Developing accessible playgrounds for children with vision impairment

Children who are blind or have low vision (BLV) often have difficulties accessing and interacting with playgrounds, most of which are not equipped to support them. Through consultation, collaboration and co-creation with the BLV community, foundational knowledge on the user experience of playgrounds, an evaluation framework for auditing existing playgrounds and design guidelines for creating or retrofitting playgrounds will be developed that support the unique challenges of BLV children and carers. Importantly it will promote access, orientation, physical and social play for BLV children, with improved cognitive, physical and social development, thus enabling a more inclusive and healthy society.

The project is funded through the Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project (DP) scheme under the number DP240100824.

• Associate Professor Dagmar Reinhardt, University of Sydney
• Associate Professor Lian Loke, University of Sydney
• Associate Professor Kathleen Tait, Macquarie University
• Dr Susan Silveira; Macquarie University 
  
• Ms Leona Holloway, Monash University 
• Associate Professor Matthew Butler, Monash University 
• Professor Kimbal Marriott, Monash University