Identify and give a brief example of specific guidelines for designing playgrounds that are in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Do you believe these guidelines are effective in creating safe environments for outdoor play? What other recommendations or guidelines do you think could make outdoor play environments even safer?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

There are several guidelines for designing outdoor play areas for children with delays and disabilities. These include the following: (1) one type of each ground-level playground equipment (e.g., swings and slides) must be accessible to all children; (2) 50% of all elevated structures must be accessible to all children; (3) dramatic play equipment such as playhouses should be located near walkways for easy accessibility; (4) play tables where games, sand and water play, or other gatherings occur must be in easily accessible areas to allow wheelchair access; and (5) water play, sandboxes, and garden areas need to be located on the edge of pathways and raised to a level that is wheelchair accessible. Student’s answers will vary on the second half of the question. Examples that students may give regarding guidelines to make outdoor play even safer may include (1) requiring significant adult-monitoring on the play equipment (e.g., requiring that at least one teacher for every three students is available to supervise), (2) creating stricter guidelines for how tall slides can be or how high swings can go, or (3) advanced guidelines for how smooth pathways and/or raised areas must be for wheelchair access or other adapted mobility such as using a walker.