Accessible playground equipment is coming to Colwood elementary.
A fundraising walk-a-thon in 2014, supplemented by $4,000 in Parent Advisory Committee funds in conjunction with outside community support, has paved the way for a wheelchair-accessible picnic table, a drum set and a chime set to arrive at the school shortly after spring break.
B次元官网网址淲e will be over there almost daily. (Savannah) loves to be able to play the drums and it will be neat to see her near the other kids,B次元官网网址� said Kristine Chamberlain, whose nine-year-old daughter suffers from a severe form of epilepsy. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 exciting; it is something that had been talked about before Savvy was in school B次元官网网址� To see it actually happen and knowing that nudging it along has made it happen, itB次元官网网址檚 great.B次元官网网址�
Chamberlain said itB次元官网网址檚 not just her daughter, but other children in the neighbourhood who can benefit from the new inclusive items in the playground. She was excited to attend a school assembly featuring a cheque presentation from Sutton Realty for $5,000 towards the playground. The assembly included a presentation from Canadian Paralympic athlete Meghan Montgomery, who Chamberlain said has been an inspiration.
B次元官网网址淚 think anyone who has gone through great struggles in life can come and show the kids their success is awesome,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 important for kids to realize that no matter what kind of disability you have, you can still be very successful in life.B次元官网网址�
Montgomery, born with a congenital disability, said it may have been caused by a lack of blood flow to her right hand before she was born.
She endured five surgeries from the time she was six months old to when she was 15, to separate what had been stuck together and create three mobile fingers on her right hand, covered in part with skin tissue from her hips.
B次元官网网址淲e have all had something to overcome and everyone experiences that. It is so important for those, especially those that are young to be seeing that example,B次元官网网址� Montgomery said. B次元官网网址淚t takes that little bit of extra support.B次元官网网址�
She said confidence was an issue for her growing up, but support from friends, family and coaches pushed her to become a world championship rower, winning one gold, one silver and three bronze medals for Canada and appearing twice in the Paralympic Games. Support like that can start from the little things, like a playground for children, she added.
B次元官网网址淭his is such an amazing movement that this is happening, because people with disabilities are often kept out of those things and a playground is a great example.
B次元官网网址淓ven if they canB次元官网网址檛 do all the things their friends are doing, at least they are able to be in the vicinity,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淛ust making it accessible and putting it (nearby) is going to continue to grow relations and support the differences, and those are the things that need to continue to happen. This is exciting to see.B次元官网网址�
