Play is a fundamental right of childhood, crucial for the wellbeing and healthy development of children. However, children with disabilities often face exclusion from community playgrounds due to environmental barriers. To address this, it is essential to evaluate existing playgrounds for inclusivity and make necessary modifications. A recent scoping review by Taylor et al. (2023) provides valuable insights into tools that can help practitioners assess and enhance the inclusivity of playgrounds.
The Importance of Inclusive Playgrounds
Inclusive playgrounds are designed to provide opportunities for children of all abilities to engage in play. They encompass accessibility (physical access), usability (ease of use), and playability (engagement in play). By fostering an environment where children with disabilities can interact and belong, inclusive playgrounds contribute to their physical health, social skills, and emotional wellbeing.
Tools for Evaluating Playground Inclusivity
The scoping review identified 14 auditing tools from both white and grey literature that can be used to evaluate the inclusivity of existing playgrounds. These tools vary in their approach but generally focus on assessing accessibility, usability, and playability. Some tools are grounded in policy or legislation, while others involve stakeholder consultation or research-based frameworks.
- PlayAUDIT: Evaluates usability, accessibility, and playability by focusing on play value and universal design components.
- ADA Standards Accessibility Checklist: Provides a focused method for evaluating physical accessibility but may not capture the wider experience of inclusion.
- Ontario Parks Association Playability Toolkit: Measures accessibility and playability while involving users with disabilities in the audit process.
These tools offer a structured approach to identifying strengths and limitations in existing playgrounds, allowing practitioners to make informed decisions about necessary modifications or retrofits.
Engaging Community Stakeholders
Involving families of children with disabilities and representatives from disability organizations in the audit process is crucial. Their insights can help identify barriers to interaction and engagement that may not be evident through standard audits. Engaging these stakeholders ensures that modifications meet the actual needs of users and fosters a sense of ownership within the community.
A Dutch study highlighted that many municipalities fail to consult playground users when designing new community playgrounds. This lack of involvement can result in missed opportunities to create truly inclusive environments. Practitioners should prioritize community engagement as part of their evaluation process.
Implementing Evidence-Based Modifications
The review emphasizes the need for evidence-based decision-making when modifying existing playgrounds. Practitioners should consider local contexts, relevant policies, and environmental factors when applying audit tools. Tailoring modifications based on these considerations will ensure that changes effectively enhance inclusivity.
Future development of a validated auditing tool that aligns with national and international standards could streamline this process. Such a tool would support practitioners in making consistent assessments across different settings.
Encouraging Further Research
The current review highlights gaps in the literature regarding best practices for retrofitting non-inclusive playgrounds. Further research is needed to explore how specific modifications impact children's ability to engage meaningfully in play. Qualitative studies capturing children's perspectives on play value could provide additional insights into effective inclusivity strategies.
Practitioners are encouraged to engage in ongoing research efforts and collaborate with researchers to develop innovative solutions for enhancing playground inclusivity.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: A scoping Review of Tools to Evaluate Existing Playgrounds for Inclusivity of Children with Disabilities.
