<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Play is critical to child development and children have the right to experienced meaningful and fun play. Playgrounds provide an environment where all children including those with vision impairment can experience joy, social interaction, physical challenges and stimulation. Participation in an accessible playground can also contribute to advancing specific developmental domains that can be impacted by childhood vision impairment. However, despite the importance of play being recognised by the United Nations and guidelines being legislated in Australia, access to inclusive playgrounds that meet the needs of people with vision impairment remains challenging. An urgent need exists to address the exclusion of children with VI and their families from playground participation. This paper aims to identify inherent benefits of play for all children and to investigate what is known about inclusive playground features, specifically those that meet the needs of children with vision impairment. The challenges of meaningful inclusion of children with vision impairment is explored, including those approaches that may progress design and facilitate inclusion. Playground features such as layout, pathways, equipment, sensory elements and use of technology are discussed, along with importance of consultation, listening and learning from the voice of users.</p>
</abstract>

Play is critical to child development and children have the right to experienced meaningful and fun play. Playgrounds provide an environment where all children including those with vision impairment can experience joy, social interaction, physical challenges and stimulation. Participation in an accessible playground can also contribute to advancing specific developmental domains that can be impacted by childhood vision impairment. However, despite the importance of play being recognised by the United Nations and guidelines being legislated in Australia, access to inclusive playgrounds that meet the needs of people with vision impairment remains challenging. An urgent need exists to address the exclusion of children with VI and their families from playground participation. This paper aims to identify inherent benefits of play for all children and to investigate what is known about inclusive playground features, specifically those that meet the needs of children with vision impairment. The challenges of meaningful inclusion of children with vision impairment is explored, including those approaches that may progress design and facilitate inclusion. Playground features such as layout, pathways, equipment, sensory elements and use of technology are discussed, along with importance of consultation, listening and learning from the voice of users.

Ensuring playground access for children with vision impairment

Vision Rehabilitation International

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Ensuring playground access for children with vision impairment"}

Play is critical to child development and children have the right to experienced meaningful and fun play. Playgrounds provide an environment where all children...

Ensuring playground access for children with vision impairment

Published Online: Dec 28, 2023

Page range: -

Accepted: Nov 01, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/vri-2024-0003

Keywords
Playground, accessible, children, vision impairment

© 2023 Kathleen Tait et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Ensuring playground access for children with vision impairment

Published Online: Dec 28, 2023

Page range: -

Accepted: Nov 01, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/vri-2024-0003

KeywordsPlayground, accessible, children, vision impairment

© 2023 Kathleen Tait et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Playground, accessible, children, vision impairment