ADVISOR: KATY HESS MARY ACKERMAN, AMANDA ARTNER, KRISTINA CUMPATA, SARAH DOBBS, MICHELLE DOTI, JENNY

ESO, JACLYN GOFF, HAILEY JOHNSON,CAITLIN KEMPER, SARAH LAUTERBACH, JESSICA LUBBEN, ALETHEA MERELOS, AMANDA MOORE,

NICOLE PALMINTERI, JILL PHILLIPS,CARTER RAMSEY, KELLEY SEMENS, LAUREN STONE, SARAH THOMPSON, NICOLE WITTMAN

City of St. Louis Playground Audits

Presentation Overview

Overview of ADA GuidelinesRole of Playgrounds in Promoting

ParticipationRole of OT in Play Space DesignProject Description and MethodsExamples/Barriers/Safety HazardsExamples/Solutions/ResourcesResource HandoutDiscussion

ADAAG- ADA Accessibility Guidelines

Guidelines indicate requirements for what play components need to be accessible and how to achieve access

Addresses only newly built or altered play areas

These guidelines are recommendations, not law

Were developed through a regulatory negotiation process

The guidelines were finalized in 2000

Examples of Guidelines

At least one of each type of play component (rocking, spinning, swinging etc…) provided at ground level must be on an accessible route.

50 % of elevated play components must be on an accessible route.

Ramps: 12” maximum rise 1:12 maximum slope 36” minimum clear width

For more information on guidelines, visit http://www.access-board.gov/play/finalrule.htm

The Importance of Play

•Create and explore the environment

•Competencies, confidence, and resiliency

•Play is a basic right of all children

•Play according to American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

American Academy of Pediactric. (n.d.) New AAP report stresses play for healthy development. American Academy of Pediactrics News Room. Retrieved April 19, 2011 from http://www.aap.org/pressroom/play-public.htm.Ginsburg, K.R. (2007). American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Communications; American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health. The importance of play in promoting healthy child development and maintaining strong parent-child bonds. Pediatrics. Jan;119(1):182-91. PubMed PMID: 17200287.Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (1989). Convention on the Rights of the Child. General Assembly Resolution 44/25 of 20th November 1989.

Benefits of play

For children:•Work in groups, share, negotiate and solve conflicts, self-advocacy•Creativity •Dexterity and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength.•Play is important to healthy brain development.

…And for their parents:•Effective communication•Role playingGinsburg, K.R. (2007). American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Communications; American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health. The importance of play in promoting healthy child development and maintaining strong parent-child bonds. Pediatrics. Jan;119(1):182-91. PubMed PMID: 17200287.

Play in the academic environment

•Social and emotional developmental skills cognitive skills

•Academic performance

•Multiply studies have found that elementary school students were more attentive to classroom tasks AFTER recess than before.

•School-readiness and adjustment

Ginsburg, K.R. (2007). American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Communications; American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health. The importance of play in promoting healthy child development and maintaining strong parent-child bonds.

Pediatrics. Jan;119(1):182-91. PubMed PMID: 17200287.Pellegrini, A. D. & Bohn, C. M. (2005). The Role of Recess in Children's Cognitive Performance and School Adjustment. Educational Researcher34(1): 13-19.

Importance of Play for Typically Developing

Physical education and Physical activity

Literacy development

Pretend play

Resolve understand learning

Society, interaction with physical environment reflection.

Ridgers, N. D., Stratton, G. & Fairclough, S. J. (2006). Physical activity levels of children during school playtime. Sports Med 36(4), 359-371Piaget, J. (1964). Cognitive development in children: Piaget, development and learning. Journal of Research in Science Education, 3, 176-186.Emfinger, K. (2009). Numerical conceptions reflected during multiage child-initiated pretend play. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 36(4), 326-

334.

Articles on Play and Disability

Accessible accommodations in the outside space

Social spatial exclusion

Minimum requirements (Western Nations)

Inclusive communities

Yantzi, N. M. , Young, N. L. & Mckeever, P.(2010) The suitability of school playgrounds for physically disabled children. Children's Geographies, 8: 1, 65 —78.

Articles on Play and Disability

Raise awareness, and importance of leisure

Nature’s training for life

Community accessibility and social stigma

Encourage activity/advocacy

http://www.kids.org.uk/

Scott, R., (2010). The Health benefits of play and physical activity for disabled children and young people. KIDS, briefing paper. 1-16

Role of OT on Play Space Design

OTs can advocate to Park’s Departments and City Governments on Accessible Playgrounds for children with different disabilities and impairments. Letters Sitting on boards Advocacy

OTs can provide resources and intervention strategies for parental use. Type of movement Duration of appropriate play Sensory regulation

OTs can provide playground design that help to improve: Social skills Gross motor skills Universal design

The Project

Project Description

The city of St. Louis provided a list of playgrounds for review of accessibility of the equipment

oAmberg ParkoBellerive ParkoCherokee ParkoChristy ParkoFox ParkoHickey ParkoHyde Park

oMcDonald ParkoO’Fallon ParkoStrodtman ParkoSublette ParkoTandy ParkoTiffany ParkoWalnut Park

Forest Park Tilles Park

Accessible Playgrounds in St. Louis

Project Description

Groups of 2-3 OT students performed assessments on 2 playgrounds using the Playground Audit Form

Materials Needed: Playground Audit Form Tape Measurer Slope Measurer Documents including definitions, city codes and

information on specific heights and designs.

Playground Audit Form

Methods

1. Assessed playground equipment using Playground Audit Form and Materials

2. Pictures were taken of environment and play components

3. Typed a final draft of the Audit and included:

Positives, Limitations and Recommendations4. Audits were compiled together5. Presented Audits to the City of St. Louis on

4/21/11

Recommendations for Playground Audit Form

• Add a section denoting playground surface– i.e. recycled rubber, woodchips, sand, pebbles, etc.

• Play component descriptions provided on assessment– i.e. Are swing sets considered elevated play components?

• Add a quantitative evaluation component that indicates a score that can be used for comparison

• Include a section for potential playground hazardsExpanding assessment to evaluate for disabilities

other than wheelchair accessibility i.e. contrast sensitivity, visual perception impairments, etc.

Accessibility from street

Transfer platformsRubber ground surfaceRamp entry to

elevated componentsHand railsClear ground space

surrounding each play component

Accessible Features Found

Ramp entry to elevated component Transfer platform

More Photos of Accessible Features

Lack of accessible route onto elevated play componentsLack of curb cut/accessible entrance from streetRock, pebble, woodchip surfaceLack of ground level play componentsInaccessible route throughout elevated play componentsLack of transfer platformNarrow platforms and rampsInaccessible SwingsLack of benches

Barriers Found

Narrow platform/step Pebble surface

Barrier Photos

Missing bolts on play components Broken slidesHoles in ground

Safety Hazards Found

Maintenance or Safety Hazard

Accessible Route into and Around the Playground

Replace missing bolts, repair broken slides, fill holes etc.

Call for prices.

Make route into playground accessible, adding ramps, or additional paved ground cover where needed.

Need to call for estimate.

Summary of Recommendations

Curb Cuts or Curb Ramps

Accessible and Safe Ground Cover

The curb cut ramp, provides instant access at curbs. This ramp can be installed in less than 30 minutes at any curb.

Made from 100% recycled rubber, poured in place ground covers are designed exclusively to reduce the risk of serious injury associated with falls from playground equipment.

$2-12/sq.ft. (prices may vary on material used)

Summary of Recommendations

Ground Level Play Components

Accessible Route onto Elevated Play Components

Variety of accessible play components types at the ground level, including tables, panels, diggers, rockers, etc.

$300-1,500

Ramps, or ground level entrance to elevated equipment to allow a child in a wheelchair to access all aspects of the playground.

$550-1,500

Summary of Recommendations

Transfer Step/Platform Wider Elevated Platforms and Ramps

4’ x 4’ Transition Platform w/ step height of 16”. Allows child to transfer from wheelchair onto elevated play structure.

Call for pricing.

Ramps wide enough for wheelchairs to pass, and platforms every 60” that allow wheelchairs enough maneuvering room to turn around.

Call for pricing.

Summary of Recommendations

Swing Set Accessible Swings

Additional swinging component will be accessible to children of all abilities, and provide unique vestibular input necessary for development.

$400-1,500

Accessible swings include adaptive swing seats, and wheelchair swing plat forms with rope for propulsion.

$200-600

Summary of Recommendations

BenchesSeparate Play Areas for

Preschool and Grade School Kids

Benches allow parents and other caregivers a place to sit and rest while still being close by to supervise their children playing.

$150-600

Play activities and structures vary by age and physical abilities. Providing separate areas will allow children of all development areas to play safely on appropriate equipment for their abilities.

$3,000-20,000

Summary of Recommendations

Funding Sources

Land and Water Conservation Fund Provides grants to states and

local gov. for development of public outdoor recreation areas

www.nps.gov/lwcf/ Community Development Block

Grant Program Provides communities with

resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs

www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/communitydevelopment/programs/

While there are some funds available to update the city’s parks, the recommendations list is extensive and can be expensive. Finding alternative funding sources is critical to the upkeep and modifications to bring the parks to ADA standards. The following are just two examples of places to start looking for additional resources.

Resource Handout

MARY AND CAITLIN

Audit Presentation to City of St. Louis

Any Questions??