Heading to the playground is a favourite activity of kids everywhere but for kids with Autism it can be a challenge.
Debbie Wamboldt,from Milton, is mother to a nine-year old son with Autism. Like most kids he loves to play but kids with Autism can suddenly bolt so going to a traditional un-fenced playground is hard. That is the motivation behind seeing an inclusive play park in the area.
Wamboldt says through her journey with Autism she grew a circle of friends who have children with Autism or special needs. They decided that they would write a letter outlining some of the issues that existed in the community to present to candidates of the 2016 mayoral election.
“One of the things we brought up was that there was no safe place for kids with Autism or special needs to play,” she said.
Queen’s County Mayor David Dagley spoke with Wamboldt while he was campaigning to discuss the existing issues and met with her again once he was elected. He suggested she pick a project to work on. That project was the play park. Once the council approved the plan Wamboldt got to work applying for grants and fundraising.
The budget for the play park is $450,000 and to date $289,385 has been raised thanks in part to two grants; $100, 000 from the Recreation Facility Development Fund and $60,000 from the Enabling Accessibility Fund.
The Region of Queen’s has donated 1,300 square feet of space for the Queens County Universal Design Inclusive Play Park, the design will follow the principals of universal design and be fully accessible to anyone, of any age, and of any ability.
Inclusion is extremely important in enriching the lives of children and their families, said Catherine Rahey, Chair, Autism NS South Shore Chapter.
“They can play alongside their peers, they learn that they are welcome and their differences don’t exclude them from their community,” she said.
