Bringing all abilities together

Special Needs Playground Equipment

children playing on special education needs playground equipment

Outdoor play equipment for special needs students

Outdoor play is essential for children with special needs; it activates their bodies, allowing for calmer minds in the classroom, as well as promotes social inclusion. In this sense, incorporating adaptable, accessible outdoor play equipment at your school will not only enhance students’ health and learning, it will also bring children of wide-ranging abilities together through a medium they all understand - play.

Do you want advice on how to design an inclusive playground?

The importance of tailored special needs outdoor play equipment

All children need to move their bodies and discover what they’re capable of for proper physical, emotional, and cognitive development, and children with special needs are no different. However, having safe, accessible, and specialized outdoor play equipment is especially vital for special needs students as it:

Stimulates their senses
Encourages imaginative play
Allows for group or parallel play with their peers
Enhances their coordination, mobility, and balance

Perhaps, most importantly though, having an inclusive play space at school – one where they are seen, heard, and valued – allows them to feel just like any kid. Our playground equipment is designed with inclusivity at the forefront, so children of all abilities feel valued and included during playtime.

children playing on musical playground equipment at a playground in France

The 6 principles of universal & inclusive design

Our philosophy is that children of all ages and abilities have the right to play, so our products are designed to follow the 6 principles of universal and inclusive design.

Accessibility
Multifunctionality
360-degree design
Diverse play opportunities
Clear in color & design signals
Providing solutions for special needs

Learn more about how to plan and design inclusive playgrounds here.

Let's discuss inclusive playground design

a care taker and a boy in wheelchair playing on a playground

"I would definitely suggest to anybody who is the head teacher of a school to do the same thing and to provide more equipment for children to play with, it has a huge impact on attendance, behavior, confidence, friendship"

- Gayle MacDonald, Head Teacher at Corpus Christi Primary School, Glasgow, Scotland

Universal playground equipment derived from research

KOMPAN Play Institute work closely with schools, education centers, and parents to build dedicated areas for safe, accessible, and interactive play. Our special needs outdoor playground equipment is designed to enhance motor skills, stimulate senses, and promote socialization among students.

You can see more about how to plan and design inclusive playgrounds here.