My first understanding of inclusive education and play hit me when I was just 14 years old.  In ninth grade, I met my now lifelong friend Jamie, who attended school alongside me with his ASL interpreter.  We did a lot together and learned a lot too.  Back then, Jamie taught me sign language and many other ways more important things.  Because of him, I realized that every child deserves the chance to explore, learn, and have fun on their terms. Fast forward 35 years, when I first set foot in the Taft Early Learning Center's preschool playground. It was immediately apparent that the existing play structures were unsuitable for our youngest children or those with special needs. This revelation sparked a mission to make the playground accessible for all students at the Taft, regardless of their age or abilities.

At the preschool playground in August of last year, I was struck by the sheer size of the play equipment. While impressive, it was evident that the structures were far too big and intimidating for our three-year-olds. This oversight, unfortunately, meant that many of our young students were missing out on essential play experiences, which are crucial for developing critical skills like socialization, problem-solving, and fine motor development.

Moreover, the playground lacks accommodations for children with ambulatory, vision, or balance challenges. This lack of accessibility bars many of our students from fully participating in outdoor play, further alienating them from their peers.

We are now really close to making a change in bringing accessible playgrounds to the Taft Early Learning Center – and by moving the preschool playground out of the courtyard bringing accessible playgrounds to the entire Town. Should the Town vote to support this endeavor, our stakeholders can explore and select various aspects of inclusive playground design, including equipment types, sitting spaces, and more.

When we brought this initiative to the Town’s Capital Committee, I was astounded by their unanimous approval of moving forward with ours and the Town’s request for $220,000.00 for this project.  Tonight, the project earned the unanimous support of the Town’s Finance Committee, and last night four out of five of our Board of Selectmen voted in favor.  The final step in this process will be the Town’s vote on May 9th at 7:00 PM. 

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PLANNING DOCUMENT

Should the Town vote to approve, we will assemble a team of stakeholders – which includes our children – to work with our local playground representatives and envision what Phase I of our project will look like when it is installed.  You can click on the link above to see a copy of our proposal for the project to learn more.  And as always, feel free to E-mail me at mbaldassarre@uxbridge.k12.org if you’d like to know more or have ideas, suggestions, or questions. 

The impact of this project on our school culture will be profound, as children of all abilities will have the opportunity to play, learn, and grow together in a safe and inclusive environment. This project will not only transform the physical landscape of our playground, but it will also foster a greater sense of belonging and understanding among students, staff, and parents at the Taft Early Learning Center.