Children with and without disabilities play in the inclusive playground in City of Elmina, Shah Alam– Grace Tan
Universal design in child-friendly spaces
By Yanika Liew
When it comes to children with disabilities, universal design in playgrounds and communal spaces can go a long way in facilitating social cohesion and a sense of belonging. However, the practice is still relatively new to Malaysia.
“Universal design refers to the accessibility in totality to accommodate to people of all physical and mental abilities, without exception of their ages and backgrounds, with its overall objective to ensure spatial environment designed and created by the designers are all-inclusive safe for daily use, and practical for evacuations during emergencies,” Veritas director and principal Syah Kamaruddin said.
As UNICEF corporate alliance officer Tiffany Mervin explained, these designs allowed for inclusive participation for all regardless of age, gender, and disability. Disability-inclusive playgrounds are one such example, and it has a key role in ensuring all children can enjoy their right to play.
“By creating inclusive spaces that accommodate the diverse needs and preferences of every person, there is no separation in participation. At the inclusive playground, children with and without disabilities play together,” she said.
The results, as she pointed out, were mutual support, a sense of social cohesion, belonging, security, and pride in their local community.
“In order to build an inclusive playground, you have to involve the end users, children, parents, grandparents, caregivers and disability practitioners that would visit the playground. As the experts, they should be involved from start to finish, from the concept to the final design,” she added.
What makes inclusive design
In the case of disability-inclusive design, the UNICEF Best Practice Toolkit outlines the seven principles of universal design which should underpin the design approach.
“It’s about creating safe public spaces that accommodate every child’s individual differences. This means not having bright flashing lights so that children with autism are not overwhelmed,” Mervin said.
An example would be a sensory play area, including musical display and instruments, and include indoor and outdoor plants for children with sensory impairments. The space could offer a calming and stimulating environment for children with sensory processing disorders.
“An area of play area close to the ground plane, and proximity to public areas for increased public surveillance, improved access for wheelchairs, walkers by independent children or with helpers allow for uninterrupted playtime,” Kamaruddin said.
Another area could be a quiet space to allow for break time for the children at specific times as required. He noted that the area should include communication aids that incorporate visual and verbal, as well as physical communication tools to support children with communication disabilities.
“A multi-sensory garden area with an array of plant types, textures, scents and colours could offer sensory and therapeutic relief for children with sensory disabilities. [Or an] adaptive play area and sports facilities with accessible and safe playing surfaces and equipment to allow children with physical disabilities,” he expressed.
“Disability-inclusive spaces enable children and people with and without disabilities to live together, empathise, innovate and adapt, resulting in healthier and happier ways of living. Everyone has the right to live a full and productive life and live with dignity,” Mervin said.
Business case for inclusive design
She pointed out that inclusive design was not only important for social cohesion, but the concept also made good business sense. Inclusive designs meant access to markets that were previously untapped.
“The challenges that exist for children with disabilities become opportunities for the design of innovative spaces that are accessible to children with disabilities who are often regarded as extreme users,” Mervin said.
“Inclusive and greater accessibility of spaces often improve the experience for all children, not just children with disabilities. Children with disabilities and their families who enjoy a better experience in the space will spread the word, creating free marketing, increasing awareness, and potentially bringing in new customers,” she added.
Those connected to children with disabilities tend to value and patronise businesses that they recognise as disability inclusive.
She indicated that in the age of sustainability, designing for the future could save businesses the high costs of retrofitting spaces to fit accessibility requirements. It would also mitigate other risks related to issues that children with disabilities might experience in a space.
“Demonstrating commitment to respecting children’s needs and in this case, designing disability-inclusive spaces would appeal to consumers and young people who are increasingly shifting loyalties to businesses that have demonstrated a commitment to social responsibility,” Mervin said.
The costs of building an inclusive playground could be as cheap as ensuring sidewalks were wheel friendly for strollers and wheelchairs. They could also be as expensive as a swing set that a wheelchair user could load themselves onto.
“The point is that building and designing for inclusion is an investment. It is an investment in our collective future, and in building a kinder, more inclusive world for children,"
"The decisions that developers and builders make today will determine the world children grow up in. Let’s build a world where children can enjoy their rights to play and to participate in the world,” Mervin said.
"At the inclusive playground, children with and without disabilities play together,” Mervin said.
The area should include communication aids that incorporate visual and verbal, as well as physical communication tools, Kamaruddin said.
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