PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — July marks a big month across the U.S., and a new app is helping families of children with disabilities find local parks that meet their kids’ needs.
This month marks 34 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted, protecting people with disabilities from discrimination.
The state’s new app, “Park Finder”, which details playgrounds and parks and lists all they offer to communities, is now available online.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Americans with disabilities are the largest minority group in the United States, with roughly 1 in 6 children living with a developmental disability.
According to a release from the Pennsylvania Recreation and Parks Association’s Good for You initiative, “Children with disabilities have different play needs, including more or less sensory input, but playground play is important for all children’s cognitive and physical development and supports socialization, creativity and community building.”
With this in mind, several Pennsylvania parks are tailoring their playground designs to accommodate children of all abilities and implementing special features such as interactive sensory green gardens and augmentative and alternative communication tools, which use pictures and symbols to help children communicate non-verbally.
Jessica Macaulay
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