'I don't do stairs,' says Alison John, youth and community worker and disability equality trainer. 'I do ramps and lifts, but I don't do stairs.'
Alison is running a series of one-day courses for Oxfordshire Social Services, and the one I am attending is for playworkers and childminders, and focuses on 'inclusion and disability equality'. Alison is here, she says, to 'change our minds' and she makes us all think hard about things we take for granted.
'Barriers to inclusion might be physical,' says Alison, 'like stairs or non-accessible loos, or they might be to do with people's attitudes.
Historically, disabled children have been shut away, hidden, segregated. To really include all children in play activities, we might have to rethink not only the way our buildings are planned but also the way we organise play activities. Inclusion doesn't just happen. We have to make it happen!'
There is a difference, Alison tells us, between integration and inclusion.
One childminder, also a parent, on the course, says, 'We were really pleased when Sonia got on to the local playscheme. But to be honest, she wasn't really included. She was "tacked on", with her 1:1 helper. Everyone thought it was so wonderful that she was there, but it was like, "Oh, Sonia has got her helper so we don't have to think about her - we'll get on with things and she can join in when she can".'
Inclusion is coming at it from another angle, we decide. It's saying, let's look at every aspect of the scheme and think of ways of adapting things so everyone can be included. It needs time and planning, but it's worth it, not just for the disabled child, but for the non-disabled children too.
Knickers in a twist
'People do get their knickers in a twist about what to say and what not to say,' says Alison. 'But I don't like "special needs". If any child is special, then every child is special!' The parents among us nod vehemently in agreement, and we all want to stand up and cheer when she suggests that we should steer clear of labelling.
'Does it help to talk about a "Downs" child, or a cerebral palsy child? No child is the same, whatever their condition,' she says. 'Stereotypes limit us. We need to keep our minds open and stop boxing children up - they get enough of that at school, and in the medical profession!'
Alison would also like to see us moving away from the whole 1:1 notion, where an adult is just there for a particular child. Instead, she says, 'Each playworker is there for everyone. You might get one playworker who is experienced or has knowledge of one of the children, yes, but all the playworkers should be taking responsibility for all of the children, and be able to work with groups of children and facilitate inclusion. As a playworker, you need to be there when you are needed but also to be able to let go.'
Inventing new ways
Running an inclusive playscheme means making sure that every child can join in with every activity, says Alison. This may mean adapting the activities and games or it may mean dropping some altogether and taking on new ones.
It may mean inventing new ways of doing things.
Kidsactive and Dynamix are just two of many organisations that can give playworkers ideas. Kidsactive has been awarded a 240,000 grant by the Department for Education and Skills to deliver its training course, Planning Inclusive Play, on a regional basis and Dynamix runs courses all over the country. However, anyone with a bit of imagination can adapt and invent - in fact, the best people may be the children themselves.
Games from Alison John:
Zip zap
This is a game where words or signs get passed around a circle in different directions. The word 'zip' gets passed to the right, 'zap' to the left.
'Boing' changes direction and 'kerbang' passes to anyone in the circle. For example, Katy says 'Zip' to Laura, on her right. Laura says 'Zip' again to Sue on her right.
Sue says 'Boing' to Laura, hence forcing a change in direction. Laura looks at Luke, opposite her, and says 'Kerbang'. Now it's up to Luke to choose 'zip', 'zap', 'boing' or 'kerbang'.
You can adapt the game by sitting down or standing up. You can use signs.
Play the game slow or fast.
Fruit bowl
Get into a circle, with someone in the middle. Divide children randomly into, say, bananas, oranges and apples. The child in the middle calls out the name of a fruit and all the children who are that fruit move across the circle to change places with each other. The person in the middle tries to take someone's empty place so another child ends up in the middle. Calling 'Fruitshake' means all fruit change at once - chaos! How to adapt? As with Zip zap.
Triangle tag
Three children hold hands to make a triangle. One of them is 'it'. A fourth person outside the triangle has to try to catch 'it', but the other two defend the third, by circling round, always keeping their hands held.
You could adapt this by perhaps doing it on your knees or doing it frog hopping. You could make the person outside the triangle jump or change the make up of the triangles by swapping children over. Try doing it to music.
Traditional sports can be a negative experience for those of us who do not feel confident, but playworkers can change the rules! What about using a bigger ball? There are balls of every description imaginable now - easily thrown, easily caught. Get hold of catalogues from TFH, Rompa or Spacekraft (see telephone numbers above) for a selection of games equipment. Build children's skills and promote sharing and team work by rotating teams, controlling speed (what about hopping?) and adapting the pitch.
Storytelling and drama can be endlessly creative. Find different ways of telling the same story - use mime, signs, different languages, dance, song, pictures and objects.
Art and crafts Think of activities that can be fun to do whatever the outcome, and not fiddly! Invest in children's safety scissors, big crayons and brushes, tough paper and containers for glue and paint that don't tip.
Consider alternatives to crayons and brushes - sponges, printing, feet, fingers! Find ideas that make it easier to be creative without being accurate.
Music Make your own musical instruments - shakers, drums, pipes - in pairs (see Out of School, 18 October for ideas).
Quiz Make sure there are always a few questions that anyone can answer, as well as a few difficult ones. For starters: 'Name three colours in a rainbow.' 'Name three pet animals.' 'Say the first line of a song.'
Board games Get big dice and large counters. Try the Green Board Games for games that everyone can play at once at different levels. Allow children to help each other and work in teams.
Contacts
Dynamix 01792 466231 www.seriousfun.demon.co.uk
Kidsactive 0207 731 1435 www.kidsactive.co.uk
Green Board Games 01494 538 999 www.greenboardgames.com
TFH 01299 827820 www.tfhuk.com
Rompa 0800056 2323 www.rompa.com
SpaceKraft 01274 581007 www.spacekraft.co.uk
