UAL opens its first ‘Changing Places’ facility

UAL has become just the second London University to introduce Changing Places facilities on campus. Standard accessible toilets meet the needs for many disabled people, but not all. The additional facilities and larger space available in a Changing Places toilet (CPT) provide better support for people who use large complex equipment or require assistance from others to change clothing or continence pads with privacy and dignity. Key equipment includes an adjustable bench, supporting hoist, centrally located toilet with standing space on either side and a non-slip floor.

We have opened our first CPT at Wimbledon College of Arts, with another at Camberwell College of Arts currently being prepared. Our new facilities for London College of Fashion and London College of Communication will also have CPTs. We will continue to review the possibility of adding more CPTs across our other sites and depending on availability of space, will look to add more in future. The Wimbledon CPT can be found behind the main reception desk, located in A block.

Our CPTs are open to the public and can be found on the Changing Places CPT map, allowing anyone who may need to make use of a CPT to find their nearest one. Without access to a CPT, many disabled people and their assistants often must face the difficult decision of using a regular toilet facility which is not fit for purpose or wait until they get home. Neither option is hygienic or fair, which is why CPTs are so important. It is our hope that the introduction of these new CPTs will provide relief for those who need them and encourage other universities to follow suit.

The addition of CPTs was supported by the UAL Building Access Advisory Group, which was launched in April 2022 to improve the accessibility of our physical spaces. The group is made up of both staff and students and receives additional support from key areas within UAL such as Disability Services and Campus Services. Those within the group have either lived experiences of being disabled or a key interest in inclusive design. This ensures that no decisions are made without the direct involvement of people with the necessary lived experiences.

To ensure future developments have accessibility at the forefront of planning, we published the UAL Inclusive Design Standards (IDS) earlier this year to act as a benchmark for our physical environment to be measured. The IDS help designers to understand inclusive design and highlight good practice that reflects the University's expectations. They are a resource to be used for all future developments, ensuring that our mission of inclusivity remains ever-present as we continue to evolve our estates portfolio.

Steve Howe, Director of Estates and Chair of the Building Access Advisory Group had this to say:

“The introduction of CPTs across UAL is an important step forward for the University as it aims to meet the standards it has set itself. UAL is an inclusive and forward-thinking institution and this means we must continue to make improvements to our portfolio of estates, ensuring they are accessible to all members of the UAL community. I welcome the addition of this CPT and look forward to further pushing our built environment into being as inclusive as it can be.”