Inclusive Play Design Offers Blueprint for Individuals of All Abilities

An expanded free resource from Playworld Systems has received endorsements from industry leaders and academics. Inclusive Play Design Guide™ provides inclusive play inspiration for National Park And Recreation month and beyond.
Courtesy of Playworld Systems

Playworld Systems, a leading manufacturer of imaginative playground and fitness equipment, announced that its Inclusive Play Design Guide?EUR??,,????'?????????????? (IPDG) has been updated to include feedback from the community as well as industry influencers.

Since its initial launch, the guide has been augmented to include an enhanced glossary and a new section on the pros and cons of different types of surfacing. The core focus areas have been expanded from four to five and now include a section on equipment selection. The five focal areas are:

Planning and preparation: how to identify and involve people with the knowledge, skills, empathies and connections needed to successfully plan and execute an inclusive playground.

Layout: it's the biggest single factor between only typically-developing children playing and everyone playing, since the design of the equipment is irrelevant if it is poorly sited or doesn't create an opportunity for children of different abilities to play alongside one another.

Access: the design of the play space and surrounding environment as it relates to the users and caregivers getting into, around and out of the play area.

Selecting equipment: help with selecting inclusive play equipment. Equipment can mean manufactured playground equipment or natural elements that are used as play activities.

Play richness: how to select key play activities for people of all ages and abilities (e.g. a quiet, cozy place within the playground for autistic children when they feel overwhelmed).

Copies of the free IPDG can be downloaded by visiting www.Playworldsystems.com/inclusiveplay.