Most accessible toilets onsite will be accessible portaloos. At many festivals these will be positioned in the accessible campsite, at the viewing platforms and possibly in general toilet blocks.

If you’re attending your first festival as a disabled person, here are some useful things to know. 

• Water: Most accessible portaloos do not have running water. There may be hand gel to clean your hands. If you have medical equipment that needs washing, familiarise yourself with the water points onsite. Read the sections below on sterile toilets and High Dependency Units for more information.
• Keep it clean: Many wheelchair users can only transfer onto an accessible toilet by putting their hands on the seat. Do your best to keep the toilet clean for other users. 
• Portaloos may not always be stocked with toilet roll and hand gel. Make sure you have these with you, in case you need them. 
• Portaloos are not connected to electricity and may not have lights. Bring a torch for the evenings or make sure you have your phone with you.  
• Accessible portaloos fill up quickly: They have lower seats than standard portaloos. Often, toilet-cleaning vehicles can only  access the site when the arena is closed. If a toilet is full, it may not be emptied again that day. It is important that they are only used by customers who need to do so. 
• Don’t let your PA and friends use the accessible toilet, unless it is in the interest of your support needs. For example, if the general toilets are so far away that you being left on your own for an extended time would mean that your needs are not met.
• Wristbands: Festivals will often issue accreditation to disabled customers. If someone has an accreditation band, they are likely to have the same need to use an accessible toilet as you do, regardless of whether they “look” disabled. Never judge on appearances alone. 

Sterile Toilets 

It is not always easy to keep accessible portaloos clean. However, there are often designated “sterile” units at welfare and medical points. If you do need a cleaner portaloo, this is likely to be the best place to go. These are sometimes designated as “sterile” units. Due to the nature of festivals, even ‘sterile’ units are not likely to be as clean as a toilet at home would be.  

High Dependency Units 

In addition to “sterile” toilets, many festivals also have High Dependency Toilets and/or Mobile Changing Places units. These are larger, plumbed units with a bed, hoist, and changing table as well as running water to the flush and sink. 

These toilets are for the benefit of customers who cannot use standard accessible toilets, either because they need to access the hoist and/or changing table or because they carry out medical procedures that would not be safe or sterile in portaloo. These toilets are vital for those who do need to use them, so it is important not to use these toilets if you can make use of a standard accessible portaloo. 

Some customers may spend much longer in High Dependency or Changing Places toilets than they would in a standard unit.