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Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Original poster

free2pee campaign

27 replies

misdee · 04/09/2004 22:21

the 1st of oct is the date that all places must be accessable to disabled people. even the little corner shop with a huge step could be caught out.

There is a campaign going to see which places get caught out on the 1st by not being ready. I have been in many disabled loo's and found some totally unsuitable or full of rubbish and unuseable.
www.free2pee.org.uk/index.asp

have a look here and see what you can do to get involved. the diary of stories and photos so far is shocking!!

OP posts:
coppertop · 04/09/2004 22:36

I've just had a look at the site. I can't believe that businesses find it acceptable to use disabled toilets as store-rooms.

I also agree with the person who was talking about there being nowhere to change older children who are still in nappies. It was a nightmare with ds1, especially as he refused for a long time to be changed while standing up.

Original poster
misdee · 04/09/2004 22:41

its a nightmare trying to change my hefty 2yr old, as she wont lie on the changing tables, cos she is now the size of a 4 yr old, so i cant imagibne what its like for older children/adults who still wear nappies/incontinace pads etc.

OP posts:
Davros · 05/09/2004 20:04

Going to look at the website in a min but sounds just the thing for me! I want to get the supermarkets we use regularly to get big trollies for disabled children, otherwise they are inaccesible to DS.... let's see what happens (I'm talking about 2 branches of M&S btw!)

luckymum · 05/09/2004 20:14

Our M&S isn't very disability friendly either Davros - no decent trolleys, the aisles are really narrow and toilets on the first floor, there is a lift at the farthest end of the store but then five steps down to the loo (and its recently been renovated)

Original poster
misdee · 05/09/2004 20:19

i can use the local shops with my dd2 in her 3-wheeler (somerfield) as the aisles are stupidly narrow and they stick baskets of special offers down the middle of them so u cant get down there. drives me mad, i understand why i never see people with wheelchairs in there!!

OP posts:
Original poster
misdee · 05/09/2004 20:19

shoudl be can't not can

OP posts:
chonky · 05/09/2004 20:24

I noticed this when visiting an Argos store. I struggled to get my buggy up the steps (no disabled access that I could see) yet ironically they support Whizz-kidz, which helps to provide mobility equipment to SN kids. A wheelchair would have been really difficult to get into the store. Fantastic that they support W-K and raise W-K's profile, but a little more thought closer to home would help!!

fio2 · 06/09/2004 06:30

I am fed up of our co-op! They l;eave the packing trolleys (with all the goods on) in the middle of the aisles, so no-one can get past Angry

Original poster
misdee · 03/10/2004 22:30

bumping this up.

OP posts:
Davros · 03/10/2004 22:51

Just out of interest, do you all know about Radar keys? These are special keys to disabled toilets that you can find all over the place. You can order them on-line for just over £3. Find mine invaluable as it gets more difficult to take big DS into ladies and I'm not going in the gents!

heartinthecountry · 04/10/2004 11:01

I had heard about them davros but wasn't sure what the criteria were for getting one. I kind of assumed you had to be a wheelchair user. I'll look into it, thanks.

I'm on a role at the moment - just filled out the forms for a blue badge.

heartinthecountry · 04/10/2004 11:01

or would that be a 'roll'...

lou33 · 04/10/2004 12:33

I had a dresm sbout you the other day davros

Davros · 04/10/2004 12:55

Oooh Lou! Was I giant and chasing you with a jumbo set of DLA forms? Hope you dreamed me thinner!
HITC, if you Google RADAR you should get the website and they don't ask for any evidence at all! In theory anyone could get one.

lou33 · 04/10/2004 13:01

No, I was posting messages on mn and you kept sending them back with spelling corrections marked in red ink!

pixel · 04/10/2004 18:57

We have a pub and several years ago during an inspection by the fire brigade we were told that we had to reverse our lobby doors so that they opened opposite to the outer doors (This on the side entrance where we had a wheelchair ramp!) When we pointed out that this would make things very difficult for our regular customers who were wheelchair users we were told that unless we did so we would not get our entertainments licence. We changed the doors and have passed every annual inspection since, even though we ourselves find it difficult to get in and out with bags of shopping, buggies etc!

I have friends who use wheelchairs and crutches and am 100% behind your campaign but would just like to point out that proprieters are not always being awkward on purpose.

Davros · 04/10/2004 19:47

Lou, having met in RL you know that was not purely dream! My red pen awaits anything you care to submit!

lou33 · 04/10/2004 19:51

Davros, I remember getting quite peeved because it was YOU who was so obviously wrong!

Davros · 04/10/2004 20:48

As always! [smile} I'd better not attempt to correct Coddy's posts!

Original poster
misdee · 04/10/2004 20:52

are you 2 hi-jacking

OP posts:
lou33 · 04/10/2004 21:34

sorry

Davros · 04/10/2004 21:47

Oooops

Original poster
misdee · 04/10/2004 21:47

just kidding. its keepign it near the top, and its making me laugh lol

OP posts:
lou33 · 04/10/2004 21:53

(she was wrong though in my dream)

coppertop · 04/10/2004 21:55

This thread should be re-named free2peeyourselflaughing! Davros chasing Lou with DLA forms and a red pen, while Lou says "You're wrong, you know!"