Some playgrounds inaccessible for kids with disability needs

Playgrounds look fun, but for kids with accessibility needs, it’s only fun to look at but hard, if not impossible to play on.

Arnold Cheng, general manager of Spectrum Ability says the most problematic parks are ones without solid flooring.

“So wheelchairs would get stuck in the gravel. There might be stairs everywhere for each play element. So the kids, they’re just there watching their friends play, which you don’t want to see, but also there are some parks that used to be accessible, but because it’s been neglected over the years, there’s been an erosion of accessibility,” Cheng said.

But with a new playground unveiled at Jarvis Traditional Elementary School in Delta, more kids with accessibility needs in the area will be able to take part in the fun. The playground was funded by the province as part of its Playground Equipment Program.

Related Articles:

• TransLink launches new accessibility tool in Metro Vancouver for visually impaired

• Richmond kids and youth see more provincial mental health support

• Abbotsford program helps at-risk youth homelessness
  

Marika van Dommelen, a parent with a disability says she’s excited for children and parents who get to use the playground. She says she wasn’t able to take her son to a playground in their neighbourhood during his childhood. van Dommelen uses a wheelchair to get around but most playgrounds aren’t accessible for her.

“I remember the day that he came to me for the first time and said, ‘Mommy, how come you never take me to the playground? All the other kids’ moms do.’ And I just, you know, it was a really emotional experience for me too. I knew the day was coming, but when it actually happened, it was really hard,” van Dommelen said.

The playground was funded by the province as part of its Playground Equipment Program. As other towns like Delta build accessible school playgrounds – the City of Vancouver’s public playgrounds are under scrutiny.

Cheng says the city should have a standard or code for accessible parks and playgrounds to ensure all kids can have fun and play.

“So maybe list out your accessibility features, have some photos and just say what you have, and then people can decide for themselves whether or not the park has what they need or if they should go somewhere else.”

van Dommelen’s son has grown up, but she says she’s hopeful for a future where kids of all different abilities can meet at the park.

“It’s part of how you learn how to interact with people, how you learn how to play. And if you miss that, it actually changes the way you are as an adult because your social interactions aren’t the same,” van Dommelen said.