accessible roundabout

Quinns, trains and…Changing Places

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Now that Quinns’ diagnosis has changed it’s a bit awkward writing a blog with cerebral palsy in the name. I don’t really want to change it and risk losing the readers and followers who support me but I’ve finally decided to rename it ‘Quinns, trains & changing places’ which allows me to keep the qtandcp. I’ve learned through this journey that it is places that need to change for inclusion to succeed so the purpose of the blog will remain the same. I’m sure there will still be plenty of cute photographs of Quinns and his Big Sister.

3 year old Quinns sits in his working chair smiling with a handwritten sign in front of him which reads 'Nobody should have to lie on a toilet floor! #ChangingPlaces
7 year old Quinns sits in his car seat cuddling his toy giraffe. He is smiling up at the camera.

As well as the change of diagnosis over the last 5 years of writing we’ve seen some massive changes in our lives. We’ve stayed at home a lot and we’ve travelled a little. We’ve enjoyed simple pleasures and taken on big adventures. 

We had to move house and then make adaptations to the new house. In between we raised awareness of the need to change play parks and raised the money to make our local play park more inclusive with paths and accessible play equipment.

Quinns finished nursery and started school. He has been teaching the teachers for three years now about everything from eye gaze technology to nasogastric feeding and we’ve experienced various versions of schooling; home, online and hospital.

Throughout it all and a big incentive for the change of blog name has been Changing Places toilets. These facilities have become even more essential to us over the last few years. We struggle to go anywhere that doesn’t have access to one these days. We have visited many that have been newly installed but there still aren’t nearly enough to make it easy for us to get Quinns out and about.

This Changing Places awareness day we support the campaign for all healthcare settings, cinemas and theatres to have Changing Places. I also want to raise awareness of the #RiseForSport petition aiming for Changing Places in all sports venues. I hope throughout the next five years I will be able to share photos of Quinns and his Big Sister outside many, many more.

So the name change not only covers Quinns’ change of diagnosis and everything we’ve been through in the last five years but also one of my favourite topics, Changing Place toilets! 

Swings and roundabouts

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From behind the camera my smile mirrors Quinns’. This was the very first time Quinns and Big Sister played together on the new accessible roundabout in our local park. 

Quinns and Big Sister enjoying the new accessible roundabout in our local park.

Back in October 2018 I posted a blog called Park life. I described my sadness at the lack of accessible play equipment and my dream of accessible roundabouts in every play park. 

Once the sadness of that day lifted the rage came. I realised Quinns would have very little chance of experiencing standard play equipment during his childhood. Only by travelling to play parks miles away would Quinns have the opportunity to play unless I took action. There was no time to waste.

Our local park was the best place to start. I got the Community Council on board with the idea first then we approached the Council. Anyone I spoke to about the idea of accessible play equipment was totally on board but there was no funding. Once the local community was involved the fundraising campaign absolutely rocketed and we soon made enough for a roundabout.

But it couldn’t stop there. One accessible roundabout doesn’t make an accessible playpark. As a family we sought out play parks to visit for research and awareness raising. By sharing the joy of Quinns’ and Big Sister’s park experiences we got everyone hooked on the story. There was no reason other than a lack of play equipment stopping Quinns having fun. We joined friends and had wonderful days out.

Five year old Quinns smiling while being pushed in a high backed swing by his ten year old big sister.
Quinns loving being pushed by Big Sister in the new high backed swing in our local park.

It all took an enormous amount of energy from us and from the many many others who helped us. We would hear about parks that had recently been renovated and make a point of visiting. It was frustrating to find that even although work had just been carried out in these parks there was still no equipment for Quinns to play on.

I often question why we had to go to so much effort to make it happen for our park while companies were spending money on inaccessible equipment for other parks. Although we had a lot of fun along the way it shouldn’t have been so much hard work to realise Quinns’ right to play.

After “The Big Push”, our final community fundraising event, we had raised enough for an accessible roundabout, high backed swing, tables and perhaps most importantly paths. Pathways would not only benefit wheelchairs users but so many others. The most common complaint about our park was the difficulties people had pushing children around it in buggies. 

Most of the work on our play park has recently been completed and it is amazing!! I confess I smiled so much on our first visit I forgot to take Quinns off the roundabout until he was pale with dizziness! There is so much joy to be had in our local park now that we can pop past for a quick spin anytime!

The biggest thank you to everyone near and far who supported, contributed and helped make this dream a reality for us and many others in our local area. We couldn’t have done it without you.