Children with disabilities often have no one to play with at playgrounds: study

At least a third of children with disabilities in the Netherlands never visit a playground in their neighborhood. And of those who do, a quarter often play alone, the Kien foundation found in a study conducted on behalf of the Disabled Child Foundation, NOS reports.

Among children with no disabilities, around one in ten often have no one to play with when they go to the playground. That shows that there is still a lot of ground to gain when it comes to including kids with disabilities, according to the Disabled Child Foundation, which works to help children with disabilities escape isolation.

In recent years, 187 Dutch municipalities have established at least one “shared playground,” adapted with accessible play equipment and clear paths so that children with physical or visual impairments can also play. The Foundation urged the 155 municipalities that don’t yet have these inclusive playgrounds to take action.

The goal is for 70 percent of Dutch municipalities to have such a playground by next year. That means that 50 municipalities need to open their first inclusive playground within the next month and a half.

“By playing together, children without disabilities learn that differences are part of life and everyone can contribute,” Rebecca Gerritse, director of the Disabled Child Foundation, told NOS. “That’s good for everyone’s development and for the cohesion in our society. That’s why we continue to strive for truly inclusive play spaces, where every child is welcome.”

“I like playing video games with other children because it makes me feel like I belong,” said 12-year-old Kick, who acts as an ambassador for the foundation. “But I’d also love to be able to play outside, just like my brother. He runs outside and plays with his friends in the playground around the corner. But it’s on the grass, and I can’t get there with my wheelchair. That sometimes feels really unfair.”

The foundation launched a website for parents of children without disabilities with tips on creating more opportunities for peer interaction. Among other things, it encourages non-disabled children to go play at an inclusive playground and for parents to discuss disabilities with their children.