Accessible Playgrounds – a vital resource
But sadly, it’s not that simple for families like mine who have disabled children. My daughter Annabelle, 10 has a rare genetic condition (foxp1) which has resulted in autism, cerebral palsy, ADHD and global development delay.
Inaccessible playgrounds mean many disabled children, like my daughter, are missing out on fun, friendship and exercise – simply because playgrounds are not designed with their needs in mind.
77 per cent of disabled children can’t access regular leisure facilities, so can’t play, exercise or socialise in the same way as their peers.
Report findings
Disability charity Scope’s Playground Accessibility Report found;
- Only 1 in 10 playgrounds are inclusive to disabled children.
- Nearly three quarters of playgrounds are places where it would be difficult for disabled and non-disabled children to play together.
In 2023, the UK disability charity Scope asked parents and carers of disabled children across the UK to do an audit of the accessibility at their local playgrounds.
I live in Bromley, South London – where 27 playgrounds across southeast London were surveyed including 6 in Bromley, 2 in Greenwich, 12 in Lewisham and 7 in Southwark.
According to Scope’s findings only 1 playground in southeast London received a Green rating, 11 an Amber rating, and 15 a Red rating.
New research commissioned by Barratt Redrow and Whizz Kids has revealed parents of disabled children are travelling an average of 5.37 miles from their homes to find a suitable play area, and this is certainly true in our case.
Travel to play
We have a park at the end of our road but the only equipment my daughter can play on in our local park is the roundabout and it’s hard for her to watch her brothers having fun. To access our nearest accessible parks, we have to drive to Swanley in Kent (7.8 miles away and a 25-minute drive) or Dartford (10.9 miles a 37-minute drive.)
Swanley Park is wheelchair friendly and has accessible toilets – it has a wheelchair-accessible swing and roundabout, a bird-nest swing, extra wide slides and there are SEN specific slots at the paddling pool. We love coming here because there is so much Annabelle can access.
Dartford Central park’s Buccaneer Bay (which opened in 2023) has accessible play equipment including a wheelchair-accessible swing and seesaw, a bird-nest swing and a tranquility cove with sensory items and communication board. There is a changing places toilet.
I feel sad that we have to travel so far – just so my daughter can play in a park, like her brothers. All children should be able to play in their local park, all playgrounds should be inclusive.
Scope are calling for local authorities to work with families, like mine, to create inclusive playgrounds and have created a Playground Accessibility Map – Google My Maps
by Kate Skelton
