Lien Foundation's Inclusive Attitudes Study in 2016 found that almost half of the parents of children with special needs indicated that their children did not have friends without special needs, due to the lack of a conducive environment.
 

Social Benefits Learning to respond to others and understanding their needs through sharing and taking turns	Physical Benefits Developing fine and gross motor skills, body awareness, and building or maintaining energy, flexibility, and muscular strengt
Emotional Benefits Form of expression and management of one's feelings while playing with others	Creative Benefits Creating internal imagery, stimulate curiosity and improves adaptation and child experiments with alterntive responses to different situations.

To ensure that the playground is inclusive, NCSS has initiated several dialog sessions to identify how the different spaces in the playground can be designed and used optimally. These engagement sessions have enabled NCSS to come up with a clear vision and plans for the playground.

• Accessibility consultant and inclusive play experts to look into placement of play equipment and design of the area so as to maximise inclusion

 

• Therapists from Special Education Schools and Social Service Agencies to understand concerns of our target clients and identify play equipment which are suitable for their disabilities’ types and beneficial to their development.

 

• Children with special needs to indicate their “favourite” playground equipment.
   

DID YOU KNOW?

The wheelchair swing and wheelchair accessible-merry go round are the first of its kind to be installed in Singapore
 

Wheelchair swing Installed at:

Accessible Merry-go-round installed at:

•   West Coast Park

Children in Action (CIA), is an initiative of the National Council of Social Service (NCSS). Launched in August 2015, CIA brought children with and without special needs to play together at inclusive playground. These play activities aim to foster greater awareness and acceptance from a young age.

With effect from 1 April 2019 and in collaboration with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (Singapore), MDAS, CIA has evolved to include all forms of play - beyond the playgrounds. MDAS is spearheading efforts to promote inclusive play among children with different abilities by engaging them in a wide array of play and skill-based activities.

Join us now to play a pivotal role to promote inclusiveness between children of different abilities to build a caring and inclusive Singapore society through fun and play! When children play together, they build memories that last forever.

How you can be involved in Children in Action (CIA)

• Who can be involved
  Social service agencies, schools and institutions serving children with and/or without special needs between the ages of 3 and 18 years old who are interested in promoting inclusive play.


• Who can participate
  Children with and/without special needs, between the ages of 3 and 18 years old.


• What is provided
  Cost such as transportation, activity cost and material fees will be borne by CIA. Nominal fees may apply, depending on the nature of the activity.


• How would the inclusive play activities be conducted
  Muscular Dystrophy Association (Singapore), MDAS, supported by NCSS, would work together with interested agencies/schools/institutions to plan and organise inclusive play activities.


• Who should I contact if I'm interested to be a part of this play initiative or have any questions?
  If you are interested to be part of this play initiative or have clarifications, email MDAS at cia@mdas.org.sg or call 6259 6933 or 9821 9558.

Appendix:
To read more about the history of Children in Action (CIA), a brief overview of Inclusive Play and Inclusive Playgrounds in Singapore, please click here.

Launch of NCSS's first inclusive playground

NCSS successfully launched its first inclusive playground at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park (River Plains) on 22 August 2015, graced by Minister Tan Chuan-Jin from the Ministry of Social and Family Development. Over 200 participants attended the event, including 46 beneficiaries from 5 Social Service Agencies.




Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park (River Plains)


      

>> Download the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park (River Plains) inclusive playground E-Brochure.