An East Lothian schoolgirl’s award-winning accessible toilet sign has gone on display on the door of Fort Kinnaird’s disabled toilet and bathroom facilities in a bid to make them more welcoming for people with hidden disabilities or long-term illnesses.
12-year-old Grace, who is an Ambassador for Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018 and last week won the 2018 Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year Editor’s Award, designed ‘Grace’s Sign’ in 2016 to replace traditional disabled toilet signs. Grace, who has Crohn’s Disease, brought to light the issue that people with hidden disabilities and long-term illnesses often need access to accessible facilities, but run the risk of comments or disapproving looks if their condition isn’t obvious.
She has been on a drive to have her signs placed on accessible toilets throughout Scotland, the UK, Europe, and across the world. Grace has won various accolades for her initiative, including the Young Scot and British Citizen Youth awards. Grace’s Sign features people with red hearts to symbolise hidden disabilities, as well as a person in a wheelchair.
On a visit to Fort Kinnaird to see the sign in place, Grace said: “Thank you to all at Fort Kinnaird for changing the signage on your accessible toilet. I’m so excited to see a change at a shopping centre that I visit often.
Thank you for helping to raise awareness by displaying a Grace’s Sign. This means that those who have invisible disabilities have a choice without fear of being judged.”
Fort Kinnaird joins iconic Edinburgh landmarks such as the Scottish Parliament and Edinburgh Airport in putting Grace’s Sign on display.
Fort Kinnaird Centre Deputy Centre Manager Lindy Watson said: “Fort Kinnaird is delighted to have installed Grace’s Sign at our accessible bathroom facilities. Grace Warnock is an inspirational young woman and we are proud to be part of her campaign.
“With an average of 52,000 daily visitors, Fort Kinnaird is one of Edinburgh’s busiest retail and leisure destinations, and it is our responsibility to make sure all visitors with accessibility needs have a comfortable and respectful experience.
“We are constantly reviewing out facilities and look forward to announcing further improvements in the near future.”
Fort Kinnaird offers a Shopmobility service which provides powered scooters and manual wheelchairs to visitors, and is planning to install more accessible bathroom equipment, including a hoist and changing bench. The centre was also recently awarded the Disability Parking Award (DPA) for the tenth year is a row, demonstrating its commitment to providing quality parking facilities for disabled people.
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