The inclusive playgrounds being implemented in Valley View Elementary School are aimed at creating a space for special education students, allowing them to maneuver the excitement of recess with an advantage in accessibility. Haley Duerr is currently the assistant principal at Wadsworth Middle School and the person who orchestrated the all-inclusive playgrounds. Through this, Duerr and members of Valley View Elementary School hope to provide a playground that eliminates physical and social barriers so that all children, regardless of their disability, can play side by side with their peers. Duerr hopes that adding this will create a stronger bond between the students regardless of physical inabilities
“Our current playground does not offer accessible options for students with wheelchairs, walkers, SMOs orthotics, or other orthopedic challenges,” Duerr said.
Duerr presented a recent study claiming that 74 percent of parents believe it is important that their children have an opportunity to play with a variety of children including those that may be physically impaired. This might come with economic advancements, and Duerr hopes that in the future, this playground will become a destination for neighboring community members to enjoy.
Duerr and many others involved are able to achieve this goal by receiving funding from the GPD Foundation grant and a grant from the state of Ohio, with the support of State Representative and Wadsworth local Sharon Ray.
Mallory Adams, an intervention specialist, is excited about this new addition to the Valley View playground. Some of the students want to be independent on the playground and to be with their peers but because of the ground or certain areas of the playground that are high up or include stairs is really a struggle. The features of this new playground will also support students who might struggle behaviorally and need sound or visual play. We are so thankful and so excited to have this at our school so our students can really look forward to playing and learning how to be more independent.
The adaptive playground being put in is for all students to enjoy, however the playground was made so students with disabilities have a greater ability to play with their peers.
“We are very excited to get this new playground that will be accessible for students who might have some mobility challenges and that will really just be inclusive so all students can join together and play,” Adams said.
As of now, there are wood chips on the ground that are accessible to students with braces, wheelchairs, or other mobility challenges. Kids attending Valley View Elementary who have mobility issues wanted to be independent on the playground and be with their peers.
“Because of the ground or certain areas of the playground that are high up or include stairs, it is really a struggle,” Adams said.

Adams is hoping that these playgrounds will inspire other schools and encourage the community to be more inclusive to all.
“Our district and our principal, Keri Hamsher, are always looking for ways to be inclusive,” Adams said.
While there are many pros of installing these inclusive playgrounds the cons of how this will be funded come as well with the cost of everything. As of now Valley View staff and students are looking forward to the playgrounds being installed.
“My hope is that all students can have fun while at recess and make school even more enjoyable and fun,” Adams said. “As an intervention specialist, my hope for this playground is that everyone can interact and meet our students with disabilities and truly see all of their capabilities, how smart and amazing they are.”