Tailem Bend’s public toilets aren’t as accessible as you might hope
Local mobility scooter user David Neihus says he can’t get into the cubicles without assistance, and hopes the Coorong council will do something about it.
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Tailem Bend resident David Neihus is looking for answers after finding a critical flaw with the town’s main street toilet block.
The cubicles’ doors are heavy and stiff, and Mr Neihus can’t get his mobility scooter inside without assistance.
“I can’t open them wide enough in one attempt,” he said.
“Even if I move backwards and forwards to open the doors wider, they don’t lock in place long enough … then, even if I do get into the cubicle, there isn’t enough room for me to get close enough to transfer to the toilet pan.”
Mr Neihus said he was aware of the length of time it took Tailem Bend to receive its long overdue improved toilet block, but he continued to be puzzled by how he could use them without asking for help.
“Luckily I have a support worker with me on most occasions when I am out and about, but on those occasions when I am on my own, I have to resort to bush toileting with my bottle,” he said.
“I really don’t like answering strangers to help me out, and even when I have a support worker I regularly find the disability unisex toilet being used by someone in a rush.”
Mr Neihus has cerebral palsy, which gives him only limited use of one hand and arm and means his mobility scooter has been his main way of getting around since 2017.
He said he had experienced difficulties everywhere except Adelaide’s CBD, including in Meningie, Murray Bridge and Goolwa.
“I do get around a bit and my toilet accessibility issues are everywhere,” he said.
“I understand it must be a financial issue to fit automatic doors everywhere, but surely a simple bush engineering approach could fix this issue.
“A sliding door or even a 180-degree shearing shed-type swinging door into a large open toilet cubicle would work.”
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Another solution could be to make all the Tailem Bend toilets unisex, allowing anyone to use any of the cubicles.
“I’ve seen ladies lining up to the car park waiting for a female toilet to be free,” he said.
Mr Neihus’ support agency has formally approached the Coorong council, and he understood that it was investigating the issue.
He hoped the council might build more footpaths at Tailem, too: “Meningie has footpaths everywhere and they’re real flash.”
Murray Bridge News is seeking comment from the council.
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