Inclusive design for play and physical activity

Play and physical activity are widely recognized as essential to children’s development, health, and participation. Yet many public playgrounds and recreation facilities are still inadequately designed with inclusive design in mind. This limits access and meaningful use for many children and young people with disabilities. In our view, much of this can be addressed through relatively simple measures, without necessarily increasing project costs.

An exciting playground for a wide range of abilities

A question many people ask is how to create an exciting playground that is also accessible to children and young people with disabilities and other variations in ability.As developers, we look for opportunities within constraints. We work to ensure that everyone can find something they can manage and enjoy on their own terms. We emphasize free, self-directed physical activity to stimulate children’s creativity and help them push their personal boundaries.While we develop play and activity equipment that challenges children’s courage and movement skills, every element is designed to be used in multiple ways and to provide easy access. In this way, we aim to enable as many people as possible to take part—based on their own needs, strengths, and limitations—and to allow for a support person to participate alongside them when needed.

We believe this approach is constructive when creating play and activity areas that work for a wide age range, for all genders, and for children and young people with diverse abilities.

When children who use wheelchairs play alongside non-disabled children at the playground, it creates important value.

When children who use wheelchairs play alongside non-disabled children at the playground, it creates important value. Experiencing it firsthand—feeling it in your body, seeing it, and accepting the different strengths and limitations we all have—can leave a lasting impression. In these shared moments, children learn respect and humility for human diversity. It can spark curiosity and inventiveness, and sometimes even create moments of magic. What matters most is not being able to jump as high, but being able to feel the same joy and smile just as widely.

Rampline’s five simple steps for inclusive playgrounds

Better together

Low height and easy access

When play equipment is easy to access, it becomes natural, simple, and fun for children to help each other. Some need support throughout an activity, while others may only need a steady hand at the start.

We recommend equipment that lets children begin without climbing and makes it easy for a support person to join when needed. This helps more children take part.

Play can still be exciting and challenging with low-height equipment, as long as it offers multiple ways to play, varied challenges, and opportunities for risk-taking at different levels.

Accessibility

wheelchair-friendly surfacing

Soft, loose surfacing can prevent many children from joining in, especially those with limited mobility. We recommend firm, wheelchair-friendly surfaces so more children can take part.

Common options include artificial turf and rubber surfacing, as well as ShockDeck™, a wood-based, eco-friendly alternative.

open-ended equipment

Variety and room for creativity

Children naturally seek different kinds of challenges. Some love climbing and higher levels of risk, while others prefer to keep their feet safely on the ground. By offering a mix of equipment for balance, climbing, gymnastics, and more, we can get more children moving and engaged.

We also recommend equipment that invites open-ended play, meaning it can be used in many different ways, on children’s own terms. This creates far more possibilities, regardless of a child’s abilities and experience.

Trampoline play

The play activity everyone loves

Slow or fast, small bounces or sky-high flips seem to matter little, because this is the kind of play children of all ages love!

The great thing is that high-quality trampolines are available in the right sizes and with safe, easy access. That makes trampoline play user-friendly and appealing on playgrounds, including for children who use wheelchairs.

Read more on our page about quality trampolines for playgrounds and recreation facilities.

A wheelchair takes up more space than two feet

Space to move

For children who use wheelchairs, being able to turn easily and having generous clearance from edges and obstacles is essential for both confidence and safety in play. A good rule of thumb is to consider where narrow passages might feel unsafe, and to design routes so a wheelchair can change direction smoothly without frequent stops or bumps into barriers.

Balance challenges for all ability levels

Balance is fundamental to every movement we make. Practising balance regularly is important, especially for people with motor challenges. Rampline’s Motor Skills Parks are in a class of their own when it comes to training and developing balance. You can read more about our motor skills park concept and the importance of balance in our article Superkraften

Practising balance regularly is important, especially for those with motor challenges.

Balance training can be done in many ways. People who already have strong balance and body control will always find new challenges with Rampline’s equipment. For those with disabilities, poor balance, limited strength or endurance, or reduced vision, it is still very possible to challenge balance, for example by using Rampball balance spheres in different ways: sitting or lying down, with or without assistance. This provides great stimulation for core muscles and helps develop balance skills.

On the balance line, children can play in many different ways with real training benefits, for example sitting on the line, or standing and balancing in the middle, with or without a helping hand. You can also start balance training on the wavy FloatingBench™ benches or the slightly narrower BalanceBuddy™ balance beams, moving with or without speed, and then gradually increase the level of challenge.

In this way, everyone can experience mastery and progress at their own level. The result is a playground where children can play together on their own terms.

What is universal And inclusive design?

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities provides the following definition of universal design:

Universal design means the design of products, environments, programmes and services to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design

An interdisciplinary working group at the Center for Universal Design in the United States developed the Seven Principles of Universal Design, which are also an important reference point in Norway.

You can read more about universal design on the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs (Bufdir) website.

How do children with diverse abilities experience the PLAYGROUND?

Meet Magnus, Martine, and Ella on their hunt for inclusive play!

Three young people who know a lot about inclusive design and playgrounds.
(norwegian page)