Research
indicates that there are nearly 50,000 children with some type of disability
in the northeast Ohio region, with 26,000 in Cuyahoga County alone.
Our 60,000 square foot outdoor play facility features playable areas for
children with a wide variety of disabilities. The facility is available to
children of all ages, religious, ethnic or racial backgrounds.
To ensure that we reach our intended community, we have formed alliances
with local and regional agencies such as The March of Dimes, Youth
Challenge, United Cerebral Palsy, the Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center.
An accessible playground is an asset to the community and to the health and
well being of all children. Until now, there was no such environment that
provided accessible structures that were safe and secure for children
utilizing special equipment such as crutches or wheelchairs or one that
truly enables children with and without disabilities to play alongside one
another.
Opportunities for the development of self esteem and social skills
will be nurtured through the environment as imaginative and cooperative play
takes place. This play environment creates a setting for a positive family
interaction while allowing disabled children and adults an opportunity to
demonstrate their competencies, set goals and demonstrate
accomplishments.
There
is a great difference between accessible and disability/wheelchair friendly
play. Most accessible playgrounds found today only provide a ramp,
which requires a child to leave their support equipment behind in order to
access the play structure.
A survey done by Boundless
Playgrounds™ showed less than 10% of children with disabilities are able
to leave their support equipment thus making play for them in existing
playgrounds less than satisfying or gratifying.
In addition, parents of disabled children have indicated a frustration
in taking their children to an inaccessible playground.