Play Spaces for Every Person
PlayCore’s Me2®: 7 Principles of Inclusive Playground Design was developed in partnership with Utah State University Center for Persons with Disabilities. This free guidebook outlines how to create play environments for people of all ages and abilities and defines how to create inclusive communities through play.
The book lists seven principles of inclusive playground design. When implemented, these principles create truly inclusive play experiences that meet the development needs of the whole child and the whole community.
Committed to Inclusion
Accessibility and inclusion are a cornerstone to GameTime’s approach to playground design. In fact, GameTime created the first commercially-available ramped play system. We believe that inclusion is more than just accessibility – it’s creating a play space that people of all ages and abilities can enjoy together. To create an inclusive space, GameTime incorporates the research outlined in Me2®, which focuses on creating a play environment that benefits the greatest number of people to the fullest extent possible.
Applying the Principles
Me2 takes the original seven principles of inclusive design, created for making public buildings accessible, and modifies them so they can be applied to a playground. It not only describes the need for inclusive play and the benefits of it, it also shows how to create universally designed play spaces that increase the “playability” for all people regardless of ability, race, age, gender, ethnicity, culture and socioeconomic background.
For GameTime, the process of creating an inclusive playground starts with a conversation. We meet with community leaders, families and inclusion advocates to identify their playground needs. This conversation informs our selection of the appropriate play components and the overall space design, ensuring it meets the physical, social-emotional, sensory, cognitive and communicative development needs of children. The research in Me2 makes it easy for GameTime and our customers to visualize the need, the solution and how an inclusive playground will benefit the whole child, the whole space and the whole community.
Partnering with GameTime
For more than 40 decades, GameTime has been committed to creating innovative inclusive products that foster meaningful play experiences for all ages and abilities. The comprehensive research and design guidelines in Me2 provide the most complete solution for developing inclusive play spaces. We also recognize that many communities don’t fully comprehend the importance or benefits of inclusive spaces, so we host workshops and symposiums to help educate park and recreation professionals, educators, landscape architects and others. During these educational outreach events, PlayCore's Center for Outreach, Research and Education (CORE) covers the research found in Me2, shares inspiring community stories and provides best practices for planning your inclusive play and recreation experience.
Be Inspired and Inspire Others
Across the world, GameTime puts the principles in Me2 into practice, bringing communities together and removing barriers to play. Our approach to inclusion is that everyone belongs, and we must be intentional in how we plan for the success and enjoyment of everyone.
We invite you to request a free copy of the Me2: 7 Principles of Inclusive Playground Design guidebook. Contact your local GameTime representative to learn more about starting your own inclusive playground!