Therapy Through Play: How Inclusive Playgrounds Foster Independence in Children with Disabilities

Introduction

Play is more than a pastime—it’s a cornerstone of childhood development. It enables children to explore their world, learn critical skills, and build relationships. Yet, traditional playgrounds can unintentionally exclude children with disabilities, limiting their access to these vital experiences. 

Inclusive playgrounds change that narrative. These thoughtfully designed spaces remove barriers, ensuring that children of all abilities can play, learn, and grow together. Beyond being fun, inclusive playgrounds serve as therapeutic environments where children with physical, speech, or occupational challenges can work towards their ultimate goal—independence. 

To explore the connection between inclusive play and therapy, we partnered with KidsCare Home Health, a renowned pediatric home health agency based in DFW. Their expert team, including Dr. Cortney Baker (speech therapist and owner), occupational therapist Victoria Larson, and physical therapist Kelly Kaskavage, delivers exceptional nursing, speech, physical, and occupational therapy services to children across the nation.  

In this blog, we explore how inclusive playgrounds empower children with disabilities and offer unique opportunities for skill-building. With insights from experts at KidsCare Home Health—a pediatric home health agency providing therapy services nationwide—we’ll examine how inclusive playgrounds foster physical, social, and emotional growth. 

What is an Inclusive Playground?

Inclusive playgrounds go beyond basic accessibility. Inclusive playgrounds are purposefully designed to accommodate individuals of all abilities, creating a welcoming and accessible environment. These spaces ensure that every child can enjoy play, regardless of their physical, sensory, or cognitive needs. Key features include: 

1. Accessible Surfaces and Ramps: Smooth, unitary surfacing and ramps enable easy navigation for children using mobility devices. 
   
   
2. Adaptive Equipment: Features like the Sway Fun® Glider or We-Go-Round® allow children of all abilities to play side by side.
   
   
3. Sensory Play Areas: Elements like tactile panels and sensory paths promote self-regulation and exploration.
   
   
4. Quiet Zones: Rest stations provide calming spaces for children who may need a sensory break.
    
5. Communication Tools: Boards and signage support children with speech or cognitive challenges. These features work together to create an inclusive space that encourages children to play in ways that suit their unique needs and abilities. They also incorporate intentional design elements like ground-level activities, shade structures, and zoned layouts to ensure everyone can enjoy the space comfortably. 

By seamlessly integrating these features, inclusive playgrounds accommodate a wide variety of needs and interests. For a deeper dive into inclusive playground design, including how our professional designers apply the principles of universal design, check out our blog, “Defining Inclusiveness in Playground Design.” 

The Value of Play in Childhood Development and Learning

Play is more valuable than often given credit. The United Nations recognizes it as a basic right for every child, and for good reason. There are limitless benefits of play, physical development, cognitive development, social skills, emotional growth just to give a few examples, but one main characteristic of play not to be overlooked is its powerful ability to teach.  

Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute of Play, has spent much of his life studying the importance of play. “The presence or absence of play, particularly in child development, has a great deal to do with competency, resiliency, emotional health [and] brain size,” Brown said. Play is “not frivolous and not just for kids, but something that is an inherent part of human nature.” 

Brown said in an interview with The Hechinger Report this summer. “The adaptive tolerance and empathy toward others that is learned in early preschool through rough and tumble play is really a fundamental part of our having tolerance for people who are different than we are.” 

Learning Shaped by Play

“Play is our brain’s favorite way of learning.” - Diane Ackerman 

Play is instinctual which is why it is widely considered the most natural and effective way for all children, regardless of ability level, to learn. By engaging in play, children are given a hands-on and active way to explore cause-and-effect relationships, spatial awareness, problem-solving, and their own imagination. Children are naturally drawn to and enjoy play, so when positioned as a learning tool, the results can be impactful.   

In her TedX Talk talk, Professor Doris Fromberg, Director of Early Childhood Teacher Education at Hofstra University, explains why play is such an important part of the learning process for children. “We need to consider that young children learn in quite different ways [than adults]. They learn by comparing physical experiences, by interactions with other people and their own feelings. And they learn an enormous amount through their imagination.... Play is what pulls together the logical and creative parts of the brain.” 

The Role of Play in Therapy and Inclusive Playgrounds

Play is integral to pediatric therapy, making inclusive playgrounds a perfect extension of therapy sessions. Dr. Cortney Baker, a pediatric speech therapist at KidsCare Home Health, shares: “The biggest milestones I’ve seen my patients achieve came through exercises disguised as play.” 

Therapists from KidsCare Home Health incorporate play into their work with children to improve engagement and outcomes: 

• Physical Therapy: Games targeting mobility and coordination help children build strength and confidence.
• Occupational Therapy: Outdoor play activities like running, jumping, and swinging to focus on enhancing strength and coordination.  
• Speech Therapy: Role-playing and cooperative games promote communication and social skills. 

Inclusive playgrounds amplify these benefits by providing dynamic, real-world environments with elements intentionally designed to maximize skill development. For instance, a child practicing mobility on an adaptive swing can simultaneously work on coordination and self-regulation while engaging with peers. 

For a more in-depth discussion on how KidsCare therapists utilize inclusive playground equipment as a learning tool during their sessions, check out our blog, “Transforming Playgrounds into Therapeutic Spaces: Enhancing Skill Development Through Play.”  

How Inclusive Playgrounds Foster Independence

Regardless of the treatment, the ultimate goal of all therapy services for children with disabilities is to enable them to achieve the highest level of independence and participation in daily life. Inclusive playgrounds provide unique opportunities for children with disabilities to achieve this milestone. 

1. Physical Independence: Features like ramps, wide pathways, unitary surfacing, and adaptive swings empower children with mobility challenges to play alongside their peers, and the inclusion of wheelchair accessible equipment like the SwayFun glider and We-Go-Round further close the gap by allowing full access. These accommodations allow children with disabilities to navigate the playground independently, building their confidence, mobility, and coordination.
   
   
2. Sensory and Emotional Growth: Sensory play helps children manage sensory input, practice self-regulation, and explore new experiences at their own pace. Quiet zones and calming areas provide spaces for emotional regulation, fostering autonomy and resilience. 
   
   
3. Social Skills: Inclusive playgrounds offer children with disabilities the chance to interact with peers in real-life social settings, fostering communication, social skills, and emotional intelligence. Through cooperative games and role-playing, they build relationships, gain social confidence, and learn emotional regulation. These safe, supportive spaces enhance emotional well-being, self-esteem, and teach children to advocate for their needs.
   
   
4. Decision-Making and Problem-Solving: Inclusive playgrounds foster independence by encouraging children to make their own choices and solve problems. From climbing structures to navigating sensory paths, these spaces promote creative thinking, planning, resilience, and self-confidence. Children can decide how to engage with their environment, choose activities, and tackle challenges like monkey bars or climbing walls. By taking ownership of their actions and successes, they build confidence to explore abilities, take risks, and try new things independently. 

By allowing children to challenge their skills, take risks, achieve goals, and celebrate their successes, inclusive playgrounds cultivate confidence and a sense of ownership over their abilities. 

Real-Life Texas Success Stories: Inclusive Playgrounds Fostering Independence 

Dream Park, located in Fort Worth’s Trinity Park, is a shining example of how inclusive playgrounds go beyond basic accessibility to foster connection and growth. As one of the largest inclusive playgrounds in Texas, it features adaptive swings, wide pathways, and sensory panels that enable children with disabilities to play alongside their peers. Designed with input from the community, Dream Park ensures that every child, regardless of ability, can experience the joy of sliding, swinging, and climbing. 

The park offers numerous physical challenges, including steppers, elevated hill play, and various climbers. According to Kelly Kaskavage, a therapeutic expert, steppers have been “used to enhance full-body coordination” and support developmental milestones. For children who struggle with stairs, she explains that steppers “facilitate that movement,” allowing them to practice a stair-like motion “activity in a fun way.” 

Dr. Cortney Baker, CCC/SLP, highlights the value of enclosed spaces, like Cozy Domes and Crawl Tunnels, which are perfect for children with conditions such as autism. She notes that these enclosed spaces “provide the perfect environment children can retreat to when overstimulated.” Dr. Baker also incorporates these areas into speech therapy sessions, using “interactive play and games like Peek-A-Boo” to engage patients. 

Occupational therapist Victoria Larson, OTR, MOT, emphasizes the importance of sensory play, explaining that “children need sensory play to engage all 8 sensory systems.” Dream Park offers a variety of sensory-stimulating play components, including Rhapsody® Outdoor Musical Instruments and various sensory panels to promote sensory play. Larson’s patients use the sensory panels to “explore what their body needs to feel regulated or calm” and identify “what may cause uncertainty.” 

With its size and thoughtful design, Dream Park has become a destination for families across North Texas. Its creation was driven by Rachel Churchill, who was inspired by a similar playground in Wisconsin and brought her vision to life in Fort Worth. Dream Park demonstrates the transformative power of inclusive play spaces, showing how they bring communities together while empowering children to achieve milestones through fun and exploration. 

Conclusion

Inclusive playgrounds are not just spaces for recreation—they are transformative environments that empower children of all abilities to grow, learn, and thrive. By removing physical, sensory, and social barriers, these playgrounds create a level playing field where every child has the opportunity to engage, interact, and develop crucial life skills. From fostering independence and confidence to encouraging social interaction and emotional growth, inclusive playgrounds promote a sense of belonging and community for everyone. 

As evidenced by the success stories in North and Central Texas, including Dream Park in Fort Worth, Play for All Park in Wichita Falls, and Morgan's Wonderland in San Antonio, inclusive play spaces are reshaping how we think about childhood development. These projects not only provide a space for physical activity but also serve as catalysts for social change, fostering acceptance, empathy, and understanding among children, families, and communities. 

Investing in inclusive playgrounds means investing in the future of our children—ensuring that every child, regardless of ability, has the chance to experience the joy of play, the freedom to explore, and the confidence to grow. These spaces are critical in building more equitable communities where every individual is valued and included. As we continue to push for inclusivity in design and public spaces, we must remember that these playgrounds are more than just places of fun—they are essential tools for social integration and personal development. 

For families, therapists, and communities, investing in inclusive playgrounds is an investment in equity and the future. Together, we can create spaces that empower every child to play, explore, and succeed—on their terms. 

With the support of professionals like those at KidsCare Home Health and the thoughtful design of inclusive playgrounds, we can ensure that all children experience the joy and benefits of play.  

Let’s work together to ensure that every community has access to playgrounds where all children can play side by side, learn from one another, and share in the wonders of childhood without limitations.