Start Date
16-6-2025 10:00 AM
End Date
16-6-2025 11:30 AM
Abstract
This project exemplifies the intersection of policy, practice, and research in adapted physical activity, highlighting the importance of user participation in creating inclusive play and recreation spaces. Traditional playground designs often reflect adult perspectives, which can inadvertently exclude children with diverse abilities, leading to missed opportunities for play and social interaction. Our initiative uniquely engaged both children and adults as "user experts" alongside "professional experts" in co-designing a state-of-the-art inclusive play area in Cork, Ireland, over a 30-month period, culminating in its launch in Summer 2022.
By actively incorporating children’s voices throughout the design process, we sought to align our work with policy frameworks that advocate for children’s rights, such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The project underscores the concept of “inclusivising our world,” emphasising the need to promote engagement, ownership, and active participation among users to create vibrant environments that cater to diverse play needs.
Findings revealed that such collaborative approaches not only enhance design outcomes but also foster a sense of belonging, community, and empowerment among children and their families. As outdoor play opportunities continue to decline in various contexts, the urgency for inclusive environments becomes increasingly pronounced. This initiative serves as a pioneering model for integrating co-design methodologies into policy discussions and practical implementations, ensuring that play spaces authentically reflect the needs and preferences of their users. Moving forward, we advocate for inclusive design as a foundational principle for creating equitable recreational spaces for all children, fostering joy, exploration, and connection.
Recommended Citation
Moore, Alice, "Inclusivising Our World: Co-designing an Inclusive Play Space in the Crann Centre, Cork, Ireland" (2025). International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness. 6.
https://sword.mtu.ie/isapa/2025/day1/6
Inclusivising Our World: Co-designing an Inclusive Play Space in the Crann Centre, Cork, Ireland
This project exemplifies the intersection of policy, practice, and research in adapted physical activity, highlighting the importance of user participation in creating inclusive play and recreation spaces. Traditional playground designs often reflect adult perspectives, which can inadvertently exclude children with diverse abilities, leading to missed opportunities for play and social interaction. Our initiative uniquely engaged both children and adults as "user experts" alongside "professional experts" in co-designing a state-of-the-art inclusive play area in Cork, Ireland, over a 30-month period, culminating in its launch in Summer 2022.
By actively incorporating children’s voices throughout the design process, we sought to align our work with policy frameworks that advocate for children’s rights, such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The project underscores the concept of “inclusivising our world,” emphasising the need to promote engagement, ownership, and active participation among users to create vibrant environments that cater to diverse play needs.
Findings revealed that such collaborative approaches not only enhance design outcomes but also foster a sense of belonging, community, and empowerment among children and their families. As outdoor play opportunities continue to decline in various contexts, the urgency for inclusive environments becomes increasingly pronounced. This initiative serves as a pioneering model for integrating co-design methodologies into policy discussions and practical implementations, ensuring that play spaces authentically reflect the needs and preferences of their users. Moving forward, we advocate for inclusive design as a foundational principle for creating equitable recreational spaces for all children, fostering joy, exploration, and connection.