Accessibility for wheelchair users
The surface should be designed in such a way that wheelchair users can navigate easily around the playground without encountering obstacles or uneven surfaces.
Barrierfree Playing
Inclusive Playgrounds & Barrier-Free Surfaces
Inclusion in playgrounds goes beyond an idea; it is a necessary reality that creates a positive, inclusive environment for all children. Every child has the right to actively participate in play, regardless of their abilities, background, or needs. An inclusive playground centers on the idea that diversity is enriching and that every child should have the opportunity to thrive in a supportive environment.
The benefits of inclusive playgrounds extend beyond promoting social inclusion. By providing a wide range of products that engage different senses and abilities, inclusive playgrounds enable children with diverse needs to develop their motor, sensory, and cognitive skills. At the same time, they encourage interaction with other children and create an atmosphere of understanding and tolerance.
Examples of inclusive products range from flooring for wheelchair users to low climbing elements for children with motor challenges, special sensory needs, or visual impairments. All of this contributes to physical development, teaches the value of diversity, highlights the importance of inclusion, and is ultimately a right of all children. With inclusive playgrounds, we are taking a fundamental step toward a fairer and more harmonious society.
Inclusion now!
Product examples
The “volucris1” nest swing from Stilum is an inclusive playground equipment that allows children with and without disabilities to play together. Its barrier-free design promotes social interaction and contributes to inclusion on the playground.
Our inclusive playground instrument, whose clear, harmonious tones appeal to both children with and without disabilities, promotes auditory perception and offers a sensory play experience.
Our EPDM path edging is particularly suitable for inclusive playgrounds, as it is available in high-contrast colors such as signal yellow, signal green, signal red, orange, and blue. This variety of colors allows for a clear visual demarcation of paths and play areas, especially for people with visual impairments or cognitive impairments.
Beveled safety slabs minimize tripping hazards and provide a barrier-free transition, facilitating access for wheelchair users, people with walking aids, and strollers. These slabs complement our range of safety products and contribute significantly to accessibility and inclusion in playgrounds.
Our grass grid tiles are an ideal solution for inclusive playgrounds. They provide a slip-resistant, barrier-free surface suitable for wheelchair users, strollers, and walking aids. With a fall protection height of up to 3 meters, they provide additional safety.
Core problem: the soil
Safe and barrier-free surface
Playground surfaces are an often underestimated but critical aspect of safety and accessibility, especially for children with special needs. The challenges associated with different playground surfaces are diverse and, in addition to the core requirement – ??the safety of children playing – also affect economic and ecological aspects.
Case studies related to different playground surfaces show that unsafe surfaces lead to accidents, primarily caused by falls. Fall protection is therefore an important aspect when it comes to the physical integrity and self-confidence of children – with or without disabilities. A safe and accessible surface in frequently used areas literally forms the “foundation” for ensuring a safe and positive play experience for all children.
Playground surfaces are an often underestimated but critical aspect of safety and accessibility, especially for children with special needs. The challenges associated with different playground surfaces are diverse and, in addition to the core requirement – ??the safety of children playing – also affect economic and ecological aspects.
Certain surfaces pose problems, particularly for wheelchair users. Uneven surfaces make it difficult to participate in play, prevent access to play equipment, and severely restrict mobility on playgrounds. Statistics and case studies illustrate the urgency of the problem and emphasize the need for measures to improve the surface conditions on playgrounds in Germany.
The solution to these challenges lies in improving the physical condition of the surfaces and thus in creating a conscious awareness of the importance of a safe and accessible surface. Only through these joint efforts can we ensure that children, regardless of their abilities, can move freely and safely on playgrounds and experience holistic integration. Currently, less than half of all playgrounds in this country are equipped with inclusive features.
Playgrounds by federal state
Source: Aktion Mensch
Playgrounds by federal state
Requirements
Accessible surfaces on inclusive playgrounds
Wheelchair users on playgrounds
Challenges posed by flooring
According to the graphic below, only in the federal state of Berlin have more than a third of playgrounds with inclusive features, such as barrier-free surfaces. The national average is only around 22%. This means that less than one in four playgrounds in Germany is inclusive, which presents barriers, especially for wheelchair users, that prevent them from participating in shared play. A major problem is unpaved surfaces and access routes that make mobility difficult or even impossible for wheelchair users. To create a barrier-free playground, it is therefore crucial to choose a surface that allows almost unrestricted mobility.
Proportion of inclusive playgrounds
Source: Aktion Mensch
Lawn-grating system
A sustainable solution approach
In the search for solutions for barrier-free surfaces in playgrounds, an innovative option has emerged: the grass grid slab. One of the most significant inventions among fall protection systems. Made from recycled rubber granules, this solution provides a barrier-free surface and offers ecological and numerous practical advantages.
The grass grid slab acts as a type of stabilizing surface that is simultaneously solid, permeable, and suitable for planting (48% grass surface and 50% rubber surface). Made from recycled rubber granules, it contributes to waste reduction and utilizes the material’s excellent properties. The rubber granules provide a shock-absorbing surface with a fall protection height of up to three meters, ensuring the safety of playing children and better cushioning falls.
Technical specifications and certifications guarantee the quality and safety of this solution. Grass grid slabs are easy to install and offer a robust and durable solution for a barrier-free surface that equally meets the needs of all children.
Examples of customer experiences and case studies illustrate how these grass grid tiles are successfully used in various playgrounds and contribute to creating an inclusive environment. Overall, the grass grid tiles made from recycled rubber granules offer a sustainable, effective, and environmentally friendly solution for accessible playgrounds that meets the needs of all children.
Economy
Lawn grating vs. sand & wood chips
The use of recycled rubber granulate to manufacture grass grid tiles is in line with the principles of the circular economy. Utilizing the raw material obtained from ETL (“End of Life Tires”) creates a closed loop in which resources are efficiently used and recycled. This solution thus actively supports the path to more sustainable and environmentally friendly production methods in the industrial sector.
Certification
Tested according to DIN 1176/1177
Our lawn grating systems meet the strict quality standards and safety requirements of DIN 1176. This standard defines comprehensive requirements, including fall protection, to ensure the safety of children during play activities. By complying with DIN 1176, we offer a durable and robust product in the form of grass grid panels that ensures a safe environment for play and leisure activities for children with and without disabilities.
Variation & fall height
| Product | Dimensions | Fall height | Material | Colors | Art.No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawn Grating | 45 mm | 1000 x 1000 x 45 mm | 1,50 m | colored rubber granulate |    | 152845-xx1 (depends on color) |
| Lawn Grating | 65 mm | 1000 x 1000 x 65 mm | 2,10 m | colored rubber granulate | | 152865-xx1 (depends on color) |
| Lawn Grating | 100 mm | 1000 x 1000 x 100 mm | 3,00 m | colored rubber granulate | | 152810-xx1 (depends on color) |
| EPDM Lawn Grating | 45 mm | 1000 x 1000 x 45 mm | 1,50 m | Rubber granulate with EPDM |       | 152845yy1 (depends on color) |
| EPDM Lawn Grating | 65 mm | 1000 x 1000 x 65 mm | 2,10 m | Rubber granulate with EPDM | | 152865yy1 (depends on color) |
| EPDM Lawn Grating | 100 mm | 1000 x 1000 x 100 mm | 3,00 m | Rubber granulate with EPDM | | 152810yy1 (depends on color) |
Inclusion in kindergarten
Barrier-free playing
Equal opportunities are a fundamental principle in educational institutions. Accessible playgrounds ensure equal opportunities for all children, regardless of their abilities or limitations, and promote an understanding of equality and inclusion from the outset. Children learn the value of diversity and cooperation from an early age, which contributes to an inclusive and tolerant society in the long term. Designing accessible playgrounds in kindergartens is therefore an investment in the physical environment and in the social and emotional development of children, helping them develop motor, cognitive, and social skills equally.
Including floor coverings from Stilum
from Germany
We focus on regionality and manufacture our products in Germany – guaranteed longevity and quality Made in Germany!
accordingt to DIN 1176/1177
The highest safety standards for inclusive playgrounds. All our products are carefully tested and certified according to DIN 1176/1177!
Highest quality
Discover our variety of fall protection and flooring products, manufactured to the highest quality standards!
Design
A unique, design-oriented design language for individual play spaces – that’s what stilum stands for. Always stylish, always unique.
Low maintenance
We create accessible playground experiences that require little maintenance and are designed for fun and longevity.
Design suggestions
With colorful design suggestions, we help you create a barrier-free playground for your daycare center, school or public area.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Why is promoting inclusion in playgrounds important?
Inclusion in playgrounds creates a positive and inclusive environment where all children, regardless of their abilities, backgrounds, or needs, can participate equally in play. This promotes social integration and instills values ??of equality and tolerance.
What are the main problems with surfaces in conventional playgrounds?
Conventional playground surfaces can be unsafe and cause falls. Uneven surfaces can be particularly challenging for wheelchair users. An accessible surface should be safe and suitable for various mobility devices.
What challenges do wheelchair users experience on conventional playgrounds?
Wheelchair users often encounter obstacles and have difficulty accessing playground equipment. A lack of rest areas and limited access to water and sand play areas are further challenges. An accessible playground should specifically address these aspects.
What is an innovative solution for barrier-free surfaces in playgrounds?
One innovative solution is the grass grid made of recycled rubber granulate. This not only provides a stable and safe surface but also contributes to waste reduction and a sustainable circular economy. Technical specifications and certifications guarantee the quality of this solution.
Why are barrier-free playgrounds particularly important in kindergartens?
Accessible playgrounds in kindergartens not only promote early childhood development but also ensure equal opportunities for all children. They provide a safe space for education and physical activity, combine learning through play, and promote community and cooperation from the very beginning.