Special Needs Campaigns: 11 Reasons not to Provide an Adult-Sized Bench and Hoist

There are many reasons to provide this equipment, too many to list here, but only a few reasons not to.

Here are some of the excuses reasons you may hear from businesses and some replies you can give if you are campaigning in your area:

1. Cost

Of course, cost is a key factor for a small business, however these two pieces of equipment can be purchased for less than £7000 so most large businesses can easily afford to cover the expense.

If they need a little help to pay for it the local community will certainly support them and rally round to fundraise.

Concerns about ongoing costs to maintain and service the equipment are unwarranted as a service charge of approx. £200 a year will cover that.

2. Insurance

Many businesses think that this extra equipment will mean extra insurance.  However, that isn’t the case.

This equipment is provided for the customers to use at their own risk, and all businesses should already have public liability insurance which would cover this.

3. Training

Training is essential, how else will staff be able to advise customers where they can find the toilet that houses the bench and hoist?

Without training how will the cleaners be able to ensure it is clean for customers to use?

That’s it… no other training is needed!

Although it would be handy if some staff members knew how to check the hoist is on charge!

4. Not Enough Demand for One

If one person asks, that is enough demand under the Equality Act 2010, and in fact businesses have an anticipatory duty to make reasonable adjustments anyway so it doesn’t matter if no one has asked yet!

5. Already Provide a Disabled Toilet

Great, could you pop a changing bench and a hoist in it then so it’s suitable for all disabled people?  Thanks!

6. “Not Required Under Building Regulations”

We know, and we aren’t happy about that either.

However even if you are meeting all the requirements of building regulations, you aren’t necessarily compliant under the Equality Act 2010 which requires reasonable adjustments for disabled people.

Changing places are also recommended in large buildings under BS8300

7. “Will consider it the next time we have a reason to refurbish.”

Why is this not reason in itself?

Providing a facility for a customer is a justified business reason to make adjustments to a venue, a changing places toilet is a facility that is essential for many customers and therefore should be considered on its own merits rather than waiting for it to fit in with another project.

8. “There’s one a mile away.” (This isn’t even a joke – this has been suggested to someone!)

If you wouldn’t expect any of your other customers to leave your premises to use a toilet, it is unreasonable to expect a disabled person to travel a mile to use one.

Unless you don’t want them to stay long or return to spend money with you?

9. “It is not appropriate for us to provide one.”

If you provide a toilet for other customers, it is entirely appropriate.

10. The Council / Shopping mall / Leisure Centre should be providing one

Yes, they should be providing them as well.

However, as you don’t expect them to provide a toilet for your other customers, it is not appropriate to expect them to provide facilities solely for disabled customers.

People who require a bench and a hoist are customers first and foremost, they have money they wish to spend with you.

11. “We have a baby changing facility.”

*bangs head against wall*

We’ve heard every excuse under the sun, but all over the UK, businesses are making a difference by providing these facilities and they are reaping the rewards.

They are seeing customers return time and again, stay longer in their venues and spend more money with them.

They didn’t make excuses, they’ve done it not just because of the obvious financial gain, but because it’s the right thing to do.

Accessibility and Inclusion Shouldn’t be a Luxury

I’ve seen a lot of blog posts about changing facilities and I am shamelessy going to board that bandwagon and join in because it is a very important issue and one that is close to my heart.

We are yet to face that terrible decision of whether or not to change Amy on the floor.

We have managed to time our days accordingly, or have even used the boot of our old car to perform a full outfit change on one of those occasions where you have no choice but to change.

Every trip out becomes a sort of risk assessment.

Will there be wheelchair access? Will there be suitable changing facilities?

These are my two main questions. In fact if I was a doll with a string and 2 phrases, those would definitely be two of my phrases.

We recently embarked on a family trip to the zoo (Chester zoo specifically).

I have nothing but praise and admiration for the zoo and how well accommodated that made us feel during our visit.

I wish it could be the same everywhere.

Being able to go on the island tour boat ride made me feel like an absolute VIP.

The staff diligently assembled the adapted boat so that it had a ramp and a raised flat space to park the the chair and they attached the hooks to secure Amy down.

I was so proud of her as well, she cried at first as she didn’t understand what was happening. But once we all got on the boat and it started to move she was SO excited.

Seeing her happy little face light up at this new experience and motion was probably in my top 5 memories of Amys’ life so far.

The changing facilities were a dream. I even posted to the space to change facebook page and was astounded by the positive feedback my post received.

There are so many others are there like us that are desperate for these kinds of facilities so that they too can build memories and lead a normal life like everyone else.

It shouldn’t be a luxury or a special treat.

I know that it comes down to space and money, but how can you put a value on the dignity, safety and comfort of another human being?

The room had a height adjustable bed and sink, a hoist system, even a shower. The whole thing was amazing.

Disabled toilets are so often just a bigger room with a toilet in. I hate the assumption that all people with a disability only need more space and a grab rail.

Even our city hospital doesn’t have a proper system to weigh the child. I have to sit on chair scales holding Amy, and then go on the scales separately so they can work out her weight.

Surely there should be some sort of bed that can weigh a person? You can’t walk through the main entrance of the hospital without seeing at least 3 children who use wheelchairs.

I think very slowly the world is starting to become more inclusive and perceptive of the needs of others.

But we must push and push to raise awareness and praise those who do provide the correct facilities.

Chester zoo absolutely transformed our day out by making it no big deal going on a boat ride, or doing a full outfit change.

It was incredible having space for the wheelchair and feeding pump and then additional space for me to choose another outfit for Amy.

I loved how I could also have showered her if I wanted to.

I implore you, if you work for a big company with public access – Enquire and push for FULLY adapted disabled toilets.

It may cost a lot to set up but in the long run you will be improving the quality of life for thousands.

We don’t want our days to be governed by where we can and can’t change, it would be like telling an able bodied person they aren’t allowed to go to the toilet.

My Favorite Things: Special Needs Edition

What a blessing it is to have him in good health currently, and enjoying summer with our family.

We have been able to include him in quite a few of our summer adventures and activities thus far, and it feels great to see him enjoying a high quality of life.

As his birthday approaches each year, our friends and family start to ask for gift ideas.

It can be a little tricky as he is not able to enjoy some of the textbook things one would normally purchase for a four-year-old.

At this age our daughter, who is now five years old, received a bicycle with training wheels.

Our son would not benefit from that gift, so we have to get a bit more creative to find things he would enjoy and successfully use.

Here are a few ideas for gifts that I am sharing with our family!

FunFidgets ball set

This set of sensory balls includes five different balls that are bumpy, color changing, or bead filled.

Our son does not adore slimy textures, but these look to provide a nice sensory experience without being wet or slimy.

Beanbag chair

I am searching for a floor pillow large and supportive enough to accommodate our almost four-year-old, but cannot find anything that is just right.

Instead, a children’s beanbag chair may do the trick.

Splashy seat

We have yet to try the Splashy portable bath seat and I know our son would love it!

We could use it not only for bath time but at the beach, in the pool, or just for fun outdoor play.

Play foam

As I mentioned, our son does not tolerate slimy cold sensory objects, but he does seem to enjoy playdoh.

This play foam has a different moldable texture that would be a keeper

ABC Touch and Feel Letters

These are just cute! The 26-letter set has a variety of textures for children to explore as they learn about the letters of the alphabet.

This is a great activity for our son who is school-aged but stays home.

Vibrating fiber optic light

This fun color-changing fiber optic light provides a great sensory experience as it also vibrates.

This would be fun for little ones at nighttime, and is a great price!

Special Needs Diets: 10 Fun Foods for Puréed Eaters

Finding snacks or opportunities to incorporate extra calories is a bonus for special needs parents.

For most puréed eaters texture can be a challenge. For instance some pureed eaters can only handle the filling of a cheesecake, but not the crust.

Likewise consistency can also be difficult which can result in needing to either thin out the puree or thicken it up.

Here are 10 great fun foods that have the ability to be altered to meet the pureed consistency that are fun and easy to access at the grocery store.

1) Sour Cream

Sour cream if stirred will become more watery, if left in it’s original state will be the consistency of a Greek Yogurt.

The slight tang and tartness from sour cream will often inspire some children with special needs to explore the roof and sides of their mouth as they explore the taste with curiosity.

2) Ranch Dip

A lot of children typical and special needs gravitate towards the taste of ranch dressing.

It is one of the most universal dips for children. Ranch offers a host of mild seasoning that children enjoy.

Dip can be thick or thin and can generally pack some decent calories with a mayonnaise base.

Ranch is also easy to alter for children who are dairy free.

3) Chocolate Pudding

There are tons of chocolate puddings on the market, and it is also easy to make at home.

Chocolate pudding is fantastic for camouflaging liquid medication, it also absorbs extra calorie powder packets well, it is a motivational treat and provides those fun treat calories.

4) Hummus

Parents love treats that are good for you.

Hummus can be a lot of fun as it comes in a host of smooth flavors; red pepper, lemon, and original to name a few.

You can really add just about anything to hummus as it mixes well with most flavor combinations.

Hummus is also easy to make at home in your blender and stores well for several days.

5) Cheesecake

Cheesecake can be a great treat, but also requires knowing the texture and consistencies that work the best for your pureed eater.

Some pre-made cheesecake filings are more like puddings while New York style cheesecakes tend to be more dense and a little bit more thick.

However, cheesecakes are make for great desserts for the pureed eater.

6) Ice cream

The best part of ice cream is the flavor opportunities. Flavor combinations in ice cream are just as endless as the choices.

Ice cream comes in non-dairy, in plant based, in nut milk, and in sorbets.

You can find ice creams with some chunks, completely smooth or extremely chunky so make sure you know the consistency of your purchase to find the proper match for your child’s oral eating capabilities.

No matter what you chose ice cream seems to be a universal home run.

7) Cheese Sauce

Cheese sauce can often serve as a great appetizer if you are out at a restaurant and have a pureed eater. Many restaurants have cheese sauces on hand which are mixed into other dishes.

Cheese sauce can easily be thickened with a little bit of baby food rice or baby food oatmeal, or thinned easily with milk or water.

It gives your pureed eater the sense of participation while dining out.

8) Whipped Cream

Whipped cream has a light and fluffy texture which often is fun to practice lip closure or lip licking with the tongue.

Whipped cream can also be made easily at home or store bought and comes in dairy and non-dairy options.

It also stores well in the refrigerator for a few days or keeps well in the freezer.

9) Yogurt

Some of the easiest baby food pouches for oral eaters come in yogurt style.

Yogurts are also easy to find in a variety of consistencies for pureed eaters that either need thick or thin.

The flavor combinations are also abundant and experimenting with different flavors can be a lot of fun.

One of our favorites is pumpkin flavored!

10) Jelly (Jam if you’re in the UK)

When you think of Jelly feeding it to your pureed eater may not automatically come to mind. But jelly can make for a great breakfast or a great topper on yogurt, ice cream or pudding.

It can add extra calories while still keeping things healthy and diet friendly.

Make sure you look for jelly that has no chunks of fruit, and take note if your child has special dietary restrictions such as preservatives or sugar content.

We’d love to know what some of your favorite snacks and go to foods are for your pureed eaters!

Special Needs Parenting: The Trauma of Change

After many months of waiting for a wheelchair clinic appointment we had a letter about 2 months ago explaining that the service was being privatised.

Explained why we hadn’t had an appointment through yet at least.

Our orthotics service changed hands a while back and it has to be said the service has improved since – waiting times are shorter, appointments available at better times and so on.

It’s the same clinical staff, they’re just paid by someone different now.

So this change over didn’t really worry me. Until now.

After 6 months of waiting, Sam has most definitely outgrown his current wheelchair and its starting to get more urgent that he gets an appointment soon.

So, after some searching for the letter with the new details, I gave the clinic a call to see if anything could be sorted.

Sure enough, he is now booked in later this month.

Result.

And then the lass on the phone dropped the bombshell – the wheelchair services are no longer using the manufacturer of his current chair.

Gutted doesn’t even come close – this chair is superb for him, and the idea was that, as it’s modular, it would be suitable for him right through to adulthood.

We love that chair. Right down to the level of support and comfort it gives Sam to how easy it is to move. I can actually taste the adrenaline rising in my bloodstream.

Still, no point stressing until we’ve had the appointment and seen what they recommend as a next chair.

You see, one of my greatest fears for Sam focuses on his scoliosis.

It’s very mild currently, but the correct support for his spine is utterly crucial to help stop it from worsening.

I’ve seen that scoliosis can do and it is neither pretty nor pleasant.

I love his existing chair as it provides exactly what he needs and I’m already gearing up for battle in case the alternative suggested isn’t up to scratch. Which is silly.

You’d think after 6 years I would have learned to not jump the gun by now wouldn’t you!?

From my perspective, it’s the change that worries me so much.. moving from the tried and tested to something different, which in fairness could very well be as good if not better.

We just have to wait and see.

And patience is a virtue I do not have.