Playgrounds are meant to be enjoyed by every child. With small, thoughtful changes, they can and should be accessible for all. As we spend more time outside during the summer months, you may find yourself with a child at the playground. But have you ever been to a playground and noticed that not every part of it works for every child? A slide may be too narrow, the swings too high or the steps the only way onto the climbing structure. For some children with autism, the challenge may also be sensory, with loud noises, busy spaces and unpredictability making play feel overwhelming.

For many families, these are the barriers they face each time they try to give their child a simple afternoon of play.

As someone who works with individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities, I've witnessed first-hand what it means for a child to feel truly welcome in a space.

I remember watching a child arrive at a playground, interested but hesitant, taking in everything around them before deciding whether it felt safe enough to join. The space was loud and busy, and while other children ran straight to the equipment, this child seemed to need more time and support to process it all.

It stayed with me because I kept thinking about how something as simple as pictures at the entrance showing what to expect, a sensory wall or visual supports could have helped make the space feel less overwhelming and more welcoming.

An impactful change to a playground that can be made is replacing steps with ramps and adding sturdy railings throughout the space. This not only helps children who use wheelchairs or strollers, but it also benefits any child who struggles with balance or coordination. When a child can navigate a play structure independently, you can see confidence and engagement grow.

Standard swings, narrow slides and spinning equipment can be genuinely inaccessible or even overwhelming for some children. Including swings with full-body harnesses, wider slides and swings with back support allow more children to participate safely.

Because many playgrounds are brightly coloured and visually stimulating, one helpful addition could be a shaded area that offers a visual break from the rest of the space, using calmer colours and simpler designs.

For children with vision or hearing differences or for those who experience the world differently through sensory processing, traditional playground equipment can feel exclusionary.

Sensory play stations that incorporate music panels, varied textures and water play give children new and meaningful ways to explore, discover and connect with their environment. These stations also invite children of all abilities to play side by side, which is powerful for everyone involved.

Picture symbols and Braille signage might seem like small additions, but they can change the entire experience of a playground for a child and their family. When a child can read their environment, when they know what to expect and where to go, anxiety decreases and confidence grows. The same is true for parents and caregivers. Feeling informed and oriented in a space is part of feeling welcome in it.

Families have shared that accessible spaces often feel like a relief because they do not have to spend the entire outing on edge, explaining to their child, apologising, or preparing for things to go wrong. When a space feels thoughtful, predictable and welcoming, parents often describe feeling seen, understood and able to enjoy the moment alongside their child instead of just managing barriers.

These small design choices create enormous opportunities for families to play together, where every child feels welcome and no one is left out.

Our community has so much to gain by ensuring that every child who visits a playground leaves feeling like the space was accessible to them. When we design for all community members, we create better spaces for everyone. I encourage those who manage playgrounds at parks, schools and recreation facilities to take a closer look at what accessibility truly means and to see what an incredible difference even small changes can make.

As we continue this series, our hope is to encourage our community to think about the small, meaningful changes that can make a big difference for children and families. A more inclusive community is built one thoughtful step at a time, and through this series, Tomorrow’s Voices hopes to inspire greater awareness, reflection and action towards spaces that feel welcoming and accessible for all.

• Jahnae Harvey, BCBA-D, is executive director of Tomorrow's Voices Early Intervention Centre and a board-certified behaviour analyst. Conversations on Inclusivity is a series of monthly articles to provide advice and awareness-building around accessibility and inclusivity. Through these articles our hope is to provide concrete takeaways and conversation starters to encourage greater empathy and action with the goal to inspire readers to look at our community through a more inclusive lens and to support meaningful, small-scale change