Designing for Inclusive Play : Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is an umbrella term for a group of disorders that affects a person’s ability to move. This means that not everyone with Cerebral Palsy looks the same and it affects different people in different ways. It could affect movement ability in one, some or all of the limbs; sometimes the muscles contract too much, too little, or all at the same time.

Cerebral Palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood with 1 in 500 children born in Australia each year. To find out more, please visit Cerebral Palsy Alliance.

Providing Opportunities for Play

Children with Cerebral Palsy have weak motor abilities and often use a wheelchair to get around. It is important to make the layout of your playground accessible and inclusive. This could mean having concrete or rubber paths leading to different play zones, avoiding elevation and installing wheelchair-accessible ramps where needed.

People with Cerebral Pasly aren’t necessarily wheelchair-bound, meaning some children are still be able to play on traditional playground equipment, so long as that equipment provides extra support and assistance.

Considering the physical limitations, we recommend equipment that has physical support, as well as sensory and interactive activities that promote social interaction – creating the opportunity for bonding and new friendships to be made!

Playground equipment such as the Dragonfly See Saw and the Mirage Swing Seat were specifically designed for such users, giving the opportunity for children with Cerebral Palsy to enjoy the classic fun of those traditional playground activities. Their design considers lower physical ability and allows them the same fun as everyone else!

Designed for Everyone to Enjoy

The Hags UniPlay range was designed with inclusive play in mind, and so provides play opportunities for children of all abilities. Children with physical disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy are encouraged to join in and play with their peers – doing wonders for their development.

The Mirage swing seat offers full body support and ensures that users are in a stable position.

• An optional harness can be ordered to provide extra security
• Provides full body support
• Reclined body position and contoured design offers maximum comfort and support to all users

The Dragonfly Seesaw is another example of traditional play equipment (see-saw) re-designed to be inclusive.

• Provides back and foot support for users with a lower gross motor strength
• Riders use their leg power to rise and fall by pushing against the central bar

The following equipment is also suitable for children with Cerebral Palsy:

• Uniplay Eptix and Burridos
• Revolution Inclusive Spinner and Spinmee Inclusive Roundabout
• Titan Spinner with Mirage Seat
• Rota Roka
• Wheelchair Accessible Interactive & Sensory Panels and Equipment

33

We pride ourselves on being passionate about bringing Inclusive Play into Australian Parks and Schools. Our most popular products for inclusive play provide a rich range of physical, sensory, and social play values.

Follow Austek Play on LinkedIn for the latest information on Inclusive Play and the playground industry or contact us to get in touch and see how we can make your new play space more inclusive!

33

Click here to view our brochure, which contains a snapshot of Austek Play’s Inclusive Range!