On Thursday, August 26, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the Riverside County Office of Education’s first inclusive playground at the La Granada South Elementary School on the campus of La Granada Elementary School in the Alvord Unified School District.
A wheelchair swing, an adaptive teeter-totter, ramps to interactive play panels, sensory tricycle paths, outdoor musical instruments, and other features provide a safe and inclusive playground experience for students to enjoy a playground regardless of their abilities.
View Inclusive Playground Photo Album
Additionally, the largest shade structures allowed by the state hover securely over the playground to provide a more comfortable environment. In coming months, a modified version of a merry-go-round will be installed to thrill students anew.
The playground represents the first phase of the modernization process of La Granada South that started planning in 2019. The assessment of the facility also revealed that the outdoor learning experience was in serious need of an upgrade. Site leaders described the previous playground as “an expansive area of concrete with no shade.” The donated play structures could not be enjoyed by most students in wheelchairs or those who needed assistance with walking.
“In our early discussions with RCOE’s Operational Support Services team, we shared that it would be really great if we didn’t have to transfer a student out of their wheelchair to get into a swing,” said Randi Chapluk, RCOE Principal at La Granada South.
The early conversations led to a collaborative design process that incorporated the feedback of occupational therapists, physical therapists, adapted physical education teachers, and other educators.
“This was the first inclusive playground we designed, and every piece was painstakingly selected to be inviting for able-bodied students, those in wheelchairs, and every ability in-between,” said Jessica Mears, Coordinator for RCOE’s Operational Support Services team. “It is so meaningful to work on a project when you hear that you are providing an experience for a 7-year old who has never been on a swing before.”
Days before the grand opening ceremony, parents were invited to a soft opening for the playground with their students.
“One parent was moved to tears and told me she had never been able to see her daughter play on a playground before. Her daughter always had to watch from the sidelines,” Chapluk said. “A father of another child shared that he had been looking all over for a playground that his medically-involved daughter could enjoy. He was so happy to be able to sit together on a glider toy with his daughter—something they had never been able to do before.”
On the first day of school, staff members found it difficult to get some students back in the classroom after playground time.
“Students can explore the playground because it is also developmentally-appropriate. It’s not just functional—it's also inviting and whimsical,” Chapluk said. “Teachers and staff also love it and some have told me they are trying to find ways to incorporate the playground into the learning experience because the students are more alert and engaged.”
School staff members who work with students who are non-verbal can still sense how students are enjoying the playground.
“There are so many smiles, and so much laughter. For the students who use alternate means to communicate, they have happy sounds and they light up in their own way. For example, we can track a student’s eye gaze to help us see where they want to go,” Chapluk said. “There is a wide range of student abilities—both verbally and physically—and we are able to give them many choices to enjoy their playground experience.”
Next year, an inclusive preschool program will be offered at La Granada South. Other RCOE sites across the county are also slated for modernization and inclusive playgrounds.
The La Granada South location is one of more than a dozen locations across Riverside County where RCOE partners with school districts to provide Special Day Class Services—a term used to describe a self-contained special education class which provides services to students with intensive needs that cannot be met by the general education program alone. La Granada South serves students in grades preschool to 12+ from Alvord Unified School District, Jurupa Unified School District, and the Riverside Unified School District. La Granada South students are eligible for special education services as part of their individual education plans (IEP) that address needs that may be moderate to severe in nature such as intellectual disabilities, multiple disabilities, or autism.
“At this age, especially with preschool and early elementary students, so much of their learning is play. So, this facility is opening doors for learning that they didn’t have open to them before,” Chapluk said. “It’s creating equity for students who don’t just have to sit on the sidelines of the playground anymore. This is truly a playground where anyone can use it."