Parents' motivations and perceived barriers in bringing children with disabilities to inclusive playground

Abstract

The importance of outdoor play for the physical and social development of children with disabilities has been well established. Inclusive playgrounds are created to provide greater access to outdoor play for children with special needs in the community. Past literature have identified social and physical factors as facilitators and barriers to visiting inclusive playgrounds. However, there is a dearth of such studies in Asia. The aim of this study was to identify the motivations and perceived barriers faced by parents in bringing their children with disabilities to inclusive playgrounds in Singapore. Findings of this study are beneficial for playground designers seeking to improve inclusive playgrounds. 12 parents (10 females, 2 males) above the age of 21 of a child with a disability below the age of 18 were recruited through purposive sampling. Semi-structured face to face interviews were conducted individually and transcribed verbatim. Resultant transcripts were coded into main and sub themes using the Constant Comparative Method. Findings revealed that social factors and physical structure of the playground were key influencing factors affecting visits to inclusive playgrounds. Other factors such as child’s level of development, safety and crowd level at the playground were also identified. Increased public education about persons with disabilities and frequent maintenance checks should be conducted to promote greater usage of inclusive playgrounds for children with disabilities and their families.