FAQ’s for Accessible Playgrounds-Are They Enforceable?
As law, no they haven’t been enforced–yet. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. In 2000, the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board issued a final rule in the form of accessibility guidelines to serve as the basis for standards to be adopted by the Department of Justice for new construction and alterations of play areas by the ADA.–as from the National Program for Playground Safety website.
These guidelines have not been adopted by law, but they provide playground operators with a blueprint for an accessible playground.
Accessibility Guidelines for Play Areas: An Overview
Are these amendments enforceable at this time?
No. The ADA design standards are developed in a two step process. They are first published by the Access Board as a minimum guideline for the Department of Justice (DOJ). DOJ is responsible for adopting enforceable standards that are consistent with the Board’s minimum guidelines. Currently, these final guidelines are not yet part of DOJ’s enforceable standard. However, people may wish to consult the guidelines in the interim since the current enforceable standard does not specifically address play areas. (The absence of specific provisions in the current standards does not mean that play areas are exempt from the provision of access under the ADA; rather, it means that play areas are not held to a specific level of access under the current standard).
Definitions
Several defined terms are key to understanding the guidelines. These include “play components,” which are manufactured or natural elements used for play, socialization, or learning. Two types of play components are distinguished: ground level and elevated.
Ground level play components are those approached and exited at ground level, such as spring rockers, swings, and stand-alone climbers (left).
Elevated play components are approached above or below grade and are part of composite structures that provide a variety of play activities (right).
Minimum Number
The guidelines require looking at play areas as a collection of individual play components to determine the minimum amount required to be accessible. Minimum requirements are based on the number of components provided for a play area.
Ground Level Play Components
There are two criteria for ground level play components which must be met, although the same accessible components can be used to satisfy both:
- access it required to at least one of each type provided
- the minimum number and variety is also determined by the number of elevated play components provided.
Get complete ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) for Play Areas here.
Mara Kaplan, Let Kids Play, also has a wonderful site on accessible playgrounds
Don’t forget to reference the Fundraising Resources page on the top right tab, for products and resources to help you with your playground fundraiser. If you are planning an accessible playground in the Southeast and would like design advice, for meeting accessibility guidelines please contact us.
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For over 7 years, I've been a recreation advocate and playground and park design consultant. Father to 2 little ones, and husband to my wife who is a pediatric Occupational Therapist, I've taken a very personal interest in designing inclusive playground environments to clients looking for a cost-effective, dynamic and challenging recreation environment for kids of all abilities to soar on.
