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“Because traditional
playgrounds often do not serve
the needs of children with
autism, something new was
needed.”
 Autism
is a developmental disorder that
affects socialization and
communication and restricts
interests, activities, and
behaviors (American Psychiatric
Association, 1994). Children
with autism have a need for
visual boundaries and continuous
task prompts, and have fewer
undesirable behaviors when they
are functioning within an
expected schedule or routine of
activities. They also perform
much better in short, individual
activities than in group
activities. Informal research
has shown that children with
autism have a tough time
navigating a typical piece of
playground equipment, therefore
many children with low motor
skills, do not engage in such
activities.
 Professional
literature does not have any
information about playground
design for children with autism.
Therefore, a five step design
process was developed to
conceptualize a multipurpose
fitness playground. The
multipurpose fitness playground
provides an environment for
unstructured free play,
structured physical education
lessons, and fitness activities.
The playground is in a somewhat
circular shape and includes the
following areas: a large unit
typical of a regular playground
unit, a fitness course, a
basketball half-court, swings, a
tether-ball area, a fun-ball
area, and a walking track around
the perimeter of the entire
design. “These areas offer a
range of individual and
cooperative activities that meet
the developmental needs of
students, provide students with
opportunities for direct
instruction by staff, and
provide opportunities for
students to self-select
activities and interests.”
 Shane
Lanier of KORKAT designed the
playground. In order to design a
playground especially for
autistic children, Shane did a
lot of research into autism and
playgrounds for children with
special needs. He even visited a
classroom of autistic children
in his own neighborhood. His
newfound knowledge made it
possible for him to understand
all the modifications that
needed to be made to a regular
playground. The final design was
collaboration of Shane’s
playground knowledge and of the
physical education staff’s
knowledge of the needs of
autistic children.
 The
big area is almost the shape of
an “H” but was opened up so that
staff could assist the children
and so that the maximum number
components could be installed
all along the exterior of the
unit. Many special things were
done to the playground to ensure
the safety of the children, such
as, extra holes in the crawl
tube for visibility and extra
handles and rails on elevated
components. There are also as
many entrance and exit points as
possible. The fitness course
also has a lot of open space for
individual or group play. The
basketball court, tether ball,
swings, and funnel ball are
common components of playgrounds
in community parks, thus,
providing opportunities for the
children to learn skills that
can be used in community-based
settings.
The complete article about
this project can be found on
page 20 in the November/December
2006 (Volume 77, No. 9) issue of
JOPERD magazine.
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