AboutBob Meihaus Expertise I can provide experienced answers, options, solutions and personal opinion on almost any topic concerning children`s playgrounds residential or commercial. Including questions on design, construction, maintenance, groundcover, accesiblity and most importantly safety.
Experience For 23 years owner of custom design and build playground company. Over that time designed and built thousands of residential and commercial play structures.
Organizations Certified Safety Inspector and member ASTM committees on playground safety for commercial and residential play areas.
Question As an occupational therapist, I know the beneficial relationship between movement and learning. I am struggling to create a playground at a small charter school for autistic children. Budget issues, safety standards, equipment choices most helpful to children with autism, etc. I guess I am asking for input re: how to start this effort and how to get the help and possible funding to help me pull it off...Thank You, Frances.
Answer Frances, cannot be of much help with the funding issue, there are other more knowledgeable and helpful resource for that part of your project. Design a great space and the money will follow, usually. As for the best design and equipment for such a special needs play environment, that I might be able to help you with. First you have to start with the correct approach. Good chance you are not going to find the answers you are looking for in one particular Manufactures Catalogue. Actually,you have all the information and resources you need with the staff and specialists at the school itself. With this type of special needs child, play time has to also be learning time. You have to start thinking about what these children can do and learn rather then try to fit them to the same mold and expectations that you would have for a child that was not autistic. Talk with the staff, they know the children's abilities and talents better than any sales man. Sit down with the staff, interested parents and if you can find one? a really good and knowledgeable Designer and design a outdoor environment that concentrates on what these children can achieve and have fun with and do not waste time or resource on things they cannot. Most likely the best solutions will not come from and have little to do with things you find in a Catalogue. Frances this is no easy task you are taking on, there are so many differing opinions and so called experts, it is not easy to filter it all out. Most often others have fallen way short of achieving really successful and meaningful solutions. Keep in mind that more often then not the simplest solutions are the best. Nature, sand , water, movement, sound, smell things they can manipulate, tasks they can accomplish, repetition. Good luck, Bob, I hope this in some small way gets you kick started in the right direction.
