Friday the 3rd May is PMLD Awareness Day. This day celebrates people who have Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities as well as highlighting the need for change in our community.

This year we have chosen the theme 'Shine a light on Accessibility', specifically focusing on toileting and changing facilities for people with PMLD.

Over the past few years there has been much campaigning for Changing Places to be installed in venues and towns across the UK. A Changing Place is a specialist changing area, large enough for wheelchair access with a full-sized changing bed and a hoist.

Whilst there are Changing Places at Melton Museum and the Melton Mencap Centre, these are limited to their opening hours and there is no access to any Changing Place facilities in Melton on a Sunday. 

No one should ever have to suffer the indignity of being changed on a toilet floor. Parents and carers should not have to risk their physical health because they do not have access to a hoist. No one should have to sit in their own bodily fluids for prolonged periods of time because there are no facilities available. No one should have to cut short their time in the community due to a lack of toileting facilities.

On the 3rd May, we will be asking parents/carers, staff and students to sign a petition for a Changing Places toilet to be installed in Melton town, so our pupils and their families can fully access the town and participate in events, such as the Christmas light switch on and the 40's weekend. We want access for our families at all time of the day, seven days a week! 

Our pupils will present this petition to Melton Borough council.

Please sign and share, so that we can make a difference in our community!