Michelle Potter believes Remington’s new inclusive playground will be a game-changer for kids with disabilities, and their families.
“It’s been especially gratifying for me to be on the committee to build Remington’s new, inclusive playground,” says Michelle Potter, of Rensselaer. “My husband John and I have a son, Wesley, who is almost 14 and has disabilities. Wesley primarily has mobility issues and challenges with his vision, and it has been difficult over the years to find playgrounds and play areas nearby that offer appropriate recreational opportunities for him.
There are a lot of local families who’ve shared this frustration, and it’s a good feeling to be involved in a project that will help not just our son, but others in our community with disabilities and those who love and care for them. One experience I’ve had, which I’ll never forget, really sums up the welcoming feeling of being involved in this project. I had a park committee meeting to get to one day in Remington, and due to changes in my day, I realized that if I were to make the meeting, I’d have to bring Wesley there with me.
I emailed Remington’s Town Manager, Jonathan Cripe, to inform him of the situation, and his response floored me. There were numerous, perfectly appropriate ways Jonathan could have responded to my email. It would have been perfectly appropriate for him to share concern about how Wesley’s presence might affect the meeting; it would have even been appropriate for him to politely encourage me to find another solution. There was no awkward silence, and no time for me to contemplate what his reaction might be, because, in what must have been less than 30 seconds, Jonathan replied: “Wesley is always welcome in Remington.”
Opportunities for fun, and social growth
“The purpose of an inclusive playground is just like it sounds. It aims to include everyone and exclude no one. Wesley, for example, struggles greatly with mobility on uneven surfaces and has a hard time with his vision. Remington’s new playground features flat, smooth surfaces that can better accommodate Wesley and other kids with mobility challenges. The playground also features enough space so kids like Wesley, who may not have the peripheral vision to see other kids running or approaching, can play safely. There will be more equipment kids like Wesley can use and enjoy on their own, and a lot of shaded areas where kids and parents can keep cool in the warmer months.
On top of important recreational benefits, the inclusive playground will also provide crucial opportunities for kids like Wesley to interact with other kids—other kids with challenges and disabilities, and other kids who are not disabled. Living with disabilities can feel very isolating, and a playground like this offers a rare opportunity for a child with physical, mental, or emotional challenges to play with all types of kids, feel included, and grow socially through those interactions and experiences. Those experiences and interactions are also beneficial learning and growing opportunities for kids who are not disabled. In that way, having an inclusive playground truly benefits everyone in the community.
Being able to do anything independently makes Wesley very happy, and Remington’s new playground will provide those opportunities. He’s so used to needing someone to always be with him; the thought of being able to do something with other kids is very freeing for him. When he’s able to demonstrate independence and feel some freedom and happiness, it’s very exciting, and very emotional, for us.”
Taking nothing for granted
“I think, sometimes, people with healthy children tend to take that health for granted. They may be able to walk to their local park with their child and sit there on the bench with their phone or a book while the child, within earshot, plays as they wish. When you know the other side of the coin, you realize just how challenging and intense circumstances can be. Over the years we’ve routinely driven more than one hour away—to places like Valparaiso and Lafayette—just to find the closest parks and playgrounds with some recreational options for Wesley.
Closer to home, we’ve found areas with very basic offerings; such as playgrounds with the large, plastic-molded swings. Wesley loves those swings, they’re a favorite of his. But those swings offer a fairly solitary experience, and as Wesley gets older we know how important it is for him to have the chance to not just play but to interact socially and have a chance to grow in that way.
It’s also important to understand that having a child with disabilities can be very isolating for parents, as well. You tend to spend so much time at the doctor, or the hospital, or other medical facilities, and you can start to feel enveloped in the ‘circle of disabilities.’ Inclusive playgrounds, like Remington’s, provide opportunities for parents like John and I to interact with other parents; not just the parents of other kids with disabilities, but parents of all types of kids. It is particularly strengthening, and invigorating, to have those social interactions with the parents of other kids.”
The power of community
“I can’t say enough about Jonathan and his team. They have undertaken this project in a way that demonstrates they truly understand the importance of this playground for the community. All suggestions have been taken seriously, and they’ve sought input from folks like myself and others who have personal experience and understand, firsthand, the challenges of providing essential recreational opportunities for kids with disabilities.
One of the best things about Remington’s inclusive playground—aside from surfaces, spaces, and equipment that better accommodate kids like Wesley, and aside from the pure joy it is going to bring—will be its mere existence. Just by existing, before anyone even enters the playground or rides on a swing, this new, inclusive space in Remington solidifies and confirms the notion that all kids deserve the chance to play with others and enjoy themselves.
Additionally, for parents who have kids with disabilities, the mere existence of the playground makes us feel seen and heard. It is a constant, unmoving reminder that parents like John and I are not just on our own and completely isolated in tending to the unique and specific needs of our children. The playground lets us know, without a doubt, that our community cares and has our back.”
Fun For Everyone
“The past couple of years, we’ve witnessed that more people are understanding the need for greater inclusivity. Communities like DeMotte, and now Rensselaer, offer inclusive baseball leagues. That is something Wesley has really loved over the past few years, and our older son—16-year-old Grant—has enjoyed being his baseball helper. We’ve also seen inclusive soccer leagues and other sporting events start to emerge throughout the region. As this idea of inclusivity becomes more a part of our everyday vernacular, it increases the likelihood of kids like Wesley having fuller and more meaningful lives. For John and I, having this inclusive playground in Remington, just a few minutes away, is going to be so uplifting. And for our boys it’s such a blessing—it’s wonderful to know there will be a playground where they can safely play in the same space together.
It’s hard to put into words just how good it feels to know Wesley will have a place close to home where he can be a kid, have fun, and play with others: just like everyone else.”
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