By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
For approximately 36 weeks each year 49.5 million children, from preschool to twelfth grade, flock to schools all across the United States. They spend roughly eight hours each day studying English, math, science and no shortage of other academic disciplines. One thing that is a staple of most children’s elementary school experience is recess, but for kids that are wheelchair-bound or who can’t climb the equipment, recess can become an isolating experience.
Children frequently push each other on the merry-go-round, even the non wheelchair-bound children, Smith said. Photo courtesy of Ashley Smith.
At Red Cross Elementary, an elementary school in the Barren County School District, wheelchair accessible playground equipment has been installed in hopes of offering a more inclusive experience for all its students regardless of circumstances.
Ashley Smith, MSD ECE teacher at Red Cross, said she teaches children with “severe special needs,” some of whom are in a wheelchair.
This past school year, Smith said, she had eight students in her class with three in wheelchairs.
Currently, there are five wheelchair accessible playground pieces available for Red Cross students. There is a merry-go-round, two xylophone noise makers, a rain maker and an accessible swing.
“It just got added last school year,” Smith said. “It’s been great because I have several students in a wheelchair and [the standard playground] it’s all steps and stuff.”
Though the equipment is for wheelchair-bound children, Smith said, all the children use it and play together.
This xylophone is lower to allows wheelchair-bound children accessibility. Photo courtesy of Ashley Smith.
“It’s very good for them to participate with their peers,” Smith said.
According to Smith, the equipment was paid for by the Barren County School Board, the ECE department and the Red Cross school.
This sound maker is utilized by wheelchair-bound children and also the kids who have sensory issues and “like to bang on things,” Smith said. Photo courtesy of Ashley Smith.
Currently, Smith said, there are three ECE units at district elementary schools, but only two have the accessible equipment.
“There’s three units in our district,” Smith said. “Red Cross, North Jackson and now they’ve opened one at Eastern. Eastern does not have the equipment but I’m sure…they’ll go ahead and do that.”
In the end, Smith said, she is glad the equipment is available to help this potentially isolating experience. She said she’d like to see more accessible equipment around town, like in the parks, but she is glad to have this playground equipment at Red Cross.
“We’re very happy to have some equipment here,” Smith said.”It makes the playground more accessible for my kids and makes them happier when they get to participate.”
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