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28th January 2021
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Pants down for equality: Bathstore launches Looathon to promote bathroom equality
Well done Bathstore for taking a stand on promoting bathroom equality by launching 'Pants down for equality' - an all-day Looathon designed to highlight the conditions many disabled people face when using public toilets.
The campaign is launched in partnership with Sarah Brisdion, who helped bring the issue to public attention in December 2017 through her #ChangingPlaces toilet selfies. The Looathon, which sees Sarah sit on a toilet from 10:00 until 16:00, Friday, May 11th, will take place in Bathstore's Baker Street showroom in full public view.
Sarah is joined by special guests, including Samantha Renke, actress and disability rights campaigner, to highlight the undignified situation of lying on a public washroom floor which many, including her own son Hadley, face on a daily basis.
Without additional facilities, those with disabilities have no choice but to lie on a public washroom floor when they need to go to toilet.
The campaign aims to tackle the issue of bathroom equality and identify toilets around the country that aren't doing enough to enable disabled people to maintain independence and self-respect when going to the loo.
Having recently launched Easy Bathing, a full collection designed to make dream bathrooms accessible to all regardless of mobility or circumstance, Bathstore is proud to join Sarah in taking a stand on the issue.
"It is unacceptable that in 2018, people with disabilities are being subjected to lying on public bathroom floors in order to relieve themselves," argues Gary Favell, CEO of Bathstore.
"It is our responsibility to ensure we allow those with disabilities to maintain their dignity while out of their home.
"Having launched Easy Bathing, we've shown we are dedicated to providing those with mobility issues solutions in the bathroom and ensuring dream bathrooms are achievable for all."
Sarah Brisdion says: "My son Hadley cannot stand unaided and needs to lie down to have underwear and trousers removed and be lifted onto a toilet. Without facilities, known as Changing Places toilets, he has no choice but to lie on the loo floor or relieve himself in a nappy.
"Toilets are not glamorous. As Changing Places campaigners, we have to go to extreme lengths to get our cause noticed. We want to get this huge human rights issue the attention it deserves. And we need big businesses to step up and cater for their customers.
To read more on the campaign, visit:
www.hadleysheroes.co.uk
14th May 2018