Inclusive Play
11Pages

The Inclusive Playground — A Rewarding Challenge By Maria Feske

Berliner Play equipment for life Berliner Seilfabrik Play Equipment Corporation 48 Brookfield Oaks Drive, Suite D Greenville, SC 29607, USA Phone: +1.864.627.1092 Toll free: +1.877.837.3676 Fax: + 1.864.627.1178 www.berliner-playequipment.com info@berliner-playequipment.com inclusive Play versus Accessibility _ 2 What Does ADA Compliant Mean? _ 3 Accessible Playgrounds versus Inclusive Playgrounds _ 4 Designing an Inclusive Playground _ 5 Using Paths and Railings in the Inclusive Playground _ 7 Barrier-free Options in the Inclusive Playground _ 8 The Inclusive Potential of Rope Play...

Inclusive Play versus Accessibility What Does ADA Compliant Mean? Twenty-five years ago, the United States adopted the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This law is a milestone, protecting people with disabilities from discrimination. It includes, among others, protected areas for workers and public transport, but also public squares, parks and playgrounds. It is a valuable law, protecting our human rights. The ADA changed something – in the minds, on the streets and in parks, but also in the design of individual play equipment. Playgrounds must meet all standards and rules of the ADA;...

Accessible Playgrounds versus Inclusive Play­ grounds We must also ensure inclusion, where different groups of children and teenagers, with or without disabilities, can meet, experience and get to know each other. The ramps alone would not make this connection possible; they are merely an accessibility device and do not by themselves lead to engagement with other children. Accessible playgrounds are meant to be easy for children in wheelchairs or who use other mobility devices to maneuver to and around. Page 4 Inclusive play spaces, accessibility, inclusive play; these words typically bring...

Using Paths and Railings in the Inclusive Playground A paved path and railing facilitates access for children with disabilities and helps meet ADA regulations. Yet, step-free access to paved paths on the playground site offers an advantage to many children. Let's look at how paths and railings can enhance the play experience for a child with a visual impairment. • A path that runs from one play area to another can provide orientation and autonomous play. • A paved path increases the sense of safety for a child who is visually impaired. • Integrating a railing - a very tightly...

Barrier-free Options in the Inclusive Playground A wheelchair is a mobility aid, plain and simple, used for various disabilities. It has no compensatory or therapeutic purpose. An inclusive playground should offer additional and active play options for children in wheelchairs. Paved paths that allow an autonomous access are helpful in this instance. spacious lying area often enables children with and without disabilities to swing together. A majority of the children in wheelchairs can, want to and should leave the wheelchair during the games. Playground equipment should encourage children...

The Inclusive Potential of Rope Play Equipment Inclusive play spaces are not simply about eliminating barriers. They are meant to enable a variety of play encounters and challenges. Rope playground equipment combines different difficulty levels in a single play element. For instance, • ounger children can test their motor skills Y in narrower sections of a game unit. Older children or young adults who like to climb (including those with mental disabilities) can romp in sections with larger distances between the ropes. • Incorporating hammocks into the design enables children with strong...

Structure and Retreat Areas on an Inclusive Playground Designing an inclusive play space means considering different needs. There are children who find it difficult to be around other people, or require a longer break time, such as children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Children with ASD often find it difficult to get involved with new environments, people, and relationships. Often, they are more interested in playing with objects than with other children. Their body awareness is often described as subdued, and generally, they are fond of repetitive movements. Small playhouses that...

Inclusive Playgrounds – a Place of Coexistence Play expresses the development stage of a person, not just their age. Age levels that are assigned specific behaviors result mostly from rule-development and are fully justified. However, they do not necessarily apply to a person with a physical or mental disability. Different stages of development go hand-inhand with different play interests. When planning and designing an inclusive play space, the big challenge is to enable the pursuit of different interests for different body sizes and mobility levels. Designing an inclusive playground means...

Planning Example of impact protection offer a number of possible uses. A mud table, half of which is embedded in sand, the other in rubber impact protection, has surfaces of varying heights, which results, for example, in simplified access for wheelchair users. A classic net swing is also part of the plan, with rubber impact protection beneath. A play house is envisaged for another part of the playground. Not only can this serve as a refuge, but with its sensomotor elements it also stimulates various senses, as well as giving very small children the opportunity to gain their first...

Berliner Play equipment for life Berliner Seilfabrik Play Equipment Corporation 48 Brookfield Oaks Drive, Suite D Greenville, SC 29607, USA Phone: +1.864.627.1092 Toll free: +1.877.837.3676 Fax: + 1.864.627.1178 www.berliner-playequipment.com info@berliner-playequipment.com