The U.K. government is now being urged to provide better sporting venue toilets. Anne Wafula Strike, a Paralympic athlete, decided to send a letter to U.K. ministers to increase the number of accessible toilets.
UK Urged to Provide Better Sporting Venue Toilets for Paralympians
According to The Guardian's latest report, sports fans and disabled athletes are now calling out U.K. officials to make accessible toilets widely available, especially in sporting venues.
Strike sent a letter to Tom Pursglove, the disability minister, as well as Lucy Frazer, the sports minister.
In her letter, the Paralympian said that the existing sporting facilities are causing serious injustice.
She added that the lack of accessible toilets is preventing other Paralympians and disabled fans from enjoying sports events.
As of writing, a campaign to help disabled athletes have more accessible toilets is already being coordinated by Rise For Sport.
The non-profit organization said that hundreds of thousands of disabled people across the United Kingdom rely on accessible or changing places toilets.
"But, less than 10% of sports venues have these facilities," said Rise For Sport via its official website.
"That leaves disabled people with complex needs or continence issues with three choices: stay at home, plan only very short trips out, or face being changed on a public toilet floor," the organization added.
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The Need for Accessible Toilets
Disabled people use two kinds of toilets; the accessible and the changing places toilets.
The accessible toilets have large sizes enough to accommodate a standard wheelchair. They also have a height-adjusted sink and toilet.
Meanwhile, the changing places toilets are bigger. Compared to accessible toilets, they are larger and can accommodate disabled individuals with greater support needs.
This is why Strike and other Paralympians and disabled sports fans are urging the U.K. to make more efforts to improve sporting venue toilets.
The Paralympic athlete said that this is an urgent problem that needs to be solved by a change in legislation.
She added that sporting events are a critical part of the society. Wafula further stated that she is saddened to hear that disabled sports fans are facing barriers.
The Paralympian said that she wants to have a meeting with U.K. ministers as soon as possible to discuss the toilet access issue.
If you want to learn more details about what Strike and other Paralympians are fighting for, you can click this link.
