News Release (25 July 2003):
Air your views on aircraft toilets
The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) is seeking views on how to make aircraft toilets easier to use for everyone. It launched a consultation today setting out draft standards that would make access easier for disabled people.
Many disabled people find it difficult or impossible to use toilet facilities on aircraft. The consultation has been developed to stimulate discussion among aircraft manufacturers, operators and disabled people and draws on existing guides from around the world to promote best practice in meeting the needs of disabled people.
Launching the consultation, Keith Richards, DPTAC member, said:
"Aircraft toilets are difficult for everyone to use but for disabled people they can be impossible - it need not be this way.
During the European Year of Disabled People, we want to stimulate debate and good practice that leads to better designs and conditions for everyone, while recognising the practical limitations of providing facilities in the confined spaces within aircraft."
The consultation document follows the publication by the Department for Transport 'Access to Air Travel for Disabled People: Code of Practice' and DPTAC's 'Access to Air Travel: Guidance for disabled and less mobile passengers'.
The Code of Practice states that 'all wide bodied aircraft (and some single aisle aircraft) should be equipped with at least one spacious lavatory for disabled passengers catering for disabled people with a range of disabilities'. It also stated that DPTAC would be developing a specification for on-board wheelchair accessible toilets, which is included in the document launched today.
Notes to editors:
1. The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) was set up under the Transport Act of 1985 to advise Government on the transport needs of all disabled people. The committee has 20 members and a Chair (of whom at least half must be disabled people), representing a wide range of transport interests. Members are appointed by the Secretary of State and are unpaid, apart from the reimbursement of expenses.
2. DPTAC has no executive powers and any specification resulting from the consultation will be advisory only. The consultation document was developed in discussion with the aviation industry representatives involved in a sub-group of DPTAC.
3. You can see the consultation document at: http://www.dptac.gov.uk/pubs/aviation/consult/index.htm. It can be downloaded free of charge using either Word format or PDF format, with Adobe Acrobat. It is possible to alter the font and text size of documents on the website to suit individual requirements. This consultation document is also available in large print, Braille and audio versions from the DPTAC Secretariat, 1/14 Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DR.
4. Responses to the consultation document are required by 17 October 2003 and should be sent to the DPTAC Secretariat at the address above.
5. For further information on DPTAC's consultation, contact Ffion Grant on 020 7944 8013, (textphone 020 7944 3277), fax 020 7944 6998 or email dptac@dft.gsi.gov.uk.
6. The DfT Code of Practice can be seen at www.dft.gov.uk/transportforyou/access/aviationshipping/.
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