How do we create inclusive community space for children living with disabilities?
During my term break in June 2023, I was given the opportunity to participate in a 5 day international cross-culture design sprint! Each team was given a theme to work on and use design thinking to come up with deliverables.
During my term break in June 2023, I was given the opportunity to participate in a 5 day international cross-culture design sprint! Each team was given a theme to work on and use design thinking to come up with deliverables.
Photos from SG Enable Facebook
Insights / Research
Insights / Research
Children with disabilities are often excluded from interactive play with their able-bodied peers. Hence we want to create an awareness and education program for young children to foster inclusive community spaces.
Approach
Play is important to the health and well-being of children. It develops social, cognitive and physical skills, all of which are enhanced through interaction with other children.
Play is important to the health and well-being of children. It develops social, cognitive and physical skills, all of which are enhanced through interaction with other children.
Whilst there is a growing emergence of accessible playgrounds, there are still barriers to inclusive play including both physical and social. To solve this problem, we need to teach children and their care-givers that those living with disabilities can and want to play with their peers.
On-Site Research
To understand this problem we defined what was meant by wellness and community spaces and came up with a list of places we wanted to explore. This included a library, a public fitness corner and a children’s playground.
To understand this problem we defined what was meant by wellness and community spaces and came up with a list of places we wanted to explore. This included a library, a public fitness corner and a children’s playground.
Library & Fitness Corner: Nanyang Polytechnic
We visited these spaces to empathise with the potential issues a person with disability may experience. Our focus was on how a disabled child may use a play space and if they were accessible.
We visited these spaces to empathise with the potential issues a person with disability may experience. Our focus was on how a disabled child may use a play space and if they were accessible.
Inclusive Children's Playground: Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park
We identified that although the play spaces were in fact inclusive with accessible play equipment and inclusive artwork, they lacked the facilitation of inclusive interaction between able-bodied and disabled children. The facility didn’t necessarily need improving, it was people’s attitudes that needed changing.
We identified that although the play spaces were in fact inclusive with accessible play equipment and inclusive artwork, they lacked the facilitation of inclusive interaction between able-bodied and disabled children. The facility didn’t necessarily need improving, it was people’s attitudes that needed changing.
BUDS: Emerging flower (buds) who bloom to their full potential with their BUDDY
This led us to developing a child-centric awareness campaign, BUDS, aimed at educating children and their care-givers about everybody’s uniqueness, to promote acceptance of differences, reduce stigma surrounding disability, and to encourage interaction and inclusive play between children of all abilities.
This led us to developing a child-centric awareness campaign, BUDS, aimed at educating children and their care-givers about everybody’s uniqueness, to promote acceptance of differences, reduce stigma surrounding disability, and to encourage interaction and inclusive play between children of all abilities.
Flower Buds representing different disabilities.
The launch of this campaign will cultivate empathy and foster acceptance of children with disabilities among their peers, promoting a greater understanding and inclusivity among children when playing in community spaces.
The launch of this campaign will cultivate empathy and foster acceptance of children with disabilities among their peers, promoting a greater understanding and inclusivity among children when playing in community spaces.
Looking forward we envision seeing BUDs in community spaces in the form of decals and signage, toys, books and interactive media; to remind and encourage children that play is for every BUDDY!
SUMMARY OF DESIGN SPRINT
Our hard work and dedication paid off when we were honoured with the Visualisation Award!
I am grateful to have collaborated with individuals who possess such a deep passion for their craft and approach challenges with a blend of creativity and analytical thinking. This interdisciplinary collaboration was truly inspiring- as we combined our unique perspectives and approaches to develop the final product. I'm excited to apply these insights to future projects and continue making a positive impact through design : -)
I am grateful to have collaborated with individuals who possess such a deep passion for their craft and approach challenges with a blend of creativity and analytical thinking. This interdisciplinary collaboration was truly inspiring- as we combined our unique perspectives and approaches to develop the final product. I'm excited to apply these insights to future projects and continue making a positive impact through design : -)
TEAMMATES!
Nursing: Rebecca de Bruyn (FedU), Jolin Wong (NYP), Chew Jia Jia (NYP)
Visual Communication Design: Nicholas Wiseman (UC), Ng Yue Yee Julia (NYP)
New Screen Media: Aisha Wilson (QUT)
