My name is Jill Clark.  I have cerebral palsy. This affects my muscles and movement. I am a wheelchair user and I use a device to communicate. I campaign for the installation of more Changing Places toilets.

One of my favourite sayings is ‘A disability is an ability to do something’ and I always say my disability has given me the ability to campaign; which I have been doing for many years now.

Standard accessible toilets do not meet the needs of all disabled people. Over a quarter of a million disabled people in the UK need extra equipment and space to allow them to use toilets safely and comfortably. These needs are met by Changing Places toilets. These have equipment, such as a hoist and a changing bed and are big enough to move around in for a wheelchair user and two carers.  

I started my campaign about nine years ago because I was very limited as to where I could go to the toilet, as I need to be hoisted to get to the toilet. There were just two Changing Places toilets in Glasgow, where I live, (at Braehead and the St. Enoch Shopping Centre, although the St. Enoch facility was always out of order).  

Campaigning
I joined a group called The Advisory Group (TAG). TAG is for disabled people to make their voices heard and to make the world a more inclusive place. At my first meeting I was explaining my issue with the lack of Changing Places toilets and they suggested I start my own campaign, so I did. 

At first, I created an online petition to get more Changing Places toilets in Glasgow. Then, with help from TAG, I created a video. In it, I explained how a standard disabled toilet doesn’t meet my needs, what a Changing Places toilet is, and how we need more of them. Over the years I have been emailing a lot of places to see if they would install a Changing Places toilet.

Even though my campaign is to get more installed, I feel making awareness of the need for these toilet facilities is just as important. I appeared on a television programme called Inside Central Station, talking about Changing Places toilets and on STV News as well – and I’ve been in the Glasgow Times newspaper about my campaign. I also sit on the Glasgow Access Panel for museums and I am a part of the Cross-Party Group for Changing Places Toilets.

My Changing Places toilets campaign has been very successful over the years. Today, there are around 24 in Glasgow, including at Central Station, Queen Street Station, Kelvin Hall, the Riverside Museum, The Burrell Collection and Glasgow Science Centre.

I must say that I am very proud of my campaign!

Check out Clarky Blogs for more, visit: clarkyblogs.blogspot.com

Visit: www.changing-places.org

Further information
The Changing Places Consortium comprises Muscular Dystrophy UK, PAMIS, Centre for Accessible Environments, the Scottish Government and founding member and campaigner, Martin Jackaman. 
For information and advice on changing places facilities in Scotland email: changingplaces@pamis.org.uk 

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland email:  changingplaces@musculardystrophyuk.org

Visit: www.pamis.org.uk