John Lewis slammed by parents for ‘forcing’ disabled children to change on a toilet FLOOR

Jack Pusey

Published: 13:57, 15 Nov 2017
Updated: 15:24, 15 Nov 2017

JOHN Lewis has been shamed by parents who say they have been forced to change their disabled children on toilet floors due to the lack of facilities.

In one uncomfortable image, a child can be seen lying on the loo floor - with the photograph since sparking outrage against the department store.

The parents of the child in the photograph do not want to be identified, but agreed to have the image shared online to raise awareness over the lack of facilities.

Sharing the image, disgusted Laura, who runs Mum on a Mission, said: "While everyone is swooning over how wonderful the new @johnlewisretail advert is... just take a moment to look at this photo which was taken in one of their stores because they don't provide #changingplaces for severely disabled people & refuse to do so. Priorities."

In response, John Lewis has since said it was reviewing changing benches for new department stores but was unable to make changes in existing stores.

But Laura, whose son is disabled, said is an outspoken champion for disability rights, later said: "Where there is a will there's a way.... It's not about space @johnlewisretail it's about effort! Think outside the corporate box and realise all the people you could help."

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Laura, whose son William is disabled, shared the image on social mediaCredit: MEN Media

A campaign to have changing areas for disabled children has been launched, with eight-year-old William pictured with a signCredit: MEN Media

The determined mum later told the Sun Online: "As a mum, it makes me not want to go out.

"The only reason why this hasn't been fixed yet is because that there isn't a law that they absolutely must do it.

"The second reason is just because of money and disinterest."

She said she had been blown away by the response to the photograph, adding: "We just have to keep asking businesses to change. There's nothing else we can do, except to keep asking."

Other parents have taken up the cry, with one mum Nicole McClean urging people to support the Christmas song All I Want For Christmas Is a Loo.

A John Lewis spokesperson said: "We have disabled customer toilets and parent & child facilities in our shops, unfortunately due to the limited space we are unable to make the changes that Changing Places desire at this point in time in existing shops.

"However, we are reviewing the feasibility of putting hoists and changing benches in new department stores and including this in store refurbishment plans.

"We continue to work closely with shopping centre developers to influence the addition of these facilities in shopping centres."

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