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Why did we build Matteo’s Dream, A Playground for Children of All Abilities?

Play is essential to the healthy development of all children. Play is how children learn to navigate the world. When you were a child, the playground was your 'office' where you learned to negotiate the monkey bars, socialize on the merry-go-round and delegate responsibilities during hide-and-seek. In your own community and throughout North America, children with disabilities (one child in every ten) are excluded from playing on most traditional playgrounds. In addition to the children this hurts, it affects millions of people's lives every day - sisters, brothers, classmates, friends, cousins, parents, teachers, neighbors and countless others.

Children don't want to look ridiculous, and different from other kids. And play should be for all kids. No one should be left out. The ADA requires that playgrounds meet certain standards. One of those is that children have accessibility to decks.

Families who have kids with disabilities have enough challenges already. And to us, playing on a playground is such a natural part of childhood. No child should feel left out as other children are playing and having fun.

In every catalog we have viewed, which all make great claims to being accessible, the child in the wheel chair is always at ground level looking up at the children playing on the structure.

Look closely at the ground surface of your playground, was this meant for a child in a wheel chair or even a child on canes or walkers? It might look like an awesome structure, but not for those who can’t access it.