Existing playground accessibility standards aren’t enough to ensure children of all abilities have equal and equitable play opportunitiesThe benefits of outdoor play for young children are well known. Access to outplay opportunities, however, is problematic for many children with disabilities. The aim of this study was to identify key design factors that could improve playground experiences for children with differing abilities.
Researchers conducted a review of the literature focusing on inclusive playground structure design related to any type of disability. They limited their search to studies published between January 1999 and January 2021. Their focus included the built and social environments around playgrounds, as well as the physical design of the playgrounds themselves. Playgrounds were defined as “play areas built as part of schoolyards or parks that contain traditional play equipment (e.g., swings, slides) at ground level and structures built with paths to and between elevated play equipment.” Studies focusing on natural playgrounds were not included, due to the fact that there are “inherent differences . . . between manufactured and natural playgrounds in terms of their affordances and play opportunities.” A total of 35 articles were included in the review. Information extracted from each study considered the country of origin, purpose of study, disability types considered, research methods, population, and key findings.
Results indicate that just meeting the minimum requirements of existing playground accessibility standards and guidelines isn’t enough to ensure that all children, regardless of ability, have equal and equitable play opportunities. Based on these results, thirteen key evidence-informed recommendations for inclusive playground design were developed. These recommendations, along with one “promising practice” were categorized into five broad playground elements: entry points; surfacing and paths; features to foster inclusive play; staffing/supervision; and design process. The “promising practice” focused on enclosing the playground to prevent children from straying away. Other concerns addressed by the recommendations included paths being too narrow to accommodate children with disabilities, surfacing in “most playgrounds” failing to provide accessible routes to and between play equipment, and lack of specialized equipment (e.g., wheelchair accessible swings) for children with disabilities. “Having play equipment that is accessible to all children was highlighted most often among features to foster inclusive play.” Of all the recommendations offered, end user involvement in the design process was noted as being “a vital first step toward ensuring the end result is a more inclusive play space.” End users include families of children with disabilities, as well as the children themselves.
Attention to the design recommendations developed in the study can be invaluable in meeting the play-related needs, abilities, and desires of children with disabilities.
The Bottom Line