OBSpedia - Pasir Ris Inclusive Playground

Inclusive Playground @ Pasir Ris Park

[Prepared by: Annie (Feb 2020), Updated by: Chew Guat/ LTC YDP (Jul 2020]

"We are less when we don't include everyone."

- Stuart Mik

Overview

Framing / Setting

Get pax to line up their logistics, settle in and be comfortable at a cosy part of the park. Start by using these Leading Questions:

1. Where do you think you are now?

2. What is an Inclusive Playground? [One where ALL children, regardless of abilities and/or special needs can play together.]

3. Why is there a need to have the Inclusive Playground? [Lien Foundation’s inclusive Attitudes Study in 2016 found that almost half of the parents of children with special needs indicated that their children did not have friends without special needs, due to a lack of conducive environment. From young, their environment is not inclusive. It is hoped that with the building of special playgrounds near to the ‘usual’ kids playground that we see, kids of different abilities can all learn and play together.]

4. Have you ever gone to one? Share your experience!

Short clip about Inclusive Playground

Logistics and Rest area around and in shelter

Objectives for Participants

To provide an opportunity to learn and accept individual differences
To foster a culture of mutual respect and a sense of belonging

Location of Pasir Ris Park Area 1

Logistics and Rest area around and in shelter

Activities Summary

A.S.K.

Attitude (Social Cohesion/Valuing Diversity):

Value (and appreciate) others who may be different
Recognise the importance of putting others before self

Incidental/Teachable moments

Being non-judgemental
Empathy for others
Taking initiative to contribute towards others

Attitude: (Confident Person):

Believe that one can make a difference
Care (and consideration) for thoughts, feelings and needs of others

Knowledge(Social Cohesion/Valuing Diversity):

Every individual is different and can contribute in their own way to the team
One’s words and actions can affect others

Incidental/Teachable moments

A caring person shows empathy so as to understand the needs of others, takes interest in the well-being of the group and initiate support/ help to others in times of need

Skills(Social Cohesion/Valuing Diversity):

Show empathy, care and extend support towards others in the team
Take the perspectives of others in the team

Incidental/Teachable moments

Know when, where and how to provide help when a friend or team faces challenges
Promote social cohesion and harmony when interacting with others

Activity Guide

1. Introduction to Inclusive Playground

Allow pax to explore the playground with a set boundary and time (no need to mention any special features)
Pax to share what they have observed
Safety Brief - Structures are meant for children aged 5-12 years old

Short clip about Inclusive Playground

2. Guiding Questions

i) What have you noticed about this place?

ii) Has anyone been to a similar playground?

Share your experience.

iii) What is an Inclusive Playground?

One where ALL children, regardless of abilities and/or special needs can play together.

iv) Why is there a need to have the Inclusive Playground?

Persons with disabilities who participated in sports or physical recreational activities are 1.7x more likely to have a better quality of life according to the NCSS Quality of Life Study.
Lien Foundation’s inclusive Attitudes Study in 2016 found that almost half of the parents of children with special needs indicated that their children did not have friends without special needs, due to a lack of conducive environment.
Creates opportunities for interaction between able-bodied children and those with disabilities which will result in greater understanding and acceptance among the next generation of Singaporeans.
Equipment like the Wheelchair accessible merry-go-round allow for both groups of children to play together.

v) Is Pasir Ris Park the only park in Singapore with an Inclusive Playground?

1st & largest Inclusive Playground: Canberra Park (Mar 2015)

Open to all from wheelchair users to people who are visually handicapped and the elderly

2nd Inclusive Playground: Bishan-AMK Park (Aug 2015)

QR codes for smartphone users to scan and get safety tips.

1st Beach Wheelchair: PAssionWave Pasir Ris

Water Activity for the disabled

1st in Mall: City Square Mall

A wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round and 2 inclusive swings for chidlren aged 2 to 12years

Inclusive Swings

Wheelchair Swing

In Singapore,2.1% of the student population have disabilities. Existing outdoor playgrounds lack the appropriate physical structures as well as accessibility for children with special needs. How would you redesign the structure to encourage inclusive play?

3. Conduct of Activity

Divide the group into 3-4 subgroups.
Encourage the pax to put on the lens of someone with special needs and use their creativity to design an inclusive feature in the playground for a specific disability eg. Visually Impaired or cerebral palsy / Write a letter to the child who drew the picture shown (Annex A).
Allow the groups to explore the playground again with a set boundary and time before gathering to share their design/letter.

4. Reflection (with reference to ASK)

i) Refer to the visual in Annex A – A child’s drawing.

- Picture is from a Facebook post by a Mummy of a special needs child who just entered into mainstream school. The boy came back one day and locked himself in the room and refused to talk.
- When he finally emerged from the room, this drawing was shown to his mum. He had tried to ask his friends in school: “Can I play?”
- Refer to the response he got from his friends in the drawing. They jeered and laughed at him and told him, “No!”

ii) What was his conclusion?

iii) How do you think he felt?

iv) Why do you think his schoolmates behaved the way they did?

v) What does the term Inclusive mean to you?

vi) How can you be more inclusive at the watch/ school/ family/ community level?

vii) Is Singapore an Inclusive society?

*A school from the general education system that receives students with special education needs

Additional Information

1. Who won Singapore’s first Olympic Gold Medal?
• While Joseph Schooling won Singapore’s first Olympic Gold medal in Rio 2016, Yip Pin Xiu has already won Singapore’s first Paralympic Gold Medal in the Beijing 2008 Games! This is the equivalent of the Olympics for Para-athletes! So who actually really won the first Olympic Gold Medal?
• Yip Pin Xiu have set world records in her swim events. The Paralympic Games were designed to emphasize the participants’ athletic achievements and not their disability. Should Yip Pin Xiu have gotten the $1 million dollars sports achievement reward instead?
2. Is there any representation in Singapore’s government for special needs persons?
• Yin Pin Xiu has been nominated as a Non-Member of Parliament (NMP). This is to drive further representation in our government for persons with special needs.
3. What is the Purple Parade?
• Purple Parade is a ground-up movement that supports the inclusion and celebrates the abilities of persons with special needs. There are a series of awareness-building activities in Oct and Nov each year with a campaign and carnival. Have you ever participated in one?
• The core of The Purple Parade movement is to ensure that people with special needs are included in the main chapter of Singapore’s growth and have equal access to education, employment, transport and social networks.
• The Purple Parade’s vision is for the spirit of the movement to continue for many more years to come; and for the special needs community to be fully included, valued and celebrated in Singapore.