The first of 20 brand-new inclusive communication boards to feature at playspaces throughout the Playford community has been installed at Peerless Reserve in Munno Para West.
The boards feature Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) pictorial symbols which showcase key phrases and activities to be enjoyed at each location, while the inclusion of Braille and Auslan interpretations will provide people with speech and communication difficulties more opportunities to engage in outdoor spaces.
The boards incorporate 28 AAC symbols, five Auslan symbols and braille interpretation for all symbols displayed.
The project will assist in ensuring our public spaces, such as parks and playgrounds, across the area are safe and accessible for our community, while also encouraging visitors to use the board to enhance playground chat.
With more than 8 per cent of Playford's population living with a disability, Playford Mayor Glenn Docherty is proud to play a key role in providing these residents with greater support to participate in outdoor leisure and play areas.
"I am excited to unveil the first of 20 communication boards which residents will notice popping up across Playford's outdoor areas in the months ahead," Mayor Docherty said.
"We need to ensure we continue to deliver places for connection which suit the needs of all members in our community. It is even more important we continuously assess and reshape these existing places to suit the needs of residents.
"The communication boards support our responsibility to improve experiences for people living with a disability in our community. We have a proud history of providing creative and innovative ways to enhance community connection."
Playspace visitors can express their needs, wants, thoughts and ideas, by using the communication boards and a QR code is also featured to provide a digital version.
Playford Alive resident Aiden Coyne brings her 8-year-old twin daughters Isla and Thea to Peerless Reserve regularly and says the boards will provide another opportunity for social engagement.
"It is a fantastic idea. My girls are very open to meeting other children and the communication boards will help provide a safe space for children to play together," Ms Coyne said.
"It is something we need in this local area, there are a lot of children living with disability and it is important everyone has a place to play safely and feel included."
The communication board design was decided upon in collaboration with the City of Playford's Access and Social Inclusion Advisory Group.
A consultation session was held to select pictorial symbols for the boards, ensuring they meet diverse communication needs. ASIAG members provided valuable input on a set of standard symbols for consistency across all parks and contributed to selecting park-specific symbols to reflect unique amenities and features.
Council has allocated funds to bring the project to life at various playspaces throughout Playford and aims to complete the installations by 30 June 2025.
