Mobility Impairments

Child plays with accessible panel at playground You can help parents and children who use mobility devices enjoy your playspace by providing accessible routes, surfaces, and play equipment. If your playspace is accessible, adult caregivers who use mobility devices can more easily play with their children and truly enjoy your playspace!

Routes should:

Be at least 60 inches wide
Be bordered from loose-fill material
Have a maximum slope of 1:12 (1:20 Universal design standard)
If sloped, have plenty of platforms for resting
Read more on routes

Surfaces under and around accessible structures should:

Be pour-in-place rubber or another safe, accessible material (loose materials are not accessible for the most part)
Be wide enough to provide safe, accessible landing
Provide access to the structure
Read more on surfaces

Structures should:

Have accessible entries and exits (ramps or transfer stations)
Provide handgrips, rails, or holds
Provide support as necessary

Helpful Links

KidsHealth. (2006). Cerebral palsy. http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/brain/cerebral_palsy.html

KidsHealth. (2006). Muscular dystrophy. http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/bones/muscular_dystrophy.html

KidsHealth. (2006). Spina bifida. http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/birth_defect/spina_bifida.html

KidPower, http://www.kid-power.org/

National Spinal Cord Injury Association, http://www.spinalcord.org/

Spina Bifida Association, http://www.sbaa.org/

United Cerebral Palsy, http://www.ucp.org/

(Photo courtesy of Landscape Structures)