The Children at Play Network welcomes aboard Ashley Byrd, a doctoral capstone project student from Spalding University Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy. Under the direction of associate professor Dr. Laura Stimler, Ashley will assist Bernheim in making sure that Playcosystem addresses the needs of individuals with mobility challenges or other conditions that affect accessibility. Outdoor play benefits everyone, but only if everyone can access the various elements of play. It’s a difficult challenge to make some aspects of play easily enjoyable by all but it’s a challenge worth exploring.
In the first four weeks of her 14-week capstone Ashley will conduct an audit of all of our facilities through the lens of an occupational therapist. Then her focus will shift to Playcosystem where the goal will be to identify three thoughtful ways that the next phases of the playground project might be inviting to people with limited mobility.
We hope that this new relationship with Spalding might open up the door to future Spalding students that can help us incrementally move toward play for all.