LOCAL GOVERNMENT Review by Wendee Seaton
City Of Clinton Completes All Inclusive Playground
As the mother of a young child, I spend a lot of time at playgrounds, I would see some caregivers struggle. I realized we needed a more accessible playground here in Clinton. We sent a survey out to the community and accessibility was listed as a challenge in our City. I began researching ADA playgrounds in 2016. While researching, I discovered inclusive playgrounds that provide a place where children with physical, social-emotional, sensory, cognitive and communicative disabilities can play along-side able-bodied children, with all benefiting from the health and socialization aspects of a playground. I knew a parent of a child with autism and discovered they could not take their child to the playgrounds because they
were not fenced and did not have a “quiet space”’ for them to desensitize when they became overwhelmed. During my research, I discovered the growing number of grandparents who were raising their grandchildren. Accessibility kept many from visiting playgrounds with their grandchildren and promoted obesity among those who were not active. Children with disabilities are also at higher risk of social isolation. Studies have found that children with disabilities are excluded from play significantly more often than their peers without disabilities. These children experience less diversity of activities and less social engagements than their peers without disabilities, spending more time in
isolated activities such as watching television and using the computer. Typically, children with disabilities carry out leisure activities on their own or with parents rather than with friends. When play with peers is limited, the ability to learn and develop the skills and attitudes of accomplishment associated with play are also restricted. The City formed an Inclusive Playground Committee and we toured playgrounds around the Kansas City area. I also toured inclusive playgrounds around Columbia and St. Louis. The City applied for a Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant from Missouri State Parks and I began contacting playground manufacturers and researching inclusive playground equipment. I spoke with many other www.mocities.com
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