Accessibility Analysis

Cooke Public School Accessibility Analysis

Cooke Public School specializes in special needs education and has a student body that reflects that. In order to accommodate their students' needs, they commissioned a custom playground from Landscape Structures Inc. This is an interactive walkthrough of the playground with each feature assessed according to the current literature.

Shaded seating area at playground

The table area is multifunctional. It provides an observation point for adults and children to watch play from. Observation points have been found to be helpful to children with ASD as launching off points because they can learn possible ways to play with the equipment through onlooker behavior (Fernelius, 2017, p. 31). For adults, this area provides a shaded and comfortable vantage point where they can rest while monitoring the safety of their child(ren)’s play. Insufficient coverage or seating are common barriers for parents which limit their willingness to take their kids to playgrounds regularly, especially if they are bringing along a child to young to use the playscapes themselves (Refshaunge et al., 2015, p. 236).

Cooke School Playground Climbing Entrances

Climbing entrance to play structure

These climbing (and entrance) affordances make use of very different motor skills. For example, a kid who struggles with stepping and/or leg strength can self-select a challenge or use motor skills they have more mastery over by assisting with their arms using the handles or the rock-climbing wall entrance. The green steps also resemble a piece equipment some of these kids use with their physical and occupational therapists.

Cooke School Playground Wheelchair Accessible

Wheelchair Friendly Play structure

Going directly from hard cement to metal ramps with an unassuming ramp makes this play structure very unusual in how easily accessible it is to wheelchairs. Often, children in wheelchairs are barred from play experiences by their disability, but by keeping them in mind in during the design process Landscape Structures created a playground that prevents this unfortunate happening (Fernelius, 2017, p. 40; Wegner et al., 2020, pp. 139-141). There are several other features to this play structure that enable play possibilities not usually available for wheelchair users.

More about the Project

The video and snapshots above barely scratch the surface of the analysis that was completed. Check out the abbreviated version on google slides here or email me for the full PowerPoint.

The goal of this research project was to learn more about inclusive strategies in three-dimensional and interactive design. While ADA guidelines are a good place to start, for seamless inclusive experiences you have to go beyond the bare minimum and strive to accommodate people of all abilities. To do that, I needed to know where to start.