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Users design the play space

“Merry-go-rounds must be designed to accommodate a wheel chair; they should have seats”

Believing that children have valuable opinions on matters that affect their lives and their well-being, Kilikili took 32 children with disabilities to Coles Park (on 1st Dec, 2005) and requested them to suggest the modifications which will make the play experience complete for them. The children, using their immense creativity drew, made clay models and talked about their Dream Park. They amazed us with not only suggesting modifications needed to make the park accessible but by offering suggestions in the areas of maintenance, the overall environment etc. For a more detailed report, please see….

Parents and professionals who work with children with different abilities were also invited to offer their suggestions, which was put together by a design team consisting of a parent, a special educator, a developmental pediatrician and an architect. The proposed plan was then submitted to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) – the local city government.

Partnering/Working with the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)

“Equipment should be maintained well to ensure safety – e.g. broken swings should be repaired immediately"

Kilikili believes in working with the government to ensure that children’s right to inclusive play is met. Our model stresses on building a partnership with the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike – the local Municipal Corporation and working together to develop inclusive play spaces.

The BBMP has been extending its cooperation and support to Kilikili. We have been in regular discussion with all levels of the BBMP with the aim of building greater sensitivity to play needs of all children and especially of children with disabilities. We have also conducted a Workshop for all the concerned officials from all the BBMP Zones on extending the project to other parks. We are in discussion with the BBMP to make six more parks accessible.

We would like to acknowledge that none of these projects could have taken off without the support received from the BBMP.