About this course

For far too long, our built environment has normalized ableism and favoured those with certain abilities. When our outdoor spaces aren’t inclusive, it excludes children from important childhood spaces and the benefits of play. Furthermore, it also creates lost opportunities for family experiences, as well as the community at large due to a lack of diversity.

In this course, Dr. Timothy Ross will examine ableism in playgrounds using four key questions: How do we start? Can I get there? Can I play? and Can I stay? In addition, he’ll outline several design tips to make your playground more inclusive.

• Surface Material & Design: Opt for unitary surfacing, like pour in place rubber or artificial turf. Use surfacing designs to mark games, themes, or play zones.
• Play Component Selection: Include components for a variety of challenge levels and play types. This includes physical play, sensory play, social play, and loose parts play.
• Playground Safety: Position equipment so that it does not interfere with accessible pathways or fall zones. Include wheelchair transfer stations in low traffic areas.
• Signage & Wayfinding: Signage can be used in a variety of ways on the playground. This includes a playground map, code of conduct, or emergency contact information.
• Weather & Climate Considerations: Incorporate shade structures and position slides facing the north. This will mitigate the effects of heat in areas with warmer climates.
• Play Programming: Create opportunities for children’s programming that staff can use. This includes storage for loose parts and shaded areas for group instruction.

Dr. Timothy Ross is a Scientist at the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto, ON. He leads the Engagement and Planning for Inclusive Communities (EPIC) Lab, where he and his team research the effects of childhood disability. His recent work has explored the normalization of ableism in our society, and how city planners can design their communities to become more inclusive.

Tim is also an Assistant Professor (status) at the University of Toronto’s Department of Geography and Planning. There, he works with a team of masters and doctoral students on four key research topics: (1) Education access, (2) Transportation and mobility, (3) Inclusive play, and (4) Institutional ableism. In addition, he has taught courses on urban planning and public policy.

Central to Tim’s research are questions about experiences of disability, the normalcy of ableism, and how they relate to the planning and design of our built environments. Aside from his work on inclusive play, Tim has also researched the accessibility of our public transportation systems. Most notably, this includes the school travel experiences of disabled children and their families.

More recently, Tim was the lead author of the report “Creating Inclusive Playgrounds: A Playbook of Considerations and Strategies.” This report provides playground designers with an array of strategies for creating inclusive playgrounds. It also presents considerations that are often scoped out of playground design, such as community engagement, funding, programming, and playground surroundings.

The great thing about our courses is that they’re designed for all levels of experience. Whether you’re a parent on a PAC planning your first playground, or a landscape architect with decades of experience, there’s always something new to learn. Plus, our courses offer a quick way to stay up to date with the most recent trends in playground design.

Our courses take into account multiple groups and audiences, all of whom have different needs for their playground. A few groups that will benefit from taking our courses include:

• Parents: Parent volunteers will learn the most important aspects to consider when planning their playground project.
• Teachers: Teachers will learn about the educational benefits of play and how to incorporate them on the playground.
• Landscape Architects: Architects will learn innovative design ideas that they may use in their upcoming projects.
• Parks & Recreation: Parks professionals will learn about recent advances in safety, inclusion, and sustainability.
• Property Managers: Property managers will learn how playgrounds can attract families to live in their neighbourhood.