Council Motion: Not Every Disability is Visible.

One element of pubs and other premises being able to open up in various ways that may be forgotten is that public toilet facilities may not always be available, or convenient to use. In particular, accessible toilet facilities can still be difficult to find. This issue is being highlighted by Crohn’s and Colitis UK and below is a motion we can use to further support their campaign.

This Council notes that: 

• The charity Crohn’s and Colitis UK is encouraging venues providing accessible toilets to install new signage.  This is to help stop stigma and discrimination towards people with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis and other invisible conditions. 
  
• There have been instances nationally where such individuals using an accessible toilet have been accused by staff members of being ineligible to use them. 
  
• The charity signs have two standing figures and a wheelchair user with the words Accessible Toilet and the logo ‘Not every disability is visible’. 
  
• The Government has decided recently that large accessible toilets for severely disabled people – known as Changing Places – will be made compulsory for large new buildings, such as shopping centres, supermarkets, sports and arts venues.

Council resolves to: 

• Ensure that accessible toilets on Council premises bear these signs. 
  
• Ask town and district centre retailers and leisure outlets to do likewise with their accessible toilets. 
  
• Seek advice from the charity Crohn’s & Colitis UK on the information and training we should provide to council staff members. This is so they understand these conditions and to prevent potential embarrassment for those who suffer with them. 
  
• Ensure that any Changing Places toilets in our buildings are properly signposted for visitors.