Disability access for playgrounds
Fixed equipment playgrounds
There does not appear to be any current directory of equipment designed specifically for disabled children and young people, as now most manufacturers make some provision and have suitable items in their catalogues. Generally it is advised that before installation of any specific items of fixed play equipment, steps are taken to consult with a cross-section of local disabled children and their parents and carers.
Remember that only a few disabled children are in wheelchairs, many more may have other mobility, visual or auditory impairments, or learning difficulties. There is no sense in specifying rubberised safety surfacing, for example, beacause sand or bark will prevent wheelchair use, if the equipment is not accessible to wheelchair users anyway.
The Lady Diana Playground at Kensington Gardens (just opposite Queensway underground station) has many special features to assist disabled children; visits are possible shortly before it opens at 10am to the public on weekdays for interested professionals.
As a minimum, parks managers should consider:
- Specialised swing seats offering back and head support, and some method of securing the child in the seat. (Experience shows these may attract the attention of teenagers if added to a boring old play area, they will enjoy seeing how many of them can get on at once. It may be best to install in conjunction with a new teenagers social play item of equipment)
- Big round "birds nest" type swing seats can be good for disabled children with little upper body strength and have the advantage that carers and peers can join them in the seat, and also the seat is more fun for all children than a standard one. Both these types of seat can usually be added to a standard frame without further adaptation.
- Wide slides, enabling a carer to accompany a child, preferably with the start and finish of the slide at the same height as a wheelchair seat.
- Wide see-saws to enable a carer to accompany a child sitting side by side.
- Sensory gardens are particularly important to children who may have impairments, especially visual impairment. See the download below for some web links to resources for their development.
Adventure playgrounds
All adventure playgrounds expect and welcome disabled children to attend, however few have the staffing ratios to be able to offer extra care to individual children. There are four specialised adventure playgrounds across London managed by the national charity KIDS, which cater particularly for disabled children: link
ELHAP in Redbridge, 119 Roding Lane North, Woodford Bridge, IG8 8NA, tel. 020 8550 2636 offers a similar service, and is independently managed: link as does the Log Cabin Adventure Playground in Ealing, 259 Northfield Avenue, W5 4UA, tel. 020 8840 3400: link and Charlie Chaplin Adventure Playground in Lambeth, Bolton Crescent, Kennington, London SE5 0SE, tel. 020 7735 1819.
The Markfield Project is an independent family resource centre providing inclusive play, youth, family and adult recreational services in Haringey. Markfield Road London N15 4RB, tel 020 8800 4134.
www.markfield.org.uk
Download a list of useful disability access resources below and see our Books & Publications section for more suggested reading on inclusive play.
