Standard disability access signs could be replaced by one designed by a 14 year old from Prestonpans, under changes being discussed at Westminster today.
The new sign for toilets, parking spaces and other facilities, emphasises that not all disabilities are visible.
Grace Warnock, who has Crohn's Disease, has already been recognised with a Points of Light Award from the Prime Minister and a British Citizen Youth Award for campaigning on the issue.
The Preston Lodge High School Pupil designed her own sign after receiving negative remarks when usuing accessible toilets from adults who did not appreciate or understand her disability.
East Lothian MP Martin Whitfield will meet with the British Standards Institute (BSI) and the UK Government’s Disability Minister Justin Tomlinson today (Weds) as part of a round-table event to discuss the proposed change, ahead of a Commons debate on invisible disabilities and accessibility challenges.
The hope is that the BSI will recognise the sign as the new accepted symbol for all accessible facilities and support its roll out across the UK, replacing both the 'wheelchair' symbol and Blue Badge parking permits.
Martin Whitfield, Labour MP for East Lothian, said: "The impact of accessibility challenges faced by those living with 'invisible' disabilities has too often been overlooked or ignored.
“However, thanks to the dedicated work of numerous charities and inspirational individual campaigners like Grace Warnock, the issue is finally starting to receive the attention it deserves.
"This Commons debate will provide another opportunity for MPs to speak out on behalf of their constituents who live with hidden disabilities and describe the challenges and negative responses they can experience while going about their daily lives."
Grace Warnock said the sign had come out of her frustration at being questioned about the validity of her disability when using an accessible toilet. "This ignorance drove me to design the first Grace’s Sign to educate others on invisible disabilities and to encourage everyone to have a heart.”
Grace's blueprint was developed by Edinburgh design agency StudioLR, funded by the Big Lottery. Lucy Richards, creative director of the firm, said: “The wheelchair symbol is commonly used on accessible toilet signs and Blue Badge parking permits; however, this symbol doesn’t represent the people with wide-ranging impairments who use these facilities and services.
Rob Turpin, Healthcare Market Development Manager at the British Standards Institute, said:
“As the UK National Standards Body, BSI works across many sectors to address accessibility issues and we look forward to discussing further how standards can help ensure public information signage is inclusive.”
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