Advocating for Inclusive Play with Advocacy Abby
"I don't want any child or individual with any type of diagnosis ever have to say no to something that would improve their life because of finances."
Abby Zachritz, Advocacy Abby
Uncovering Hidden Paths to Life-changing Treatment
Abby Zachritz, or "Advocacy Abby" online and to families in the medically diverse community, is a prominent medical needs advocate, public speaker, and the Director of Family Advocacy at . Describing herself as a "professional grant sleuth," she specializes in helping families with medically complex or rare-diagnosis children locate sources of financial assistance. Her mission is centered on uncovering hidden funding channels, grants, and specialized fundraising strategies to cover essential needs and medical treatments that traditional health insurance frequently denies.
Abby was thrust into the world of medical funding when her son, Wyatt, suffered a near drowning accident at 18 months old. After witnessing doctors nearly pronounce her fourth child—only for his heartbeat to return—Abby continued to refuse the limitations medical professionals described for her son’s life. She began researching and eventually securing treatments for Wyatt that led to positive results. This turning point was the foundation for CONNECT, the largest online platform of medical funding sources to help families find life-altering medical treatments.
Discover Abby's Story
Why are inclusive playgrounds important?
Creating equitable outdoor play opportunities should be every community’s priority because everyone (all ages, genders, nationalities and abilities) benefits by playing together.
Research shows when children of all abilities play with able-bodied and neurotypical children, they grow and develop their abilities and strengths, thus gaining a positive self-image.
Medically complex children, just like all other kids, love the thrill and joy of playing with others.
Children’s physical, social-emotional, cognitive and creative development is not only supported by play, it’s developed through play.
Why choose KOMPAN? KOMPAN’s mission of creating truly inclusive, universal playgrounds has been part of our journey since the 1980s, before the American Disability Act was signed into law in 1990. We have more than 50 years of experience designing play solutions for all, including children with disabilities. Over the past years, the has intensified its observation studies and revisited the core insights of universal play.
Inclusive Playground Design
No matter the size of the space, the following design features create an accessible, welcoming playground for all.
Can users get around? Start by ensuring accessibility to the playground. Plan for easy access to parking, and wide enough entries for wheelchair users to enter the playground.
Choose inclusive playground surfacing that is easy to maneuver for users with mobility challenges. Paths with guidance make it easier to get around and to equipment, as well as navigating the overall playground.
Include quiet areas with benches and shading for caregivers and children who get easily overstimulated to withdraw to.
Design for both social and solitary play areas. Inclusive parks should offer both thrilling, social play options as well as quiet play with sensory playground equipment.
Make sure that elevated-level and ground-level play activities are accessible and usable for users with mobility difficulties, either by a ramp structure or easy-access surfacing material. Ramp structures provide access to levels of play otherwise not reachable by, e.g., wheelchair users.
Often you can apply for to help realize your playground project.
To help the planning process, we have created an easy overview of the best practices for designing inclusive playgrounds in an inclusive play design guide. Download your free copy below.
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