bottle for my week of work experience. This meant that my independence was disrupted.

Could you imagine the scenario of a whole college of pupils, staff and teachers not being able to go to the toilet for the duration of their college life because that is what was expected of me? I have the same high expectations as any other able bodied person.

Finally it would be greatly appreciated if this body of people and regulators could alter existing buildings and plan for new ones considering people with disabilities. This would lead to a brighter future and serious positive change, and lead us into a new era.

[Austin Sheridan]

I agree with you that the UK Government and devolved Governments have to look into this. This is a serious problem which has to be addressed soon. It would be good to get charities involved with campaigning for this kind of thing giving UKYP more political backup. I wish you every success on your quest to bring better facilities to public buildings to help the physically disabled.

Good luck

[bananacustard]

We need to do something about it. But not the way they are doing at the moment.


Currently, facilities open to abled people have to be there for disabled too, after inspections. And so a church near us had to remove it's toilets that were accessible by foot but not by wheelchair, because it was too expensive to get new ones, and they couldn't offer the facilities to some people but not others.