The Changing Room facility contains equipment that includes an adult-sized, height adjustable changing bed, lifting hoist, and adapted toilet, and gives visitors who have additionall needs the dignity and privacy that most people take for granted.
Sarah’s 5-year old son Hadley, who has cerebral palsy, is often faced with the undignified and unsanitary situation of being changed on urine-soaked toilet floors because standard toilets simply don’t meet his needs.
As a result, Sarah is campaigning for better disabled toilet and changing facilities in public places on behalf of Hadley and 10 million others in the UK who have additional needs.
Sarah has been working closely with Bryan and Dawn Pass, owners of Longdown Activity Farm, she organised a fun ‘Dung Heap Challenge’ which raised an impressive £4,000 through the efforts of local sponsors and friends, and advised on equipment and housing.
Sarah also approached The Barker-Mill Foundation who kindly donated a further £2,500.
Sarah said:
“Standard disabled toilets do not meet the needs of hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities. It is a fact that very few people are aware of, unless they directly face incontinence and mobility issues.”
“I am very grateful to Bryan and Dawn Pass; this additional facility will add to the sterling visitor experience that they already offer to individuals with disabilities.
Longdown Activity Farm have shown just what a positive difference this facility will make to so many people’s lives and I so hope that other tourist attractions, shopping centres and many other places open to the public will follow their wonderful example.”
Longdown Activity Farm owner, Bryan Pass, added: “We care deeply about being as inclusive as possible and so we are excited to be able to offer such an important facility to our customers with additional needs.
We are one of the first attractions in the New Forest area to install an official Changing Places facility for its visitors and that’s something that we are very proud of.”
The Changing Room facility is available to all individuals visiting Longdown Activity Farm who have additional needs or who have a need for the equipment.