The Disability Partnership and C-TEC emphasize importance of accessible life safety systems

In a recent interview, C-TEC Marketing Director Andy Green and Dave Thompson MBE DL, Chief Executive of The Disability Partnership, discussed the critical need for the maintenance and accessibility of life safety systems.

Thompson, who founded The Disability Partnership in 1991, highlighted that installing disability equipment is insufficient if the systems are not functional. He cited instances where hearing loops were switched off, toilet alarm pull cords were tied out of reach, and refuge areas lacked means of communication.

Thompson’s work has had significant impact, including the development of a bespoke toilet for a teenager with cerebral palsy that became the model for Changing Places toilets across the UK and Europe. The interview emphasized that for equipment like refuge, toilet alarm, and hearing loop systems to be effective, they must be regularly tested, maintained, and kept accessible to those who rely on them.