Category: Accessibility In Public Places

Wheelchair accessible toilet at Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre.
Photo by Wuan.

Toilets for disabled persons are basically ones that are large enough to allow the manoeuvering of a wheelchair inside. The more correct term for such facilities is accessible toilets for wheelchair users; hence they are marked with the international symbol of accessibility on the doors. The doors open out and are affixed with lever locks, bars and large latches that are can be operated by hands with poor dexterity.

Fixtures are all within easy reach and suited for use to those with limited hand function. Grab bars on both sides of the closet bowls allow for easy transfer from wheelchair and vice versa. The height for washbasins is just right for a wheelchair user to use. An alarm with cord makes it very useful when the need to summon for help arises.

The floors should be dry and clean. Hands of wheelchair users usually come in contact with tyres. Rolling over wet floors will dirty the wheels and the hands as well. Likewise the closet bowls and washbasins should be clean as hands will often come into contact with it.

There is a need for such toilets because the cubicles in normal public toilets are usually small, inaccessible and not adapted for the use of disabled persons. Washbasins in such toilets are usually placed in the common areas and not positioned for convenient use of those on wheelchairs.

There is a reason why non-disabled persons are prohibited from using such toilets. Repeated use and abuse will damage and make the toilets dirty, wet and unusable to disabled persons. For every ten to twelve usable toilets for gents and ladies, there is only one that is accessible to wheelchairs. An unusable accessible toilet will greatly inconvenience a disabled person who needs to use one urgently.

Many people with disabilities have poor or no control over their bowels and bladders. Some disabled persons suffer from chronic kidney failure and need use the toilets to perform intermittent catheterisation, failing which the kidneys will be further damaged or infection sets in. This is another reason why these toilets must be left vacant for such contingencies because they are the only handful that is accessible to wheelchairs at any one place.

In the United Kingdom, the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR) implemented the “National Key Scheme” that allows access to locked accessible toilets. These locked toilets can be accessed with a RADAR key that can be purchased by those who qualify.

The National Key Scheme, sometimes known as the RADAR Scheme, was developed because some public toilets designed for disabled people had to be locked to prevent damage and misuse. This has been countered by their being locked separately from other toilets. The NKS aims to provide disabled key holders with independent access to the toilets provided for them and increase the likelihood of the facilities being in a useable state.

If accessible toilets for disabled people do have to be locked, providers are asked to join the NKS, which involves fitting standard locks to their toilets and making keys available to disabled people. Over 400 local authorities in all parts of the country have now adopted the scheme.

In addition to public conveniences, toilets for disabled people provided by a wide range of other public, voluntary and commercial organisations have been fitted with the NKS lock. So it can now be found in shopping centres, country parks, railway and bus stations, bars, motorway service areas and sports venues. Around 7000 toilets are now fitted with the lock and can be found from Shetland to Jersey and Derry to Dover.

Within the scheme RADAR:

• supplies NKS keys to disabled people who cannot, or have difficulty, getting one locally,
• maintains a list of toilets fitted with the NKS lock
• and provides general information about the scheme to individuals and providers.

RADAR does not advocate the general fitting of locks to all toilets for disabled people but does urge that the NKS is used where a lock is required.

Link: National Key Scheme

In Kuala Lumpur, two major shopping complexes have locked their wheelchair accessible toilets for the same reasons. Suria KLCC and Berjaya Times Square have implemented a similar system. The janitors hold the keys and control access into the toilets. These two complexes have some of the cleanest accessible toilets I have used.

Toilets for disabled persons is a right, not a privilege. A barrier free environment provides people with disabilities a better quality of life by allowing them to participate and be contributing members of society. To deprive people with disabilities these basic amenities is to infringe on their rights and dignity. Whither civil society when selfishness reigns and the needs of people with disabilities are disregarded and ignored?

Related articles:
Accessibility for the Disabled – A Design Manual for a Barrier Free Environment
The Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities

Spanking new lever for the toilet door.
Photo by Wuan.

Malaysia Airports gets two thumbs up for their responsiveness to my complaint regarding the faulty toilet lock at the Penang International Airport. To recap, I got trapped in the same toilet for PWD twice. Subsequently, I emailed a complaint to Cik Noor Hafiza Ruslan, Senior Executive of Corporate Communications for Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad.

Encik Aznan of Malaysia Airports’ Terminal Operation Services called up several days later to apologize and discussed about my complaint. He later followed-up with an email informing me that they have rectified the problem of the faulty toilet lock at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport as well.

When we landed at the Penang International Airport last Thursday, I dragged Wuan along to check on that particular toilet. I am happy to report that the door knob has been replaced with a lever. Kudos to Malaysia Airports for the prompt action. It certainly will alleviate the apprehension should I need to use the toilets there the next time.

I have also sent an email to Malaysia Airports to commend them on their quick action in resolving this problem. It is a reflection of a responsible corporate citizen that is sensitive to the needs of its clients. I wish all corporations and authorities will emulate Malaysia Airports where accessibility issues of the PWDs are concerned.

Each time a valid complaint from a PWD regarding accessibility is looked into and addressed, it leads us closer to a truly barrier-free environment. This will allow us to integrate into society more effectively. Many PWDs possess the skills and desire but not the opportunities to contribute meaningfully. A barrier-free environment is the first step to liberating us from the all too familiar confines of our own homes or institutions.

Last Sunday, I had the opportunity to observe two contrasting examples of the human nature. Wuan and I were at Mid Valley Megamall and as usual, the highlights of our trips there were looking for a toilet for PWDs to enable me to perform intermittent catheterization. In the vast complex, it is sometimes difficult to find one’s bearings, especially when it is packed with weekend shoppers. My bladder was already full and I needed to drain it immediately. I breathed a sigh of relief when we saw the sign pointing to lavatories.

When we reached the toilet for PWDs, a non-disabled couple had already opened the door and was about to enter when they saw me. The wife, who was pregnant was obviously in distress, her face cringed in discomfort as she held on to her bulging abdomen. They stopped in their tracks for a moment, wondering whether to go in or not. The husband gestured for me to use the toilet first but I indicated that they could use it. I guess they chose that particular toilet because the husband could help the wife in there. After all, if he did not need to help his wife, they could have used the normal toilet within the same premises.

Not wanting to wait for my turn, we scampered all over the mall looking for another toilet until Wuan suggested that we use the toilet in Cititel’s lobby again. I am always attracted to clean toilets like bees to honey. Unfortunately, that toilet was locked from inside. We thought someone could be using it and waited outside for a while. Along came a middle-aged woman who evidently was not using a wheelchair and did not walk with a limp. She turned the doorknob a few times, ignoring the fact that I was in the queue waiting to use it. When she failed to open it, walked three steps and disappeared into the normal toilet. I glared at her when she came out but she acted nonchalant.

Some people have the mind to comprehend that toilets for PWDs were built for a purpose. The pregnant lady had to use the toilet but she recognised the fact that it was built for people like me. They graciously accorded us that priority even though the needed to use it in haste. Some are simply inconsiderate and abuse such amenities for their own convenience. Time and again, I have stressed that amenities for PWDs is not a privilege but a necessity. We need these to be able to integrate into society. PWDs have every right to go out and enjoy a barrier-free environment as anybody else. Please do not make it more difficult for us than it already is. Think before abusing such facilities and depriving the people who really need to use it from using it.