Placemaking: How to build kinship and inclusive park spaces for children with disabilities

As the dad of a daughter who experiences disabilities and as a professional who has spent his career working in National, state and city parks conserving nature and designing parks, I’ve found my professional and personal life at odds. My career path has focused on park planning, park design, visitor experience, land management and environmental conservation. However, much of the great work I believed I was doing in my job seemed to only create additional barriers for my daughter to access nature, from added steps on trails to inaccessible environmental education programs.

Over the years, Lydia has inspired me to think of and conceptualize accessibility in new ways within my professional role as the park planning manager at the City of Boulder, Colorado. She has been a crucial influence in this journey to ensure that not only she, but all children can universally access the many benefits of being in nature.

This is a very thoughtful article written by a father a child with disabilities who loves nature and would like to increase access and activities for children with disabilities in nature. Read this article for ideas and strategies to expand your thinking about how to enjoy and play in nature using universal design and a range of senses that we don’t always think about.

Mindfulness with Young Children (Video)

Yoga, meditation, and other mindfulness practices can have powerful effects on children’s ability to self-regulate, interact with their peers, and attend to school.

In this video, mindfulness expert Dr. Martha Goldstein-Schultz, preschool teachers Emily Grogan and Amy Figueroa, and 3rd grade teacher Erin Trudeau describe how to build simple mindfulness practices into the school day.

Theater Games for Morning Meetings

These games can spark creativity, boost engagement, and teach important executive function skills such as turn-taking.

My Mental Health: Do I Need Help? National Institute of Mental Health Infographic (PDF)

This helpful guide not only offers a self-assessment, but also provides strategies for next steps depending on your needs. It includes self-care activities and referrals to additional resources.

Road Map to Mental Health (PDF)

Mental health is all around us, but it’s often misunderstood. Here is some quick info to help demystify what we mean by “mental health” and how to talk about it.

The Roadmap to Mental Health explains what mental health is and the difference between mental health, mental wellness and mental fitness and provides resources to address the unique needs of specific groups of people. This downloadable pdf provides an infographic that you can share with others to promote mental health and reduce stigma.

Find Support SAMSHSA

In May 2023 HHS launched a new website, FindSupport.gov, to help individuals navigate toward better behavioral health, such as how to ask for help, how to help others, and how to search for a health care professional or support program that meets your needs regardless of insurance status. It also includes crisis line numbers to help you access help immediately.

For Educators: Taking Care of Yourself, Tips for Educators in Building Resilience

“As an educator and caring grown-up in children’s lives, your work has deep value and meaning. It also, of course, has its challenges! The grace, care, and kindness that you bring to these challenges all make an enormous impact on your life and the lives of the children you serve…….We work hard every day to meet children’s needs, but we’re vulnerable too. As members of a helping profession, we sometimes forget we need help as well.”

Read the article by April Solomon-Tate of First Up to learn about ideas you can use in the moment to support your own emotional health and well-being.

Morgan’s Wonderland, The One and Only Ultra-Accessible™ Theme Park

In 2006, Gordon Hartman observed his daughter, Morgan, wanting to play with other vacationing kids at a hotel swimming pool, but the kids were leery of Morgan and didn’t want to interact with her. Then and there, Gordon resolved to create opportunities and places where those with and without disabilities can come together for fun and a better understanding of one another. On April 10, 2010, Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio, Texas became the world’s first theme park designed with individuals with special needs in mind.

Morgan’s Wonderland offers 25 Ultra-Accessible™ attractions, sprawled across a 25-acre oasis of inclusion. From a wheelchair-accessible Ferris wheel to catch-and-release fishing, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy!

In 2017, the Ultra-Accessible™ theme park opened it’s expansion, Morgan’s Inspiration Island, which was named on the 2018 “World’s Greatest Places” list by TIME Magazine.

Guided by its mission of inclusion, the park strives to bring together guests of all ages and all abilities through the power of inclusive play.

Visit Morgan’s Wonderland website to learn about the Ultra-Accessible park and watch this CBS News Feature to hear the story of how and why Morgan’s Wonderland was built:

“He didn’t want his daughter, who has cognitive and physical disabilities, to feel left out. So, he built a fully accessible theme park“

How Do Vaccines Work? (Video)

All of us are exposed to germs, every day. Some can be dangerous and make kids very sick, such as measles, polio and diphtheria. For that reason, vaccination is the best way to protect your child from preventable illnesses. Learn how vaccines teach your child’s immune system to recognize and protect against dangerous diseases.

Video chapters:

Learn more https://www.healthychildren.org/

Ask the Pediatrician: COVID-19 Round-Up

Who Can Parents Trust to Answer Questions About COVID-19? A Pediatrician! This post of the American of Academy of Pediatric’s website, Healthy Children, answers questions from parents about COVID-19 and how it affects children.

Placemaking: How to build kinship and inclusive park spaces for children with disabilities