More than Accessible: Creating Truly Inclusive School Playgrounds

When it comes to school playgrounds, which during recess serve as vital components of students’ social, emotional, and physical development, we know that compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is essential. Following those rules ensures that playgrounds are accessible.

We also know there’s a lot more Little Tikes Commercial can do to offer playgrounds that are truly inclusive. So, what’s the difference?

ACCESSIBLE: Able to be reached or entered by people who have a disability

For starters, if you have a playground that’s accessed by the public, including a public school, by law it must be accessible to people with differing abilities. That means creating an accessible path from the building or parking lot to the edge of the play area, and an accessible path from that spot to the equipment.

The U.S. Department of Justice also put new standards into effect (as of 2012):

  • Ramps to higher levels must use accessible routes
  • Slides must have an available path to the stairs

INCLUSIVE: Aiming to provide equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as those having physical or mental disabilities or belonging to other minority groups

Little Tikes Commercial goes a lot farther to welcome everyone to our playgrounds. We partner with Unlimited Play, the trailblazing non-profit organization dedicated to planning, designing and building fully accessible playgrounds that allow all children to play together regardless of their abilities. This results in playgrounds that are welcoming and fun environments for absolutely everyone.

If you’re looking to design an inclusive playground at your school, consider working with an expert who truly understands what it takes to make a playground work for students of all abilities, allowing them to make the most of recess each and every day. While many playgrounds include one or several pieces of adapted equipment, this does not make them inclusive play spaces. School playgrounds that have some accessible pieces of equipment but that aren’t truly inclusive run the risk of making students with disabilities feel more excluded because they are only able to access small areas of the play space while their peers move around the entire playground freely.

All children deserve a place to play, and recess is usually the one time where they can during the school day. While paved areas and fields allow space for games, playgrounds offer school-aged children a place to develop their imagination and form friendships.

In fact, inclusive school playgrounds can help reduce the risk of bullying and even stop it before it begins. Allowing children to explore during recess on a playground allows them to find common ground and potentially get to know each other. This can promote understanding, empathy, and friendships among groups of students with varying abilities.

The allocation of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding also provides a timely opportunity for schools across America to focus on inclusivity.

ESSER funds can be used to enhance play spaces, ensuring they are not only fun but also safe and inclusive. ESSER III funds must be committed by September 30, 2024, and district leaders have flexibility when it comes to how best to use the funds to meet the needs of their school communities.

Contact Little Tikes Commercial today and learn more about how we can provide truly inclusive playground equipment for your school.