New communication boards promote fun and inclusivity at East Ayrshire play parks
A series of boards that support communication have been installed across 12 East Ayrshire parks to enhance accessibility and inclusion.
The new initiative was launched through a partnership between East Ayrshire Council’s Vibrant Communities and Greener Communities services, and East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership’s speech and language therapy team.
The partners recognised the need for more communication friendly environments and the benefits this can bring to communities. Their work together resulted in the proposal for local play areas to host specially designed communication boards.
Speech, language and communication difficulties can pose significant barriers to many children and young people accessing day to day activities. Communication boards make play areas more communication friendly. They include pictures, symbols and words to support children and young people who need these to help them communicate. The boards are designed to create inclusive play spaces, where everyone can take part in play and social activities in their local community.
Ariana Thompson, East Ayrshire Speech and Language Therapy Service Manager, said: "This piece of work has been a fantastic example of collaborative working which has real benefit to children and young people and our communities. We hope that this is just the beginning and more settings will consider communication friendly approaches and become more inclusive to anyone who might need support."
East Ayrshire Council recently announced a £600K investment over the next year to support more speech, language and communications projects to help children meet their developmental milestones.
Councillor Jim McMahon, East Ayrshire Council’s spokesperson for Housing, Transport and Communities, said: “Helping children and young people to develop their communication skills is vitally important to us. This project highlights that we can do this in many different settings, while making sure all children and young people feel included in our communities and are encouraged to take part.
“Installing the communication boards will bring significant benefits for everyone who would like to enjoy the park and its facilities, and help to make sure they continue to be fun for all children and young people who visit them.”
The communication boards have been installed in 12 East Ayrshire play parks:
- Piersland, Kilmarnock
- Annanhill, Kilmarnock
- New Farm
- Hutchison Drive, Darvel
- Richardson Park, Hurlford
- Morton Park, Kilmaurs
- Woodroad Park, Cumnock
- Logan
- Dalrymple
- KGV Park, Dalmellington
- Merlin Park, Auchinleck
- Riverside Park, Catrine
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