Changing Place

Trinity College Dublin welcomes people with disabilities and carers to drop in to use the fully accessible Changing Place toilet facility located at the entry level into the Arts Building, adjacent to the college’s respite room.

The Changing Place toilet is primarily for college staff and students - but is also available to be used by the many visitors to the university. This purpose-built toilet facility gives more space and appropriate equipment for people who need the help of a carer to undertake their hygiene, safety, and comfort. This is the first such facility in the heart of Dublin city centre.  

The Changing Place toilet goes beyond a conventional wheelchair-accessible toilet in that it includes additional assistive technology of a hoist, height-adjustable adult-sized changing bench, height-adjustable basin, and toilet.

To further optimise the facility’s relevance for as many disabled students as possible, Trinity has chosen to install a Clos-o-Mat Palma Vita wash & dry toilet in place of a conventional WC. Looking like, and capable of being used as, a traditional toilet, the Palma Vita has in-built douching and drying so the user - or their carer - does not have to wipe clean with toilet tissue.

Background about Changing Place:

The Changing Place Consortium launched its campaign in 2006 on behalf of over 1/4 of a million people who cannot use standard accessible toilets. This includes people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy, as well as older people.

Trinity College invested in a fully accessible Changing Place toilet and upgraded all enabled toilets in the building.

Facility features:

• Height, adjustable, adult-sized changing bench
• Ceiling track hoist system
• Adequate space for a person with disabilities and up to two assistants
• Centrally located toilet with space on both sides for assistants
• Privacy screen

Before using the facility the parents/carers must register with the attendant and receive some basic information on the use of the equipment.

More information on the use of the equipment and the facility are available below:

• Guidelines for use of the Changing Place Facility
• Basic Instructionsfor the Ceiling Hoist AR 200 Reference Guide

Please note, for safety reasons it is the responsibility of the user to provide the sling.