White paper

Equality in play - Survey on playground use in children with disabilities

Survey on playground use in children with disabilities

Play between children with disabilities and typically developing children supports the areas of self-efficiency, tolerance, and empathy in both user groups. However, research shows that children with disabilities have severely reduced access to playgrounds in comparison to their able-bodied peers.

This survey from the KOMPAN Play Institute discovered that 71% of the wheelchair users found their nearest playground to be inaccessible. Additionally, the survey provided insight into the preferred play activities of children with disabilities.

Playgrounds are well-known motivators for effectively getting children to be physically active, in a fun way. However, in order for this to be true for children of all abilities, playgrounds need to be equally accessible and interesting to both groups.

white paper

Equality in play - Survey on playground use in children with disabilities

Download White Paper
Download Infographic
4 Considerations

4 considerations for equality in play

  1. For increasing the frequency of use, local playgrounds should be accessible.

  2. Playgrounds generally should have accessible surfacing. This additionally helps caregivers or grandparents with mobility impairments who bring children to the playground.

  3. Playgrounds should have accessible play equipment that is usable for children with disabilities. A KOMPAN Play Institute study shows that this means ground-level based activities.

  4. Playgrounds should have a variety of activities available for the whole family in order to make the site more enticing to visitors.

Webinars and white papers about play

Sensory Play: Science behind child wellbeing in playgrounds

Play

Webinar

Tweens love playgrounds: 5 new science-based practice tips for playground design

8 ways to encourage nature play in playgrounds

A Design Checklist for Success with Inclusive Playgrounds

Unleashing Creativity: Building Unique Playgrounds with KOMPAN Design Studio

Play for all - Universal designs for inclusive playgrounds

Physical Activity Among Children in Early Years

Sensory Play: The why, how and what of sensory stimulating playgrounds

Tweens love playgrounds

Unique play designs - Increase play duration

More Play and No Conflicts

6 Tips to dramatic play outdoors

A couple of girls climbing on KOMPAN play equipment.

Climbing activates tween girls - How to increase tween girls' physical activity

The cover of a book about playground equipment

Families Love Thrilling and Sensory Playgrounds

a children's play area with children playing on the playground.

A Design Checklist for Success with Inclusive Playgrounds

Play value - the influence of playground equipment

Nature Play and Natural Playgrounds

The risk-benefit equation of challenging playgrounds

truly inclusive section

Truly Inclusive: The Reward of Thrill in Universal Play Designs

Innovative products - The key to more play

Play value increases with sensory play

Energy expenditure on a KOMPAN school age playground

The more thrilling playground