1,500 in Great Britain, none in France! Exchange rooms were an unknown concept in France until very recently. For the first time, two towns have one: Nancy and Arras.
It is a project close to his heart. Sonia Allaouani is the mother of a 10-year-old child with multiple disabilities. So when this Arrageoise discoveredre the Anglo-Saxon concept of the handyroom – a room where a person with reduced mobility can change in complete privacy – it ise démène to promote it.
His proposal to the city’s participatory budget is retained: one of the first exchange rooms in France has just been housed in the Town Hall, Place des Héros, close to all shops and most events.It’scultural elements of the city.
“I often find myself in trouble when I go out with my child”, says Sonia Allaouani. “Despite his heavy handicap, we continue to go out, to travel, to fly, to go to museums, to concerts, everywhere. The biggest difficulty is that children, like adults with disabilities, all wear protection, which must be changed regularly.” However, the toilets for people with reduced mobility are too small for heavy handicaps. “How do I change my son who is 1.30 m tall and weighs 25 kg on a baby table that only supports 15?”, request Sonia Allaouani. “I happened to change it in my car trunk or even, during a departure on vacation, on a motorway service area, in full view… “.
So when on social media, this mom discoversre l’existence des handyrooms, these large fitted bathroomses with a rail to allow disabled peoplees to be lifted from their chair to the table, to change, shee bat for his project to be selected for the participatory budget.
“€40,000 have been allocated to this project which received first prize in la social action category”, emphasizes Sylvie Noclercq, elected official from Arras, councilor for social action. “I intervenedeu in the choice of the Town Hall for its construction. The changing room is located on the ground floor. It is accessible not only to people with disabilities, but also to people âelderly who have incontinence problems”.
An undeniable step forward for the rights of people with disabilities, according to Sonia Allaouani. “It’s important to give them back their citizenship.” she explains. “Going to the toilet should be a right for all citizens, the right to be able to change in a place out of sight. It gives them back their dignity and it allows us caregivers to go out more, to enjoy life. For example, if I want to take a walk in the city of Arras and a restaurant, I can do it because I can go and change my child in complete safety.” And to add: “pDuring confinement, when everything was closed, bars and restaurants, we all looked for a toilet. here, that’s what i live 24 24 hours, 365 days a year, with my son”.
Three other exchange rooms are planned in town, including one, mobile, which can be installed anywhere, during major events.It’scultural elements in particular.
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