Launch of Universal Design Guidelines for Changing Places Toilets

Course aim

The aim of the event is to raise awareness and knowledge of new Universal Design Guidelines for Changing Places Toilets. The guidelines are aimed at designers, building managers and owners of facilities as well as clients, industry professionals and disability stakeholders. The purpose of the guidelines is to:

• provide good practice guidance on the location of Changing Places Toilets, having regard to the use and operation of a building. 
• provide good practice guidance on the provision and design of Changing Places Toilets.
• provide good practice guidance on managing and maintaining Changing Places Toilets.
• complement implementation of the Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2022, which make provision for Changing Places Toilets, having regard to the use and size of a building.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course attendees should have a knowledge of;

1. good practice guidance for the location, provision, design, and installation of Changing Places Toilets
2. the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities regarding accessibility in the built environment
3. Part M of the Building Regulations 2022 and TGD M 2002

Contact Name and Email address for queries: Ruth O’Reilly

Speakers

Dr Aideen Hartney, Director, National Disability Authority (NDA)

Dr Aideen Hartney became Director (Chief Executive) of the National Disability Authority (NDA) in mid-2020, having joined the organisation in 2016 as its Head of Policy, Research and Public Affairs. The National Disability Authority (NDA) is the independent statutory body, which provides evidence-based advice and research to Government on disability policy and practice and promotes Universal Design.

Aideen has had a long career in overseeing research for the public good, having managed several major funded research programmes in University College Dublin, before coming to the NDA. She also has private sector experience following 7 years as a market research consultant. Aideen holds a doctorate in Ancient History, and lectured for a time at the University of Bristol.

Anne Rabbitte T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for Disabilities, Department of Health and Department of Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth

Appointed to this role in July 2020, Anne Rabbitte hails from a small town in the west of Ireland, Portumna, Co Galway. A widowed mother to three children in second and third level education, she has been a TD for the Galway East constituency since the 2016 general election.

She was a member of Galway County Council from 2014 to 2016. In May 2016, she was appointed to the Fianna Fáil front bench as Spokesperson for Children and Youth Affairs.

Anne worked for 25 years for a financial institution and is a qualified financial adviser. For 3 years, Anne ran a community childcare facility.

Dr. Aoife McNicholl, Independent Living Movement Ireland

Dr. Aoife McNicholl is an Assistant Professor of Psychology and was previously the Universal Design Coordinator in Dublin City University. Aoife is a board member of Independent Living Movement Ireland and member of the National Task Force for Digital and Assistive Technology in the HSE. As a disabled person, she has been involved in advocacy campaigns with the Irish Wheelchair Association on accessible housing and the government on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Aaron Daly, Changing Places Ireland

Aaron became an advocate for Changing Places Toilets as his daughter Sophia was born with cerebral palsy, is a wheelchair user and dependent on others for all of her activities of daily living. He was inspired by the UK campaign and pushed for Ireland to go along the same avenue. Changing Places Ireland are proud of the campaign to date and are thankful for all the work that has gone into where we are today. 

Paul McDermott, Department of Housing Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Ruth O’Reilly, Centre for Excellence in Universal Design

Ruth O’Reilly joined the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design in 2020, as Senior Built Environment Design Advisor. The Centre, which is part of the National Disability Authority, promotes universal design of the built environment, services, products, and ICT. Ruth is an architect, with an MSc in Accessibility and Inclusive Design. Prior to her current role, she was a Senior Standards Officer at the National Disability Authority, managing research and developing standards and guidance in the disability sector. Ruth is passionate about her work to promote the positive impact that universal design can have on well-being and inclusion.

Eoin O’Herlihy, O’Herlihy Access Consultancy

Eoin O’Herlihy is a Chartered Engineer, an independent accessibility and Universal Design consultant/trainer and Managing Director of O’Herlihy Access Consultancy (OHAC www.accessconsultancy.ie). Eoin has over 18 years’ international experience advising on Universal Design and accessibility is an IAAP Level 3 Certified Expert Accessibility Professional in Accessible Built Environment. He is passionate about accessibility and making all aspects of society fully accessible and usable for everyone. Eoin recognises that the barriers faced by people with disabilities and other user groups come in many forms (physical (e.g. public realm), attitudinal, technological, communication, transport, and employment) and aims to support organisations around the world to remove these barriers and create a more inclusive society. 

Mark Trieglaff, Accessibility Consultation and Training Services

Mark has a B.S. in Outdoor and Therapeutic Recreation and M.S. in Park and Recreation Administration; Mark holds a certification as a Professional Associate with The National Association of ADA Coordinators

For 18 years, Mark worked as the Access Coordinator for People with Disabilities at Brookfield Zoo. Mark also worked at LCM Architects as an Accessibility Specialist, working along side Jack Catlin, who was Chair of the Access Board during the development of the new 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines.

As of 2024 Mark has presented at 12 International conferences on Universal Design and his papers have been published in the UK and Israel. In February of 2023 he spoke at the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities at the UN Center in Vienna, Austria. He has since then been asked to be on an advisory committee for the Zero Project in conjunction with the UN in Vienna.

Ger Craddock, Chief Officer, Centre for Excellence in Universal Design

Dr Craddock is the inaugural Chief Officer of the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, a statutory body established by the Irish Government in 2007. It is part of the National Disability Authority which is the lead state agency on disability in Ireland. The Centre’s key domain areas are the built environment, products and services, and information and communication technologies (ICT). The centre’s focus is on infusing universal design into educational curricula at all levels, developing standards in professional and industrial services and creating awareness of the benefits of universal design within Ireland as well as at European and International level.

He is an expert evaluator for the European Commission’s research and innovation funding programme, the Horizon 2020). He is past president of the Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe (AAATE),. Prior to his role with the Centre, Dr Craddock managed a national assistive technology service delivery department. He has also headed up projects at both national and European level.

Dr Craddock is a graduate of Dublin City University with an Electronic Engineering degree, a Postgraduate Diploma in Social and Vocational Rehabilitation Management from University College Dublin (UCD), and a PhD from the Centre of Disability Studies in UCD. He has published widely in peer reviewed journals.