Top ten tips for creating a physical disability friendly environment
- be inclusive from the first visit, welcome families and children and see solutions rather than difficulties, sometimes solutions are very inexpensive, for example provision of a grab rail, if works need to be done plan for them, consult owners, they will benefit a wide range of children who may attend the setting in the future
- involve professionals and gain as much information on the child and their needs as you can and ensure support and paperwork is in place prior to the child starting, work as a team, as many relevant staff as possible should know about the individual needs of the child with physical disability, good practitioners regularly evaluate their practice, training must be started before the child starts and be on-going as the child’s needs change
- parents or carers are the experts as is the child themselves, often they will have worked out a solution before you consult them
- be creative with your environment, creating routes and clearing clutter (both physical and visual) to make spaces for a child with disability to get about can be hugely beneficial for all children in early years, not just children with physical disabilities
- look at all areas of the curriculum and nursery, if it is not possible to make reasonable adjustments , for example are there stairs or the environment cannot be adapted, what alternatives can be offered? Consider the language that you use, keep it clear and simple, reinforced with visual cues. Allow for processing time, which can be longer then you think
- simple solutions for inclusive practice often work best, for example move more mobile children to the area the child with physical disability is playing rather than keep moving the child with a disability, adapt resources, such as making them larger, slower moving or anchoring them, make sure any equipment the child needs is in place and used as recommended as soon as possible, such as a bath step
- no child learns well unless they can access their environment safely and comfortably, think of the best equipment to use for each activity, specialist chair? Wheelchair? Bench? Standing frame? Walker? All can be used creatively
- do not sit the child with physical disability on their own, even if they are in separate seating for example they cannot sit on the carpet, make sure they have a friend
- children with physical disabilities may have individual targets such as regular physio routines, incorporate these into your planning in a fun and creative way, physical activities can be incorporated into movement sessions which will benefit all children
- children are very adaptable, they learn from each other and even young children quickly give time and space to a child with disabilities, communicate sensitively and set high expectations, most importantly have fun and enjoy every moment