’Inclusive’ playgrounds for the disabled
BUDAPEST: Shrieks of laughter by non-disabled and disabled children having fun together at Hungarian playgrounds are becoming more common, thanks to some determined parents turned innovative designers.
“Disabled kids have the right to play, too,” said Eszter Harsanyi, 44, one of the co-founders of MagikMe, a start-up designing playground equipment.
Her son, Aron, 7, was born with epilepsy and for years had to sit and watch his non-disabled brother bounding through playground climbing frames or joshing in sandpits.
Now, he, too, could join in at some 30 playgrounds here, and another 30 nationwide, that had installed MagikMe equipment.
“It helps Aron a lot to mingle with able-bodied peers,” Harsanyi said, as she helped him onto a funky bright red modified see-saw called the “Butterfly”.
With two extra legs for laying on, and hand-grips and “wings” along the sides to prevent falls, children could climb out of wheelchairs or be laid down to enjoy the ride without needing a helper to hold them.
“It’s also safe for non-disabled babies who cannot sit up yet,” Harsanyi said.
Harsanyi and four other parents with disabled children hatched the idea in 2013.
“We were frustrated that our kids, disabled and non-disabled, played happily together at home, but couldn’t at the playground,” she said.
After bringing a designer friend on board and setting up a firm in 2014, a key part of the parents’ mission was making the equipment cool for able-bodied kids, too.
“Playing together shows healthy children what it means to be different, and how to talk, laugh, listen to and even touch disabled kids,” she said.
As well as designing new sensory and tactile equipment, the firm planned to branch out to neighbouring Austria and Slovakia, and further afield, said Harsanyi.
“Lack of playground access for disabled kids is a global problem,” she said.
Today is the International Day of Disabled Persons, which aims to promote understanding and awareness of disability issues. AFP