More than a month ago, Costa Coffee’s customer care team responded to concerns about the lack of an emergency alarm cord in the disabled toilet at their Port Laoise drive-through branch. They assured me the issue would be passed to their maintenance team. Yet today, the cord remains absent.

For disabled patrons—including those living with chronic illness, mobility challenges, or hidden disabilities—an emergency cord isn’t a luxury. It’s a lifeline. Its absence signals more than a maintenance oversight; it reflects a gap in dignity, safety, and inclusion.

This isn’t about blame. It’s about noticing. About naming what’s missing so it can be restored. About ensuring that every customer, regardless of ability, can use facilities with confidence and care.

Costa Coffee has made strides in accessibility elsewhere. But promises must be followed by action. A month is long enough. It’s time to fix the cord—and to reaffirm that disabled lives matter in every corner of public life, even the loo.

If you visit this branch and notice the cord is still missing, consider gently raising the issue with staff or contacting customer care again. Sometimes, change begins with a quiet nudge and a shared commitment to doing better.

Let’s keep noticing. Let’s keep asking. And let’s keep making space for everyone.