The South Australian government is seeking input from the community on what they believe is important to making playground and play spaces more accessible for all children and families.
Earlier this year, Minister for Human Services Michelle Lensink announced that the government is developing guidelines for local councils and other agencies to make public play spaces inclusive.
Minister Lensink said it was important to consider accessibility for people with disability when designing and building public spaces, including play spaces.
“We want to hear from South Australians on what they believe is important to making playgrounds and playspaces more accessible for all children and families,” said Lensink.
“I encourage children, parents, guardians, carers, grandparents and other members of the community to share their thoughts and ideas on inclusive playgrounds and spaces.
“Our inclusive play online survey includes questions about planning, so everyone can easily find their way around play spaces, design features and equipment to encourage children to play together.”
The survey will be available at www.dhs.sa.gov.au/disability and be open until Friday 27 September.
The finalised inclusive play guidelines will be a tool for local government and other agencies to use when creating playgrounds and playspaces to ensure children or parents and carers with disability are included and their needs considered.
About one in ten children live with disability and can experience difficulties using playgrounds and community playspaces.
“Play is important for children to build social skills, independence, creativity and spatial awareness and these guidelines will help to remove barriers to children accessing public playspaces,” said Lensink.
“Inclusive playgrounds are specifically designed playgrounds to be used by people with a wide range of disabilities, which may include mobility, vision and hearing impairment and autism.”
The new guidelines will be finalised later this year.
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