Developing Accessible Play Space in the UK

A Social Model Approach

Abstract

In 2003, the UK Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) commissioned a nonstatutory good practice guide on accessible play space. Developing Accessible Play Space: A Good Practice Guide published by ODPM in November 2003, gives advice which can be tailored to individual settings on developing accessible play space disabled children can use. This paper describes the research conducted to inform development of the Guide. Key objectives of the research undertaken were to review current practice relating to accessible play space for disabled children and to advise play space providers on improving accessibility. The approach taken to this project was based on the social model of disability that focuses on the barriers encountered by people viewed as having impairments. This approach encourages play space providers to concentrate on dismantling barriers that create segregation, exclusion and disablement rather than worrying about the complexities of impairment.