Equal opportunity to play: Chelsea schools raise funds for inclusive playgrounds

tomtidgewellDecember 1, 2022

Sharon Pinkston and her two 10-year-old sons Pesho and Aruna (not pictured), who have spina bifida and cerebral palsy respectively, can’t wait for a new wheelchair-accessible playground at their Chelsea school. Hmm. Photo by Julie Oliver /post media

Chelsea Elementary School has a program known as the Center for Children with Special Needs. It is the only English-speaking Western Quebec Board of Education program that attracts students from across the Gatineau region.

The school has a beautiful playground on the hill. And the hills are the problem. Some students at the center use wheelchairs and others have mobility problems. Many are on the autism spectrum.

“We can’t go up hills in wheelchairs,” said teacher Emma Hadid.

School staff want to create a playground that is not only accessible, but inclusive. Accessible playgrounds allow children in wheelchairs to enter the playground. Inclusive playgrounds are designed so that all children feel they belong and can participate in the fun.

Some accessible playgrounds have ramps so children can access all parts of the playground. Most playground equipment has wood chips on the ground to prevent injury in the event of a fall. However, this makes the playground inaccessible for children in wheelchairs, so recycled rubber is a better choice.

Inclusion means more than allowing students with special needs to be “close bystanders,” Hadeed said.

“You can’t swing on the slopes or use the slides with your friends,” she said. “We want a fully integrated and immersive space for all students, not just those who can run and climb. Inclusion is an equal opportunity to participate in all activities.”

Hadid applied for three different grants to cover the cost of building a comprehensive playground, but without success. That’s why we’re working with staff and parents to raise money to bring the playground to life, starting with an online silent auction starting December 14th.

“Instead of waiting for a grant, we decided to solve the problem ourselves before the students graduated,” Hadeded says.

The initial goal is to raise $20,000, which includes the cost of clearing the ground. “We’ll start with the basics and see what we can add.”

Hadid points out that recess times can often be very disturbing for students. Swings tend to reduce anxiety, but are designed for people on the move. Wheelchair accessible swings allow students to roll directly onto the platform. The chair is fixed in place and the student can pull the chain to create a swing motion.

She also has monkey bars on wheels on her list of playgrounds. .

The playground also has a message board for non-language students. Symbols on the board allow students to express their preferences for how they feel or what they want to do next.

“It gives them independence. They can own what they want,” Hadeded says.

Other play equipment is available for children with special needs, including a wheelchair-accessible carousel. Children on the autism spectrum are particularly fond of strenuous exercise. “Anything nauseating is therapeutic for kids on the spectrum,” Hadid said.

Accessible playgrounds are still a rarity. In Ottawa, an example is the playground of Clifford Bowie Public School near Heron Gate. There is a rubberized playground, an accessible playground with ramps and transfer stations, a raft swing, a rocking boat, a spinning cup, an activity panel, and a communication board. It is open to the public outside of class hours.

As things stand, the nearest accessible playground is more than 45 minutes away, said Sharon Pinkston, the adoptive mother of Chelsea Elementary school student Pesho, who has spina bifida, and Aruna, who has cerebral palsy. Both boys are 10 years old.

Aluna loves to swing. “He loves movement, so a platform swing would be great for him,” Pinkston said.

She said Pesho can feel left out on the playground. “There’s not much he can do other than watch from his wheelchair.”

Chelsea Elementary School Principal Andrea Gage said the school has an inclusive philosophy.

“I believe that differences are beautiful and that everyone can belong,” said Gage. “These payment structures are areas of interest for all students, where they can come together and collaborate and play.”

School parent Tammy Scott said all students at the school and the entire community would benefit.The playground is open to everyone outside of school hours.

“The principle of inclusion is so important. These kids are great,” Scott said.