Including playgrounds: Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen remains!

Including playgrounds: Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen remains!

in Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen there is an outcry for more inclusion! Maria-Kristin Kistler, the 34-year-old inclusion and social planner at the district office, has been fighting for barrier-free playgrounds since 2018. In a gripping information event, she examined the challenges and opportunities for including playgrounds in the district. A topic that is not only important, but also urgent!

But what does the reality look like? Kistler admits: "I can't think of a playground that is really inclusive from front to back." Instead, children with disabilities often have to switch to Miesbach, where an almost barrier -free playground is waiting for them. The reason for the defective situation in your own district? "The topic is simply not so present in the mind," she explains. Inclusion is often perceived as a financial problem, although studies show that barrier -free construction is only minimally more expensive.

The hurdles of inclusion

The biggest hurdle? The lack of awareness of the importance of inclusion! Kistler criticizes the fact that the focus is often on nature -related playgrounds, while the needs of children with disabilities are pushed into the background. "There are initiatives, but the focus is often on tree varieties and wood chips, not on inclusive aspects," says Kistler. The planning status of inclusive playgrounds is sobering: "There is no uniform plan, which is the responsibility of the communities." But some communities begin to set off.

What could the perfect inclusive playground look like? Kistler has a vision: "Not everyone has to be able to do everything, but everyone should at least be able to do something." Barrier -free access, well thought -out color design for sensory impaired and play equipment that is accessible to everyone - these are the cornerstones of their performance. A lively, used playground that promotes encounters between people with and without disabilities. A place where inclusion is not just a word, but lived reality!