France
Germany
Italy
Spain
Netherlands
Belgium (French)
Belgium (Dutch)
Ireland
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According to findings by the disability charity SCOPE, fifty percent of families with disabled children reported that their nearby playground lacks accessibility. Additionally, one in ten families mentioned that their disabled child sustained injuries due to equipment that was not accessible to them.
A Playground Revolution Is in Full Swing!
Earlier this year, the Fair Play Barnet playground was built in north London as a “first-of-its-kind accessible playground”. This innovative project came to fruition at a cost of £500,000, with a significant portion raised through various independent funders while the Barnet Council demonstrated their commitment by allocating £100,000 towards the project.
Fair Play comprises a host of accessible features such as safety surfacing that ensures wheelchair accessibility, communication boards for non-verbal individuals, textured path surface to aid users visually in navigating the playground as well as picnic areas that encourage both wheelchair and non-wheelchair users to sit together. What’s more, a single entrance and exit to the playground prevents users from departing without the awareness of their caregivers.
Deborah Gundle, an advocate whose son has special needs, spearheaded the campaign to establish this ground-breaking playground. She hopes that Fair Play will serve as a blueprint for more accessible playgrounds in the country.
“As a mother with a disabled son, I know how difficult it is for families like ours to be able to play together. A lot of hard work has gone into this project, and seeing the equipment being used by disabled and non-disabled children side-by-side is incredibly rewarding.”
Nathalie Esfandi, co-founder of Fair Play Barnet playground, urges local governments to take note and allow for opportunities to create community spaces that serve all ages and abilities. Mother of three herself, she thinks, “Playgrounds should be wholly accessible and inclusive, allowing those with learning and physical disabilities to play alongside their siblings and friends.”
When we reached out to her for a comment, Nathalie spoke about all the positive feedback their team has received so far and added, “We are hoping that there will be many playgrounds that come from this model when inclusivity is put at the heart of designing a public space. Creating a playground that is inclusive and accessible to all ages and abilities breaking down barriers and fostering social cohesion.”
Accessible Playgrounds: Dream Big, Play Hard
Want to join in on all the fun? Whether it’s lending a hand in fundraising efforts, volunteering your time at local playgrounds, or simply spreading the word about the importance of inclusivity, you can make a difference.
Whether your child lives with a disability or you’re a caregiver or simply a local resident who wants to encourage more accessible design, you can email your local council, research active petitions online, engage in communities such as the Play Safety Forum to hear from like-minded residents and/or even write to organisations such as SCOPE to find out about their latest campaigns for adaptive playgrounds in the country!
Read more such stories from Allied Mobility here.
