EVIDENCE-INFORMED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INCLUSIVE PLAY FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Abstract

Every person is entitled to enjoy fresh air and open green spaces. But with cities growing at a rapid pace, these green spaces have decreased considerably. Even where available, there are hardly any parks catering to the needs of the differently abled, particularly children with disabilities. This study is an exploratory case study research which sought to arrive at evidence-informed recommendations for inclusive play with focus on children with special needs (CwSN) through contextual understanding of the restrictions on activity and participation due to different types of disabilities. The physical setting was limited to accessible public parks in Bengaluru Urban. Four types of disabilities, namely visual impairment, auditory impairment, locomotor impairment and Autism Spectrum Disorder were considered for detailed study. Literature review was undertaken at several stages of the study and included the various aspects of inclusive play, inclusive play guidelines and secondary case studies of inclusive parks. As the study involved the experience of CwSN in the context of play in urban parks, a two-pronged approach was used for data collection and analysis: one, for eliciting the experience and two, for understanding the spatial context. Four parks and 38 respondents were identified through purposive sampling and snowball sampling out of which twelve (3 subject experts and 9 caregivers of CwSN) proceeded to give detailed interview. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. One unstructured interview was conducted with a CwSN after obtaining due permission from the caregiver. Ethical standards of informed consent and maintaining confidentiality were followed. After reconnaissance survey, architectural documentation of the selected accessible parks, the play areas and play equipment was done through satellite imagery, audio and video photography, and field notes including annotated drawings of activity mapping. The documentation and nonparticipant unstructured observation of the activities within the parks were undertaken prior to the interviews for contextual understanding of the participant responses. Architectural analysis was conducted to understand the various elements of the inclusive parks. Activity pattern of the children suggested that properly structured and legible layout of the park ensured play than randomly placed play equipment. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts was undertaken and themes were arrived at, namely Play quality, Accessibility, Play area, Emotions and interactions, Disability and impairment, Barriers, Financial capacity, Sensorial qualities, Sensory profile, Level of inclusion, Design components of park, Supporting factors, Presence of nature and Satisfaction of play. The findings from the analysis led to the evidence-informed recommendations on inclusive play which follow the timeline of the park – from selection of site to operation and maintenance. This study addresses the gap in knowledge in the design of inclusive parks with emphasis on play for children with varying abilities. These findings and recommendations with literature can be developed into a guideline for future inclusive parks or an index to assess its inclusivity. Application of these recommendations could possibly pave the way for greater inclusion of CwSN in the public realm.