Adaptive playground project underway
by James Moate, Endeavor News

"It would cost way too much to build a special needs playground. So, instead, we're going to try adapting an existing playground."

That's what Mary Lee Uber had to say about a project she has spearheaded and called "The Inclusive Playground Project," a local effort to adapt a playground to meet the needs of children with physical limitations.

The need became evident when she took her son to the playground at Emporium's Woodland Elementary School. It was then that she made a heartbreaking discovery.

"It didn't take long for me to realize that the playground wasn't going to work for him," she said. "So I just started thinking about how it (the playground) could be changed to fit the needs of him and others with physical challenges."

Woodland's playground wasn't in any way suited for persons with disabilities. So, about a year and a half ago, Mary Lee started a support group after finding that her son was diagnosed with autism.

Entitled the Advisory Board on Autism Related Disorders (ABOARD) or "the Board" as Mary Lee and its members refer to it, the non-profit group will have to seek the approval of the Cameron County School Board to start adapting the playground.

When she thought about it, she realized that children weren't the only ones affected by this.

"Adults with disabilities that want to take their children to the playground aren't able to because there aren't any playgrounds around that are handicap accessible. So, I thought we could make a playground usable for both children and adults."

With assistance from the Emporium Rotary and GKN, Uber's project has already started making progress. After approaching the Emporium Rotary Club and asking for a $500-600 grant through Rotary International, ABOARD also applied for a $2,500 grant on the Hometown Helper site sponsored by General Mills.

Emporium Rotary's treasurer assured Uber that the her project would be funded by the local club if the International grant fell through.

"Even if we install a couple of pieces a year, it will still be better than what we have now," says Uber, who started the project to give children with disabilities "a place where they can have fun with all of the other kids."

This newly adapted playground won't be just for people with permanent injuries and disabilities but also for people suffering from temporary injuries such as broken bones.

Already, thanks to a $1,000 donation by GKN, an adaptive swing, called a hammock swing, has been purchased through the Rotary. Some other citizens have also made small donations in the $10 to $25 range.

Next on the list of things to buy is a slide. Mary Lee says the slide will be "not too tall and have stairs instead of steps." She aslso said "it will have high sides for kids with little or no body control."

Anyone who wishes to make a donation can do so through Northwest Savings Bank in Emporium. Simply go to the bank and make the donation to the Inclusive Playground Project Fund or call Mary Lee Uber at 486- 3034.