| The 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act prompted the | | | | for two wheelchairs. There should also be a |
| Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance | | | | turnaround/parking space at least five feet in diameter |
| Board to establish accessibility guidelines for public play | | | | installed next to any playground equipment that |
| areas. Those guidelines include, but are not limited to | | | | requires a child to transfer from a wheelchair onto the |
| the following things public playgrounds must do: | | | | structure. |
| 1. Provide opportunities for use of play areas by | | | | Transfer points are places where disabled children |
| children with a variety of abilities | | | | move from their wheelchair onto the play structure |
| 2. Support social interaction among children in play | | | | itself. Physical therapists report that 40-60% of |
| areas | | | | wheelchair users can transfer out of their chairs onto |
| 3. Create play area challenges, but not barriers | | | | a play structure. Children need a transfer point from 11 |
| 4. Maintain ASTM (American Society for Testing and | | | | to 18 inches high so that they can make the transfer |
| Materials) safety standards | | | | by themselves. Transfer points should also feature |
| 5. Allow independent use as much as possible | | | | grab bars or other assisted devices. |
| 6. Provide access to elevated structures for disabled | | | | Ramps also provide access for disabled children to |
| kids | | | | elevated decks and surfaces. The ramps need to be |
| 7. Help designers and architects incorporate improved | | | | at least 36 inches wide, with a slope of no more than |
| access into new designs. | | | | 1:12 (a rise of one foot in height for every 12 horizontal |
| Playground surfacing should take into account | | | | feet), and they must have handrails and curbs. The |
| wheelchair access and maneuverability. ASTM | | | | Americans with Disabilities Act requires access to at |
| standards require surfaces to be "firm, stable, and slip | | | | least half of the elevated play components by ramp. |
| resistant." Soft rubber tiles are examples of surfacing | | | | However, if there are fewer than 20 elevated play |
| materials that provide safety and accessibility. Rubber | | | | components, access via transfer points is acceptable. |
| chips and wood chips are better surfaces than sand | | | | If there are more than 20 elevated play structures, at |
| or pea gravel, but they are not as easy for those in | | | | least a quarter of them must have ramp access. |
| wheelchairs to navigate as pour-in-place rubber | | | | But wheelchair access is only one goal in making |
| surfaces or soft rubber tiles. | | | | playgrounds accessible for disabled children. The |
| Perhaps the most important step in building an | | | | needs of sight or hearing impaired children and children |
| accessible play area is providing an accessible route to | | | | with developmental disabilities or other physical and |
| and through the play area. Many outdoor recreation | | | | mental challenges must not be ignored. |
| facilities use a combination of loose fill and unitary | | | | Also keep in mind that the steps taken to increase |
| surfacing to accommodate all children adequately. To | | | | accessibility to disabled children will benefit all children. |
| prevent wheelchairs from dropping off access paths' | | | | Roomier decks, shorter stair heights, and ramps are |
| edges and tipping over, it is best to install a gradually | | | | user-friendly to everyone, and grab bars and handrails |
| sloping transition edge of 30 degrees or less. Access | | | | are safety features that all children can benefit from. |
| paths should be at least 5 feet wide, or wide enough | | | | |