My son is a single parent of a 9 year old boy who has additional needs. They love to visit their local park and playground as they don't have a garden. However, the toilet facilities are very inadequate, especially if my son needs to use them and he is out alone. My grandson uses a wheelchair so they can't just pop into the gents' together! It would be the same problem if I took my grandson out on my own.

Also, my grandson needs better changing facilities. He's very tall for his age and the provision is aimed at babies and toddlers. I saw a poor mum trying to change her daughter, who looked about 18 months old, on a fold down, very small changing platform in a very public, very cramped corner of the ladies' toilets. It was totally unsuitable for the parent and undignified for the child. And what if she had been out just with her dad?! 

We are in 2025 and I am ashamed and embarrassed that the UK, with all it's highlighting of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is still failing miserably when it comes to its huge SEND population. Councils must start providing practical and realistic solutions to fulfill these basic human rights.