The playground was not a fun place for Laurie Schulze to take her disabled daughter, Leah.
"When she was younger it felt a
little overwhelming," Schulze said. "I would be with her at a
playground thinking 'how is she going to do any of this?' "
As Leah grew up and moved from
a stroller to a wheelchair, Schulze wondered if her daughter would ever
get to truly enjoy a playground.
Schulze found her answer on a
beautiful sunny day in Westerville, Ohio. She took then 12-year-old Leah
to the playground again, but this time the results were much different.
For mother and daughter, this day was momentous.
"It was very emotional because
it wasn't just Leah playing," Schulze said. "There were other children
with disabilities with their families. Just to see her jumping in and
participating was so great. Words can't describe how wonderful that
felt."
Leah, who participates in
everything from Girl Scouts to sled hockey, is in a wheelchair because
she has spina bifida. She cannot get around without the aid of a
wheelchair, but on this day she was a child just like everyone else
enjoying the comforts and benefits of play.
"Everything melted together
and it was just amazing to see everyone playing together," Schulze said.
"There were happy smiling faces everywhere. It was wonderful chaos."
This "wonderful chaos" was
made possible by a universally accessible playground called Millstone
Creek Park, built in Schulze's neighborhood with the intention of
allowing children of all ages and learning levels and those with
disabilities to enjoy the benefits of play. More than 100 facilities
like Millstone exist across the country, according to experts, with more
in the works. These specialized playgrounds often go beyond the
ADA-required guidelines and provide all children with the experience of
play that facilities camaraderie, acceptance and overall health and
wellness.
These inclusive playgrounds
address the needs of all children, including those who have autism,
intellectual disabilities, hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, spina
bifida and other challenges. An inclusive playground accommodates all
and challenges them at their own development level, according to
information released in a recent report titled "Inclusive Play Design
Guide."
Regardless of whether the
children are in a wheelchair or have a disability such as autism, all
children have a fundamental need and right to play, said Design for Play
consultant and play expert JC Boushh.
"From birth until death, play
is a vital part of human development," Boushh said. "For children,
especially, play is how they come to understand the world around them.
Play provides those things that you can't get anywhere else."
Play can even help mitigate
stereotypes and biases that many adults and children have about the
disabled, said Mara Kaplan, lead expert for Let Kids Play and mother of a
disabled son.
"A typically developing child
who's never seen a child with a disability will just start playing with
them because they haven't been told that person is different or weird or
strange," she said. "They just find another kid on the playground to
play with and by doing so they've learned a really important lesson."
Schulze said the experiences
her daughter Leah has gained on the playground have been invaluable, and
she agrees that the inclusion and acceptance of those with disabilities
is important for society.
"It's just the right thing to
do," she said. "They need to be a part of society. There are so many
people with challenges out there. You're only one car accident away."
Watching Leah play with the other children is always emotional for Schulze as she realizes the significance of childhood play.
"The children are able to gain
confidence, meet new people, and the playground teaches tolerance at a
very early age," she said. "It teaches them that everybody has value and
helps children become better people. Barriers disappear."
Experts estimate right now
that there are about 100 fully inclusive playgrounds across the country,
but more are being planned and designed every day. Communities such as
Westerville received an inclusive playground due in large part to the
efforts of parents like Schulze, who successfully raised awareness and
advocated change.
"I was impassioned and
motivated to raise awareness about how important play is," Schulze said.
"I wanted to educate people and fight for accessible play for
everyone."
Although there are ADA
requirements for specifications on playgrounds, meeting these
requirements does not guarantee a fun or inclusive park for all.
"You have to think beyond the
ADA requirements," Schulze said. "You have to think about how someone in
a wheelchair would really use this."
Guidelines and standards for
parks weren't always followed or enforced. Recently, the ADA updated and
retooled its requirements, and a few years ago a diverse committee of
experts got together to come up with better design practices for these
playgrounds, Boushh said.
"The requirements are now much
better defined and much more enforceable," he said. "We came up with
the idea of an inclusive playground, but no one really defined it. Only
now are people starting to really understand what inclusion is."
Previous playgrounds that may
have been modified or updated to meet ADA guidelines were still not
getting at the heart of the matter, Boushh said.
"Most kids with disabilities
have been outside the scope of play," he said. "There was nothing for
them to do once they got to the playground. Now, the idea is to design
playgrounds that are inclusive not just for mobility impairments but
also for cognitive and sensory disabilities."
The Inclusive Play Design
Guide, released this year, aims to better define inclusion and provide
comprehensive guidelines for effectively building and managing these
playgrounds. The guide draws on experts and sources from across the
country, ranging from landscape architects to parents, and provides a
road map for future developers and parties interested in building an
inclusive playground.
Boushh, who has lectured
worldwide about the importance of play and providing all children with
adequate and inclusive playgrounds, said the new guide will help
communities and contractors get on the same page and allow them to have
an accurate reference for future construction.
"Schools are looking harder at
building these playgrounds and so are park districts," Kaplan said.
"There is definitely an increased awareness that there needs to be some
changes."
Inclusive play structures
incorporate music, light and sensory panels, and physical activities for
children of all levels and abilities. Experts say just the opportunity
to be involved in some way is beneficial for children.
"There was a toy that Leah
couldn't get on but she could spin it," Schulze said. "She can't fully
use every piece of equipment, but at least she can participate in some
way."
A new ramp for wheelchairs may
seem like a great accommodation and may even be ADA compliant, but
experts agree simply installing ramps to meet ADA guidelines is not what
inclusive play is all about.
"A lot of times ramps are a
waste of money and a waste of space," Kaplan said. "There is no play
value for that ramp. There is little to do with my son once we get up
that ramp, so I would rather see money spent on other features."
Accessible swings, spinning
toys and sensory equipment for children with autism are effective play
equipment for most children that are worth the money, Kaplan said.
Money can be spent more efficiently and effectively, Schulze said.
"I've seen people put millions
of dollars into something that ends up being boring for some kids," she
said. "They spent a tremendous amount of money but didn't think about
the design. It is really important to talk to families in the community
and choose something that everyone will enjoy."
Because universally accessible
playgrounds are typically larger and more complex than traditional
playgrounds, they are also more expensive.
Boushh estimated that the
average cost for a normal playground is around $100,000. The average
cost for everything associated with a fully inclusive playground is
between $500,000 and $1 million, he said.
Fencing, surfacing, ramping and pathways all increase the cost associated with these playgrounds.
"The majority, about 75
percent of the funding, comes from outside sources," Boushh said. "Most
are funded by grants and fundraisers."
The cost of these playgrounds has not deterred many community members and parents from advocating for them, however.
"There is often money from the
city, park district or school," Kaplan said. "People fund-raise and
raise money the way they always have. There is also a lot of support
from local foundations and businesses because the playgrounds are built
for the community and their needs."
Despite the financial
obstacles that may prevent some communities from building these
playgrounds, experts agree they are worth every penny.
"I hope there will be more in
the future and that people will make conscious decisions on how to
design these playgrounds," Kaplan said. "It's no fun to sit on the
sidelines and watch siblings and friends play."
Schulze will not soon forget
her first experience at Millstone Creek Park. She recalls the festive
atmosphere with, friends and family members skipping rocks and
frolicking in the wading pool. She hopes that all parents will be able
to share her same joy someday.
"I am encouraged that I see
more of these parks coming," Schulze said. "Millstone is just amazing
because everyone can play together. Every time I drive by it makes me
smile."
