A Higher Level of Inclusion:
Trends in Playground Design
Steve King, FASLA
Ingrid M. Kanics, OTR/L
Learning Outcomes
Participants will be able to . . .
1. Discuss the changing trends in disabilities over the past
twenty years.
2. Understand the sensory development of the typical child
as well as how a disability might impact this development.
3. Describe how different playground elements provide
every child with opportunities explore their senses and
develop other skills.
4. Identify the design characteristics of a playground that
has a sensory-rich mix that supports a higher level of
inclusion for the community.
Introduction
Putting it all together
The function of a playground
Keeping up with societal trends
•CPSC
•ASTM
•ADAAG
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Consider…
People with disabilities are the nation's largest minority group
AND the only group which anyone can join at any time.
Out of 1,000 Children Enrolled in
Elementary and Secondary Schools
1990 – 91
Disability
No Disability
114
886
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, 2009. Data is for the 1990 - 91 school year.
The number of children with each type of disability
out of the 114 children with disabilities enrolled
1990 - 91
1%
May use a
mobility
device
Learning disabilities
Speech/Language
Cognitive disabilities
Emotional disturbance
Hearing impairments
Orthopaedic impairments
Other health impairments
Visual impairments
Multiple disabilities
Deaf-Blindness
Autism
Traumatic brain injury
Developmental delay
Best Practices in Playground Design
in 1990 included:
• Designs that supported physical development:
• Gross Motor play activities
• Fine Motor play activities
• Motor coordination play activities
• Pretend play activities
• Social play activities
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, 2009. Data is for the 1990-91 school year.
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Out of 1,000 Children Enrolled in
Elementary and Secondary Schools
2007 - 08
The number of children with each type of disability
out of the 134 children with disabilities enrolled
2007 - 08
Disability
No Disability
134
866
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, 2009. Data is for the 2007-08 school year.
Current Trends in Childhood Disability Statistics
• Mobility Impairments didn’t
really change: stayed at about
1%
• Learning disabilities really
didn’t change: stayed at about
5.2%
• Autism data was not available
in 1990-91 and does not
show up until 1997-98 school
year when is was seen in 1 in
1000 children now it is seen
in 1 in 100 children.
1% May use
a mobility
device
Learning disabilities
Speech/Language
Cognitive disabilities
Emotional disturbance
Hearing impairments
Orthopaedic impairments
Other health impairments
Visual impairments
Multiple disabilities
Deaf-Blindness
Autism
Traumatic brain injury
Developmental delay
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, 2009. Data is for the 2007-08 school year.
What does this mean?
These newer
disabilities have more
social, emotional and
sensory components
than a physical
component.
These are tied into a
child’s sensory motor
development.
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What is Typical Sensory Motor Development
Typical Sensory Motor Development
Nervous system
hierarchy
ALS
Eye-hand
coordination
Body
Scheme
Postural Security
Smell
Tactile
Cognition Intellect
Learning
ADL
Visual
Behavior
VSP
ACF
Ocular Motor
Control
Reflex Maturity
Postural
Adjustment
Perceptual Motor
Development
Ability to
Screen Input
Awareness of two
sides of body
Sensory Motor
Development
Motor Planning
Auditory
Proprioceptive
Taste
Sensory Systems
Vestibular
Central Nervous System
Taylor & Trott 1991
Williams & Shellenberger, “How Does Your Engine Run?” 1994
Vestibular
Sensory Input Registration Spectrum
Hypo
Responsive
Hyper
Responsive
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Vestibular Play - Linear
Vestibular Play - Linear
Vestibular Play - Sliding
Vestibular Play - Sliding
5
Vestibular Play - Swinging
Vestibular Play - Rotating
Vestibular Play - Rotating
Vestibular Play - Spinning
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Vestibular Play - Spinning
Proprioception
Proprioceptive Play - Climbing
Proprioceptive Play - Climbing
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Proprioceptive Play - Climbing
Proprioceptive Play – Overhead Events
Proprioceptive Play – Overhead Events
Tactile
8
Tactile Play
Tactile Play
Tactile Play
Visual Play
9
Vision
Visual Play
Visual Play
Sound Play
10
Sound Play
Playing with Smell
Playing with Smell
Taste
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Pulling it all together
Best Practice in creating a sensorysensory-rich Playground
Best Practice in creating a sensorysensory-rich Playground
Best Practice in creating a sensorysensory-rich Playground
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Best Practice in creating a sensorysensory-rich Playground
Questions
Thank you
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