Only one town venue has a proper disabled toilet
WHEN nature calls most of us can nip into the nearest café or pub but for wheelchair users in Sligo the choices are narrowed down, to one venue: the Glasshouse Hotel.
A survey carried out by Ursuline College students has found that over 90 per cent of the so- called disability toilets in main businesses and buildings in Sligo are not in fact wheelchair user- friendly.
“We got the idea from Katie Burke who gave a disability awareness workshop in our school,” said Eimear Joyce.
“She told us that when she’s in town there’s only one place that has proper facilities for her to use the bathroom,” she said.
The class were so shocked they decided then and there to base their Young Social Innovators ( YSI) project on the lack of disability toilets in Sligo town, guided by teacher Thelma Moran.
“We researched Universal Design on disabled bathrooms, there’s a lot more to it than people think,” said Erin Brehony.
“We didn’t realise that blind or partially blind people use disabled toilets so the toilet has to be a different colour to the walls,” she said.
Pupils evaluated the disabled toilets in all the main buildings and businesses in town and discovered over 90 per cent were not compatible.
They then wrote to each business with recommendations on how they could improve their services.
“We’re not asking them to renovate the whole room but even little things like mov- ing a mirror down or even just to ask their customers what they could do to better facilitate them,” said Eimear.
The class received a Highly Commended award for their innovative idea at the recent 2017 YSI and were presented with certificates on May 11th at the National Convention Centre in Dublin, the only project from the Ursuline to do so.
“We go into places now and we’re checking out their wheelchair toilets. It’s more than just being a bigger room.
“And, a lot more people need to use them in Sligo than you’d think,” said Eimear Joyce.
“Even if one company took on board our advice and improved it in some small way it would make a huge difference,” she said.
“We’ve become aware of other aspects of Sligo town for wheelchair users such as kerbs or people not picking up after their dog has fouled the streets.
“What’s on people’s wheels they have to handle every day,” said Erin.
Sligo County Council has set up a new Disability Consultative Committee, with an Access Sub- Committee to specifically deal with physical access for the disabled in Sligo.
Chairman, Cllr Declan Bree said the students were to be commended on their initiative.
“The unfortunate reality is that society has been constructed by non- disabled people, with non- disabled people in mind.
“For disabled people this means that there are barriers to access in terms of the physical environment and in public attitudes.
“Last month I presided over the first meeting of the County Councils newly established Disability Consultative Committee.
“It includes elected members, people with disabilities, representatives from disability advocacy groups, council staff and other agencies.
“An Access Sub- Committee will deal specifically with the physical environment. They will work with the Building Control Officer and in this context I expect that the findings of the Ursuline students will be of significant interest,” he said.