A Staffordshire County Councillor is backing a campaign to create better facilities for people with disabilities.
Cllr Matthew Ellis (Cons, Lichfield Rural East) is lending his support to the Mencap initiative to have at least one Changing Places facility in each district to cater for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, as well as other serious impairments such as spinal injuries, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis or a brain injury.
The Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, confirmed he would be writing to district and borough council leaders to inform them of the Changing Places campaign.
He added:
“After meeting with Mencap members it became much clearer to me the severe difficulties and demolition of dignity not having these facilities means. I am more than happy to give my support to this important campaign. We want to give people greater independence, choice and control over how they live their lives and being able to go into town to meet with others or to do some shopping is something that we should all be able to do. Withough Changing Places facilities, that is very difficult to do.”
Mel Jasper from Mencap added:
“At the moment carers often have to lie the person they care for on the floor of a disabled toilet to attend to their personal care needs. This is degrading for the person they care for and puts many people off travelling into town.”
