This project is big and uncompromising and X marks the spot – the €500,000 we need to bring this big, uncompromising project to life. It will let pirates of all ages and abilities play, learn and explore together.
“Speaking with the Crann team and the UCC researchers, Helen and Alice, was the first opportunity that we, as a family, had a say in something that was being designed for families like us”
When Alice Moore, PhD Candidate at the UCC Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, began research into designing this space, it was obvious that families’ needs would direct it.
We’ve found when we talk to kids they’ve said ‘I’m the problem as a wheelchair user’, but the problem is the environment.
• “Accessible” playgrounds often include a single locked piece of accessible play equipment (usually a swing). These are often locked and isolated from the rest of the play space forcing children to use that swing over and over while watching their siblings and friends experience free play.
• Inappropriate surfacing surrounding equipment makes it difficult for people who use mobility aids to get around.
• Accessible toilets and parking can be a gamble for families looking for a day out with the family.
• A variety of play experiences so that children with disabilities feel a range of experiences from the thrill of heights, the fun of speed and the freedom of imagination.
• Expert-led design. That is, a space designed by the people who will use it.
• A spacious 1/4 acre area where parking, bathrooms and a place to dine are all accessible.
• Options for people of all ages and abilities from toddlers to adults.
Thank you to our corporate partners, who have helped progress inclusive play for families with neuro-physical disabilities in Ireland. Without corporate support, we couldn’t be as ambitious as we are in creating a space that is not just fully accessible but contains a variety of play experiences that children with neuro-physical disabilities often don’t have access to.
Join the impressive list of innovative organisations that have already supported disability-inclusive play, through donations of money or materials, fundraising or volunteering.
Working together to create this special space can benefit your company and forward your CSR commitments.
When we asked children, teenagers and adults with disabilities what they wanted in their Playground & Leisure Area, they didn’t mention swings or roundabouts, they spoke about experiences. Speed. Movement. Imagination. So that’s what we focused on. We engaged with families throughout the development to understand whether the decisions made would be fun and practical for them.
Each element was carefully designed to optimise its use by as many people and as many abilities as possible, using the concept of Universal Design.
