Access to toilets

We are campaigning to make sure that people with Crohn’s and Colitis have access to public toilets, free of charge and without fear of public prejudice and discrimination. Access to toilets is essential for people with Crohn’s, Colitis, and other hidden disabilities to access education, work, and social activities. This is a matter of personal and public health, equality, and social inclusion.

Our Not Every Disability is Visible toilet campaign

1 in 2 people with Crohn's or Colitis report having experienced discrimination for using an accessible toilet, with over 60% of these instances including either verbal and or physical abused. Our award-winning campaign, Not Every Disability is Visible has been challenging public perceptions since 2016 through inclusive toilet signage and training. Our campaign has seen thousands of major venues, travel hubs and pubs and restaurants install our Not Every Disability is Visible toilet signs. You can download our resources to get your local pubs and restaurants involved and find out more about the campaign and companies participating.


Campaigning for your rights

We’re working across the UK to ensure access to toilets is considered as an equality, social inclusion, and health issue by: 

  • Working with parliamentarians in the four UK nations to call for a statutory duty on local authorities to ensure appropriate access to toilets in their areas. 
  • Lobbying for easy digital access to information on the location and type of publicly available toilets and promote effective and innovative means of delivering this 
  • Work with those in the transport and travel sectors to ensure that people with Crohn’s and Colitis have the confidence to travel in unfamiliar environments, are treated with dignity and understanding, and can access a toilet when needed. See here for the evidence we gave at the London Assembly on access to toilets across London. 
  • Collaborating with like-minded charities, organisations, councils and other stakeholders to raise awareness that Not Every Disability is Visible. We will promote the roll out of accessible toilet signage and related staff training in places of employment, as well as in high footfall public areas such as public buildings, retail, transport hubs, food outlets and cultural venues. 

Our toilet position statement 

To find out more about our specific position on key aspects to toilets – from access to toilet facility design to signage on and to toilets read our toilet position statement. 

Become a Campaigner

None of our award-winning campaigns would be possible without our amazing community of dedicated campaigners. Your powerful voice really does matter. 


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Helpline service

Helpline
Service

We know it can be difficult to live with, or support someone living with these conditions. But you’re not alone. We provide up-to-date, evidence-based information and can support you to live well with Crohn’s or Colitis.

Our helpline team can help by:

  • Providing information about Crohn’s and Colitis.

  • Listening and talking through your situation.

  • Helping you to find support from others in the Crohn’s and Colitis community.

  • Providing details of other specialist organisations.

Please be aware we’re not medically or legally trained. We cannot provide detailed financial or benefits advice or specialist emotional support.

Please contact us via telephone, email or LiveChat - 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (except English bank holidays).

If you need specific medical advice about your condition, your GP or IBD team will be best placed to help.

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