Inclusive Play
Accessible Playgrounds
Dakota Playground has been a leader in creating play environments that allow all children and their families to play together, regardless of their abilities. But accessibility is not enough. Simply getting a child with limited mobility onto the playground doesn’t necessarily enhance their play experience. Nor does it take into consideration children with sensory processing discorders and other developmental disabilities.
Inclusive Play Design Philosophy
Inclusive playground designs promote a Higher Level of Inclusive Playâ„¢ by addressing accessibility, age and developmental appropriateness and sensory-stimulating activity.
Our team of designers follows the Seven Principles of Universal Design to create a playground that best fits the needs of those in your community:
- Equitable Use
- Flexibility in Use
- Simple and Intuitive Use
- Perceptible Information
- Tolerance for Error
- Low Physical Effort
- Size and Space for Approach and Use
Universal Design is a framework for the design of environments, products, buildings, ideas and more with the express goal that they be usable by the widest range of abilities. This framework influences our Inclusive Play Design Philosophy to ultimately increase access, safety, comfort and social participation within our play environments.
Environment
Creating a welcoming, safe and accessible environment is just as important as the play equipment you put in it. A well-designed environment makes the space more comfortable and user friendly for children and families of all ages and abilities.
Play Experience
Playgrounds can offer many opportunities for children to further develop physical, cognitive, sensory and social skills. An inclusive design includes a balance of play experiences to build all these skills.
Variability
Variability meets a child’s curiosity with a developmentally appropriate challenge, building comfortably on the skills they already possess to help them gain new skills. By striking this balance and achieving a “just right fit,†children are encouraged to challenge themselves in ways that they can control and manage.
