issues
By Carole Lander
Inclusive Play
Following international trends, slowly but surely,
carousels for children in wheelchairs,
local councils around Australia are realising the shaded seating areas for parents with
parks and gardens. This is good news, but often this people using motorised scooters.
need to install inclusive play equipment in their
change is coming about through the efforts of the
people most in need.
I
disability and ramp access for elderly
Another example of lateral
thinking can be found on the Northern
Beaches of Sydney where Caroline
Ghatt was quick to respond to
n a northern suburb of Melbourne, Lexi, who has cerebral palsy and uses council’s request for input on a new
Clare Whitney and her neighbours a wheelchair. playground near her house because
entered into a community
Clare said: “It’s great that
her 11-year-old son Marcus has
consultation with the Darebin Council councils are putting money into intellectual and physical impairment.
after petitioning them for an upgrade parks but they’re not always doing Caroline’s involvement in this project
of Penders Park in Thornbury. it with community consultation and turned out to be extensive.
Council finally agreed that this
neighbourhood was changing and
the park no longer met the standards
30
Tim Smith and Caroline Ghatt
with their son Marcus.
the community are the ones who use
the parks.”
Clare has been looking at the
She and her husband Tim Smith
wanted their council to challenge
the norm of funding the bigger
required. However, their decision fantastic results of the charity, playgrounds and leaving the smaller
didn’t take into account the need for Touched by Olivia, in other states. ones alone. In turn, the council set
inclusive equipment of the type Clare In the 23 Livi’s Place parks across them an innovation challenge to
wanted for her five-year-old daughter Australia there are wheel-on design and build five local playground
issues
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