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Common Playgrounds

"Common Playgrounds" is a disability sensitivity education program for schools and after school programs. Kids meet and learn from people with various disabilities in a fun, informative, and interactive skit program and then create posters that depict ways in which persons with all types of abilities can “hang out and be friends.”   

What is the Common Playgrounds Program?
Common Playgrounds is a three-step program that aims to:

Reduce stereotypes about the abilities of children with disabilities.

Increase inclusiveness and communication between children with and without disabilities.

Encourage middle school-aged children to share their imaginations by developing unique and safe ways of including children with disabilities in playing games, participating at recess, playing sports and having full access to fun and friendship.

Program Components
Assembly Program: What Do You Know About People with Disabilities? –This fun, informative and interactive assembly program, based on various popular TV game shows, covers the gamut of what people with disabilities are capable of achieving. It ends with members of the LVCIL Freewheelers Athletic Club playing (and usually defeating) adult supervisors in a game of wheelchair basketball. LVCIL staff and volunteers make up a “panel of experts” representing varying disability groups. The assembly can work for a group of 50 to 500 participants–the more, the merrier!

Question/Answer Discussion–Panel members allow participants to get "up close and personal” and to ask questions of any nature regarding living with a disability. This segment can be presented to a large group or in smaller classroom settings.

Poster/Essay Contest–Utilizing what the children have learned and experienced, and using a main theme developed by LVCIL, participants depict through drawings or essays ways in which people with disabilities can be included in all areas of recreation, physical fitness and having fun.  Participants’ work is judged and awarded by LVCIL volunteers. This segment can be done as individuals or in small groups.

Winning participants will receive one of the following (depending on scheduling and availability of funding)

Independent Living Month: Students are invited to attend LVCIL’s annual Independent Living Month luncheon in July. The program includes a featured speaker who addresses issues pertaining to persons with disabilities. Winning posters and essays are prominently displayed and contest winners are presented with their awards.

“Winners Circle” Pizza Party: LVCIL will host a pizza party for contest winners either at the school or at the LVCIL offices.

How To Get the Common Playgrounds Program in Your School
If you are interested in additional information or to schedule a Common Playgrounds Program Performance, please contact the Common Playgrounds Coordinator, Sally Hill, at (610) 770-9781 ext. 28.

Sally will set up a time with your educational facility to provide an access survey of your building or program location (to ensure it is accessible for our program volunteers). She will also meet with faculty/staff regarding participation in the program. In addition, she will schedule dates for performances including any inclement weather dates.

 

 

 
435 Allentown Drive | Allentown, PA 18109
Phone: 610-770-9781 FAX: 610-770-9801 Toll Free: 1-800-495-8245 TDD: 610-770-9789
For general information email: info@lvcil.org