Helping students and staff get the most out of their time at college has been taken to innovative levels at South Birmingham College with the installation of a state-of-the-art (Changing Places) accessible toilet.
The toilet has been primarily fitted to help students and staff with disabilities, but has the added benefit of delivering a practical training facility for students on the college??s social care courses.
The new facility, which includes features beyond a conventional ??disabled?? (Building Regulations Approved Document M) toilet, has been supplied and installed by Total Hygiene. Situated on the ground floor next to the main toilets at the college??s Hall Green campus, it is based on a Changing Places toilet for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities and other people with severe disabilities who need the support of at least one carer, and which differ from a standard disabled toilet with more space and extra features, including a height adjustable changing bench and hoist.
The college has also opted for a height adjustable washbasin, and Clos-o-Mat wash and dry toilet instead of a conventional WC, which is standard specification in a Changing Places toilet. The Clos-o-Mat looks like a traditional toilet, and can be used as such, but its integral douching and drying functions can also eliminate the need for toilet tissue and the need for a carer to wipe the user clean. To ensure the facility is able to be used by all, there is also a touch-sensitive switch as well as the flush pads to operate the Clos-o-Mat, for users with limited manual strength.
Paul Morris, assistant principal at South Birmingham College explains: ?We have staff and students with specific disability needs at the college, who will directly benefit from having a Changing Places toilet.
?It also provides a training facility for students undertaking the social care courses, giving them practical experience of specialist equipment such as the hoist. We chose a Clos-o-Mat after consultation with potential users: we wanted the very best for our staff and students.??
Total Hygiene is the UK??s largest supplier of disabled toileting solutions, and sponsor of the Changing Places campaign for accessible toilets for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) and other people with severe disabilities who need the support of at least one carer.
Since the campaign began, over 400 Changing Places toilets have been opened across the UK. In the last year alone, over 50 Changing Places toilets have been opened at venues across the country.
For more information telephone 0161 969 1199, email info@clos-o-mat.com or visit www.clos-o-mat.com
