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Children with visual and hearing needs will be included in a new Newry, Mourne and Down District Council plan to make its play parks more accessible.
The Council’s Active and Healthy Communities committee, has this week pledged to “roll out” new communication boards for greater inclusivity across the district.
The additional signage will allow for children who need to read braille or other signage to identify appliances such as swings and slides and safely join in play time with their peers.
Newry City councillor Doire Finn said: “I think the idea of communication boards has increased the play value at other council parks.
“I have been in touch with our council just in relation to communication boards that could potentially go up at children’s play parks.
“I have seen a lot of them in Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon council and there are different communication boards that have gone up with braille or sign language on them.
“Is this something that could be looked at going forward? It just makes play parks more accessible for more children across the district.”
A council officer responded: “This is something that has been taken on board recently with our play parks.
“It is now part of our development to have communication boards with braille and signage for all spectrums of children to utilise and use the equipment.
“We are starting to roll that out on new parks and the existing parks that we rolled out last year for the communication boards to be installed.”
Mournes councillor Jill Truesdale added: “The communication boards in play parks was a motion I brought through council a while back.
“So, it is really good to hear that they are now starting to be rolled out. This is a real positive for children.”
