What is an inclusive park? They are thoughtfully designed to provide a safe place where children of all abilities can play together, and are developmentally appropriate for children with and without disabilities. An inclusive playground takes away the barriers to exclusion, both physical and social, providing a “sensory rich” experience for all.
Full Answer
What is an inclusive playground?
At an inclusive playground, children (and adults) of all abilities can interact with each other and do what everyone wants to do: PLAY! Learn about how to start the process to design an inclusive play space and a complete outline to assist in designing the playground.
What are the benefits of inclusive play spaces?
Well-designed inclusive play spaces and parks welcome people and especially children of all abilities to play, learn and grow together. But did you know that their benefits extend even further? Inclusive play areas also allow adults of varying ages and abilities to actively engage with the children in their care.
How can I introduce inclusive play to my community?
Once your site opens hold events specifically designed to introduce the importance of inclusive play to your community. Adventure Playground Systems has been a leading manufacturer in the commercial playground industry for more than 20 years.
What is the importance of inclusive education to you?
They educate and bring families and people together. They stress the importance of inclusion in every day activities, no matter the ability level. They prove that kids of all abilities enjoy exploring, learning, interacting and having fun together. They stress compassion and, well, inclusion of those that are different from you.
What makes a park inclusive?
An inclusive playground considers the needs of all kids and incorporates play equipment that addresses those needs and promotes growth and joy.
What does inclusive play mean?
Inclusive play opens makes opportunities available to all children, regardless of disability and background. We believe children should all have the chance to play together. All children benefit from being outside, interacting with their environment, learning from nature and developing through play.
What does an all inclusive playground mean?
Inclusive means everyone is a part of play with peers of all abilities. Inclusive playgrounds create an atmosphere where everyone can interact with each other, explore, imagine and play together. Learn about the types of inclusive playgrounds.
How do you build an inclusive playground?
Five Ways to Build an Inclusive Playground No Matter Your Space or BudgetAdd Inclusive Swings. Zero-G Swing Seats are intended for kids ages 5 to 12 or 2 to 5. ... Engage the Senses. ... Provide Cozy Spaces. ... Add an Inlcusive Merry-Go-Round. ... Affordable Inclusive Spinning.
Why are inclusive playgrounds important?
Inclusive playgrounds allow children to exercise their minds as well as their bodies. Unstructured outdoor play helps kids learn how to share, take turns and develop other healthy behavioral skills. Children who play outside regularly have better distance vision.
What are the benefits of inclusive playgrounds?
Why Are Inclusive Playgrounds Important?Provides Safe Social Environments. One of the benefits of playgrounds is that they help children engage in social play. ... Offers Interactive Family Time. ... Encourages Community Engagement. ... Increases Self-Esteem and Boosts Confidence. ... Promotes Sensory Play for All. ... Sets Community Standards.
What are the 7 Principles of Inclusive playground Design?
No two universally designed play environment projects are alike, but in all play environments, children want to “Be” and feel fair, included, smart, independent, safe, active, and comfortable during play.
What is an inclusive swing?
The inclusive swing set offers a secure seat and the ability to attach a harness when needed to provide a safe swinging experience for all. Swinging gives kids of all abilities the opportunity to engage in valuable sensory play.
What is inclusive play equipment?
An inclusive playground is a space is where children of all abilities can play. The equipment gives them a rich range of physical, sensory, and social experiences. Inclusive playgrounds allow children of all abilities to play together and create a nurturing environment for all.
What would be the characteristics required to make an inclusive playground?
Inclusive playgrounds should be accessible, engage children of all ages and abilities and encourage them to interact with each other. Playing is one of the most important ways that children stay active, learn, make friends and socialise. It is also fundamental to children's development and wellbeing.
What do we mean by inclusive design?
Inclusive design (also called universal design) makes places usable by everyone, regardless of age, ability and circumstance. It is based on the simple principle that designing for the widest range of people creates better designs and benefits everyone.
What is a universal playground?
A universally designed, sensory-rich environment that enables children to develop physically, socially and emotionally.
What is inclusive play?
Inclusive play areas also allow adults of varying ages and abilities to actively engage with the children in their care. The playground can become a truly multi-generational gathering space for community enjoyment, socialization, healthy bodies and imaginative fun.
What is general recreation?
For nearly 50 years, General Recreation has provided designs, equipment and assisted in building all types of recreation facilities: from playgrounds and site furnishings for public spaces to designing and installing commercial outdoor fitness areas, aquatic playgrounds, safety surfacing, site furnishings, and more. We provide an extensive array of park products and site furnishings, pavilions and gazebos, fabric shade structures, outdoor bleachers, athletic standards, and more.
Why Embrace universal design?
Because it benefits everyone regardless of condition. Applying Universal Design does not mean that all the fun and risk of a park and playground are eliminated. Instead, it helps to create a place where all can play, learn and grow together.
Is it possible to build a playground?
Constructing a community build playground is not only possible , It's FUN! You just need to find the right partner to work with you through the entire community build process! Our team of experts are happy and ready to assist you.
Why is an inclusive playground important?
An inclusive playground takes away the barriers to exclusion, both physical and social, providing a “sensory rich” experience for all.
Why are playgrounds important?
These playgrounds do so much for the community. They educate and bring families and people together. They stress the importance of inclusion in every day activities, no matter the ability level. They prove that kids of all abilities enjoy exploring, learning, interacting and having fun together.
Arch Street Park in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, goes beyond ADA standards to provide a truly inclusive play experience
Over the course of the past decade, park and recreation professionals have been creating playgrounds that go beyond basic Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
Communities Embrace Inclusive Play
An excellent example of a city going above and beyond ADA standards of accessibility is Lawrenceburg, Indiana. The City of Lawrenceburg recently reopened Arch Street Park, and the new park features a number of inclusive play elements that are accessible to people in mobility devices, including swings, seesaws and ziplines.
Building Inclusion
When discussing inclusion, the vast majority of people will immediately think of providing access to those with physical disabilities, but playgrounds like Arch Street Park challenge that notion and highlight the many aspects of inclusion and equity.
What is an Inclusive Playground?
An inclusive playground is about more than wheelchair ramps, although those are important. A wide range of design elements should be included in a play space so all children can interact the structures and other children. Things to keep in mind when building an inclusive playground include:
Why are playgrounds important for children?
Playgrounds are a great place for children to engage with peers and make friends. One of the struggles families with disabilities face is fewer places to meet and be part of the community.
What are the benefits of free play?
When children are playing, they are able to progress language, symbolic thinking, social skills, and motor skills. Children who engage in free play are healthier and have higher self-esteem.
Should playgrounds be inclusive?
Parks and playground equipment shouldn’t limit or segregate children. It should be a place for children to come together and learn from each other. Inclusive playgrounds encourage play, which leads to a mutual understanding, friendships, and a true feeling of community.
What is inclusive play?
Play for everyone! Inclusive play means creating playgrounds and spaces where children who experience disabilities are able to play independently in a safe environment, and parents, grandparents, and veterans with disabilities are able to play with their children without barriers. One in seven children has a disability.
Is inclusive play more than wheelchair access?
Only a few disabilities are visible. Inclusive Play is much more than providing wheelchair access. Wheelchairs and other visible mobility impairments account for only 1% of disabilities. The other 99% are invisible, and include a broad range of cognitive and physical concerns. Inclusive play is about everyone.
What is inclusive playground?
An inclusive playground is one that supports all groups of people within a community, recognizes their value and helps them achieve their full potential through play.
Why is inclusive play important?
Creating play spaces that focus on eliminating obstacles and inviting interaction between children is crucial to social development. Inclusive playgrounds also offer safe sensory rich opportunities for self-determination which create a resilience to stress, increases self-esteem and emotional well being.
What is a segregated playground?
Outdoor areas that offer ADA accessible features within a different area of the park, or equipment that is only designated for ability challenged children may be considered segregated. Often the playground design sought to create a space that was specifically designed for wheelchair use and mobility challenged kids, but the design was separated for safety or logistical concerns. Unfortunately, this type of design limits interaction and therefore socialization opportunities. Often segregated play spaces don’t recognize the needs of other disabilities as well, such as cognitive delays, Sensory Processing disorders, or Autism.
How to contact Adventure Playground Systems?
If you’re ready to start planning your next park project, contact Adventure Playground Systems by calling us at 1.888.935.2112 or filling out our online contact form. Our friendly team of Adventure Play Experts are happy to offer their expert advice and suggestions to find the commercial play equipment that is right for you. We can guide you through the purchase every step of the way, so you get the park or playground area you’ve always dreamed of.
Is integrated play space ADA compliant?
Integrated play spaces are by far the vast majority of playgrounds open today. They are ADA compliant with acceptable safety surfacing, a correct ratio of play events / types and offer a transfer station which allows easy access to play structures for mobility challenged children. These playgrounds have done what is required (by law) but have not gone out of their way to offer truly a immersive experience.
Do playgrounds exclude children?
No one sets out to exclude a child when they build a playground or green space. However exclusion and segregation happens often in playgrounds to children with altered mobility, cognitive or sensory abilities. Compared to the general population, research shows that children with physical, sensory and cognitive disabilities have substantially greater difficulty participating in regular physical activity. Youth with physical disabilities had 4.5 times higher rate of physical inactivity compared to peers without (steel Et al., 2004).
Do children with physical disabilities have more difficulty doing physical activities?
Compared to the general population, research shows that children with physical, sensory and cognitive disabilities have substantially greater difficulty participating in regular physical activity. Youth with physical disabilities had 4.5 times higher rate of physical inactivity compared to peers without (steel Et al., 2004).
What is an Inclusive Playground?
An inclusive playground is a playground that allows children of all ages and abilities to play together. It’s wheelchair accessible and helps to develop physical, cognitive, sensory and social skills. Inclusive playgrounds provide a platform for social equity and allows entire families of all ages to enjoy time together.
Is the playground accessible by wheelchair?
All of the structures are accessible by wheelchair and most of the playground can be reached at a child’s level. We found interactive activities on all sides of the park. From the musical xylophone you saw earlier, these rotating gears, play tables that are low, and even little critters and fossils to find on the rock climbing area.
Is Common Grounds an all inclusive playground?
At the time we lived in Lakeland, Florida and the city had just announced the installment of Common Grounds which was touted as an amazing sensory park and all inclusive playground for children with autism, wheelchairs, and great for any age. I almost cried the first time we went – the entire playground was built for kids like my son!
What is inclusive playground?
That is where inclusive playgrounds come in to play. Inclusive does not just provide access to facilities, but makes those facilities usable by all people. They are developmentally appropriate for every single child, with or without any given ability.
What is the ADA in playgrounds?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a civil rights law that was passed in 1990, prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all public areas , including playgrounds. This means that all public parks and playgrounds have to make sure they meet the ADA accessibility guidelines making their public space accessible ...
What does "accessible" mean in the ADA?
What does accessible mean, exactly? According to OxfordDictionaries.com, the term accessible means: “able to be reached or entered”. So the ADA requires that public areas are “able to be reached or entered” by persons with disabilities – but what about beyond that? If the elements of a playground are accessible, but unable to be used by someone with a disability, then what is the point?
Is an inclusive playground the same as an accessible playground?
Once you note the difference between accessible and inclusive, it isn ’t hard to see that they are not one and the same, although they do go hand in hand. Complying with the minimum ADA requirements will not give you an inclusive playground. With all the inclusive options out there today there is no excuse to not build (or renovate) your playground to be all-inclusive. All children should have the opportunity to play and develop on the same level as their peers!
