Attitudes of Key Persons to Accessibility Problems in Playgrounds for Children with Restricted Mobility: A Study in a Medium-sized Municipality in Northern Sweden

Abstract

Playgrounds are an important outdoor environment for children. Yet few playgrounds are designed to be accessible to children with restricted mobility. In this study the child with restricted mobility is defined as one who is unable to move around without the aid of a wheelchair, walking-frame, walking-stick or other walking device. The purpose of the study was to explore the attitudes to accessibility problems in playgrounds among two groups of key persons: ?creators? and ?users of playgrounds? in a medium-sized municipality in northern Sweden. Eleven key persons (5 ?creators of playgrounds? and 6 ?users of playgrounds?) were interviewed in a semi-structured interview. The interviews were analysed according to content analysis and could be coded under different themes. The results showed that those who created playgrounds had (i) a fragmented organization, (ii) insufficient knowledge of disabilities, (iii) poor economy, and (iv) attitudes as an obstacle. Interviews with the users of the playgrounds were coded under two themes (i) the playground is not for me (i.e. for children with restricted mobility) and (ii) assistance is a precondition for accessibility. The results were discussed in the light of how the inaccessibility of play environments can affect the development of children with restricted mobility, and affect their possibilities of a life on a par with that of other children.