A reader has contacted La Voz to request improvements in the adaptation of playgrounds to guarantee the safety of children with autism in Lanzarote.
The relative of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) assures that "only a few parks currently offer the minimum safety conditions they require on the island."
"My nephew, like so many other children with autism, needs to play, explore, enjoy... but he also needs security that is not always guaranteed in many of the island's public children's spaces. And it's not just about accessible swings or cushioning floors, which are also important and mandatory according to regulations, but about something as basic as a secure perimeter fence that prevents these children, who do not recognize danger like others, from running towards a nearby road or highway," he points out.
In this sense, the reader points out that "it is not about overprotecting, but about giving them an environment in which they can play freely and calmly, without their relatives having to be in a constant state of alert, fearing that a lapse of a second will end in tragedy."
In addition, he explains that "many of these children do not heed risk reasons, do not understand the danger of traffic or react to calls for attention. Therefore, the design of the parks must take into account their particular way of experiencing the world."
Measures they propose
As the complainant points out, "in other regions of Spain and Europe, inclusive design criteria that contemplate these realities are already being applied. Guides such as the one from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) laboratory or campaigns such as Play for All in the United Kingdom are paving the way towards a truly inclusive childhood."
Among the measures they propose are clear and predictable routes with visually differentiated flooring, calm areas where children can retreat if they feel overstimulated, simple visual signage and pictograms, games designed in collaboration with families and therapists, secure perimeter fences to avoid risks, inclusion of sensory games or accessibility for any child.
"Here in Lanzarote we have the opportunity and the responsibility to take a step forward because we are not talking about privileges, but about real equality of opportunity for children because there is no inclusion without security. And because public parks must be, by definition, for everyone," he says.
"We are not asking for luxuries or theme parks, just spaces designed so that children like my nephew can enjoy themselves like any other. It would be desirable for the local administrations of the island to approach families, listen to their needs, have the advice of professionals and start taking steps in this direction. Children with ASD also deserve to run, laugh and play, but without it becoming a situation of constant risk," he concludes.
