Creating playgrounds for children of all abilities: Establishing guidelines beyond minimum accessibility requirements

If accessible and inclusive design features are not considered when a play area is being designed or renovated, a wide range of children with physical, cognitive and sensory limitations may be unable to use the equipment and will be excluded from participating with their peers in play settings. Furthermore, intergenerational play which involves parents and grandparents playing with their children or grandchildren on the playground may also limit their ability to use the equipment because of limitations in movement and function. While the current play area accessibility requirements ensure that the site is accessible according to minimum criteria, it does not examine other aspects of accessibility such as whether or not the site is facilitating imaginative and interactive social play at each child's highest ability level. The objective of this study was to determine the key elements that should be included in an instrument that assesses accessibility and usability of play areas for children with varying disabilities. Presently, there are no published, standardized instruments that measure play area accessibility above the minimum requirements. Utilizing the Delphi method, subject matter experts from the fields of playground design, accessibility and parks and recreation participated in this study to create an instrument that will give the user the option to design a playground that meets the minimum accessibility requirements as set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act and/or to go above and beyond those guidelines to create a play area that is usable by all.