[00:00:04]
WE ARE AT LAKE SHORE PLAYGROUND TODAY, AND WE ARE CUTTING THE RIBBON ON AN ALL-INCLUSIVE TOT LOT.
AN ALL-INCLUSIVE TOT LOT IS DESIGNED SO EVERY CHILD, REGARDLESS OF ABILITY, DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE OR SENSORY NEEDS, CAN PLAY TOGETHER IN THE SAME SPACE.
FAMILIES AND CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES OFTEN LACK ACCESSIBLE NEIGHBORHOOD OPTIONS.
THIS TOT LOT WILL PROVIDE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO A WONDERFUL SPACE FOR ALL CHILDREN TO ENJOY.
I GREW UP ON THIS FIELD AND IT FORMED WHO I AM AS A PERSON AND NOW THIS PLAYGROUND IN THE INCLUSIVENESS OF THIS PLAYGROUND AND CHILDREN WHO MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR OTHER PLAYGROUNDS, UH, AND ADULTS BEING ABLE TO KIND OF HAVE THAT SAME EXPERIENCE HERE, BE ABLE TO MAKE FRIENDS AND BE ABLE TO FALL DOWN AND GET BACK UP AND DO ALL THOSE THINGS THAT WE GET TO EXPERIENCE AT A PLAYGROUND.
UM, AND REALLY JUST THE SOCIAL ASPECT IN AND OF ITSELF IS HUGE.
EVERYONE CAN BE INCLUDED IN ACTIVITIES, ESPECIALLY FUN ACTIVITIES.
UM, WE ALL LEARN FROM OUR EXPERIENCE AND FROM OUR ENVIRONMENT, AND THAT'S WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT.
SO WHEN CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES ARE INCLUDED IN ACTIVITIES WITH CHILDREN WITHOUT DISABILITIES, THEY BOTH LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.
THERE'S A DA REQUIREMENTS THAT EVERY PLAYGROUND HAS TO MEET, AND THEN WHEN YOU GO THE NEXT STEP, IT'S CALLED BEING INCLUSIVE.
IF SOMEONE'S A WHEELCHAIR BOUND OR SOMEONE HAS AUTISM, DOESN'T FEEL INCLUDED.
THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY CAN ALSO FEEL APPRECIATED AND BE ABLE TO GET PLAY WITH OTHERS.
AS WE INCLUDED LIKE THE TOGETHER GLIDER.
A CHILD WHO IS ABLE BODIED AND A CHILD WHO'S ALSO IN A WHEELCHAIR MOBILITY DEVICE IS ABLE TO STILL GET TO EXPERIENCE THE ROCKING SENSATION AND FEELING WITH THEIR CARETAKER, WITH THEIR FRIEND, WITH OTHER ABLE BODIED KIDS AND GET TO FEEL TRULY IMMERSED AND INCLUDED IN THESE PLAY ELEMENTS INSTEAD OF JUST BEING ON THE SIDE WATCHING THESE CHILDREN BEING ABLE TO INTERACT AND PLAY AND FEELING LEFT OUT ON THE SIDELINES.
CHILDREN WITH AUTISM ABSOLUTELY LOVE SPINNING.
THEY LOVE THE SENSATION OF IT.
THEY GET THAT IMMERSIVE FEELING WHILE YOU ALSO CAN HAVE SAME WITH ABLE-BODIED CHILDREN OR ANYONE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, BEING ABLE TO SIT AND STILL GET TO BE INCLUDED IN THAT AS WELL.
HOWEVER, IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN ON A WHEELCHAIR ON REGULAR MULCH, IT SINKS.
IT'S NOT CONDUCIVE, IT'S VERY HARD TO MOVE AROUND.
THEN WE WERE ABLE TO REMOVE THAT.
WE PUT A FOUR INCH STONE SUB BASE AND THEN NOFA BONDED RUBBER MULCH SERVICING.
SO IT'S A UNITARY SURFACING WHERE THEY'RE ABLE TO ROLL FREELY ON AND YOU'RE ABLE TO RUN.
YOU, YOU CAN'T PICK IT UP AND THROW IT AT YOUR FRIENDS.
IT'S COMPLETELY 80 ACCESSIBLE.
THERE'S ALL KINDS OF EQUIPMENT.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, THAT IS TO BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER.