Additional Needs
Why we need the Special Olympics
by Jodi Shenal
on 3rd May, 2024
Let's Make A Change
A couple of weeks ago we were at our local hospital at an appointment and he needed his nappy changed.
I found a disabled toilet but there wasn’t a changing station in it.
I asked two members of staff if there was anywhere suitable to change my son’s nappy - they both pointed to the toilet I had found.
I told them that there was not a changing station or anywhere suitable in this toilet for him to lie down so that I could change his nappy and asked, “Is there was somewhere else?”
One of them said, “I’m sorry I don’t know and I’m with a patient right now so I need to go.”
The other person I asked said that this was the only option available for us...
NO ONE should have to change their child on a dirty toilet floor - there should definitely be better facilities than this!?
If there was already, then, ALL members of staff should know where they are so that they can direct people.
So, I posted this on Wilson’s social media pages and it got a few shares.
It was on one of these shares that someone commented saying these words exactly...
“Needed his what changing!? He looks about 7!!!”
My son is 2 years old, but that’s not the point...
It was quickly pointed out to him that he had a disability to which he replied “Oh, my bad.”
Excuse me?!
Are you as annoyed as I am right now?
Because whether he has a disability or not, whether he is 2, 7 or 70 why should it matter that he wears a nappy?
The point I was trying to make was that we need more changing places!
Even though most of us with children that have additional needs already know this.
But it made me realise that not only do we need to raise awareness about the lack of changing places but, also, that there are children past the age of 3 that still wear a nappy!
My son is still young but since he has cerebral palsy effecting all 4 limbs and can’t sit unsupported, I have no idea how long he will be in nappies for, my daughter had been potty trained by the time she was the age my son is at now.
Is that a problem?
Absolutely not!
Should I be worried or concerned?
Well, believe me when I say I have bigger things to be concerned about than whether or not my son is out of nappies!
It’s upsetting that people are so judgemental and this is why we need to raise the awareness, to educate people.
There are some people who may have never been with or known someone with a disability - they would genuinely not know about some situations we find ourselves in with our children!
This is why social media is great!
People are scared of the unknown so let’s make the unknown known.
Let’s educate.
Let’s make people aware.
Let’s make a change.
