subject: Accessible Playground Equipment For The Physically Challenged [print this page] On many occasions, the physically challenged are left out of leisure activities due to lack of accessible playground equipment for their use. This is a situation of insensitivity to the disadvantaged members of the society.
However, there exists equipment modified for the use of the physically challenged. Such equipment includes special swings, ramps, trampolines, slides, rotators, ballcourts, spacenets, safety tiles and play panels. The Americans with Disabilities Act has Play Area accessibility Guidelines to be followed by sporting facilities. Most of today's playgrounds meet the Acts' requirements in accessibility of their facilities by the physically challenged but fail to specifically provide what children and teenagers with challenges in ability need for play.
The wheelchair ramps should be made of coarse covering to avoid slippery which can cause injuries. The slides should metal so that no static electricity is generated to interfere with inner ear implants. The floor is supposed to be rubber instead of wood or metal in order to cushion falls and reduce cases of injuries. Safety tiles are an essential part of the playground. They can be arranged in interesting patterns to add value to the playground. Swing seats should include withholding sections to avoid falls and impact-absorbing safety edges to give the children a better playing experience.
The playground should also include alert systems which the physically challenged individuals can use to call for help in case of falls, injuries or help to climb a playing tool. The use of helpers can be reduced by automation to improve the self-esteem of the physically challenged who want to attain a degree of self-reliance. Dynamic roundabouts are such playing tools. It is made of a large dish, a flat seating platform and a rocking bearing. The rock bearing provides a supportive environment where the introduction of a more gentle motion is possible .The dish is naturally tilted to one side, making side transfer very easy and in effect reducing the lifting required by helpers. The essential aspects here are safety of the children and the full enjoyment of their leisure time.
For teenagers and adults, games like para-athletics, basketball and tennis are good for body building and as a pastime activity. For basketball and tennis, the playground should have light durable wheelchairs and modified sporting clothing to suit all the players. The basketball goals should be lowered for easy reach from wheelchairs. For tennis, low level playing tables should be provided due to the fact that the players play while seating. In addition, the playground should have accessible Americans with Disabilities Act approved racing grounds for para-athletics.
The racing grounds should cover all the fields of para-athletics ranging from wheelchair racing to metal blade racing. For computer games, the playground should have gaming terminals set aside for use by the physically challenged in the society. These terminals will have to be modified in terms of height, audio and visual components and the mode of sending commands to the program. That is, the terminals should consider what people with disabilities in hands will use, as joysticks and computer mice are inapplicable. While accessible playground equipment, search for dealers offering discounts.
