IN OCTOBER 2004, the Act outlawing discrimination against the disabled came fully into force, accompanied by a blaze of publicity.

The Evening Press sent out a representative to check all was well in York's establishments and she reported back, predictably, that everything appeared to be fine.

Well, it isn't! Those establishments that do have toilet facilities for the disabled appear to believe all such people are in wheelchairs, and that a standard toilet plus safety grips and a wall mirror suitable for a dwarf are all that is required.

Those such as myself who have colostomies are not catered for at all, although our requirements are simple - a full-length wall mirror with a shelf measuring about two feet long by six inches deep placed horizontally across the mirror at a height of about 30 inches.

This seems neither expensive nor difficult, yet not one establishment has given the subject any thought. Some time ago at a food store at Clifton Moor, I raised this subject at the "service counter" and filled in a suggestions form but nothing came of it. Even public buildings, including the Central Library, do not have these facilities.

There are still restaurants and cafes where there are no toilet provisions at all for the disabled. In a well-known restaurant/cafe in High Ousegate, I asked where the disabled toilet was, only to be told that there wasn't one. On asking why, the only response I got was a shrug.

Perhaps somebody from the council could tell us how far the Act goes in its requirements and whether there is a department responsible for ensuring compliance. Does anyone check and is non-compliance an offence? Perhaps this letter will evoke correspondence from those with other forms of disability.

Bob Jones,

Albion Avenue, York.

Updated: 09:41 Tuesday, January 25, 2005