newy.com.au – A new communication board has been installed at Thomas H Halton Park playground in Croudace Bay as part of a Lake Macquarie City Council trial aimed at making play more inclusive.
The board combines symbols, pictures and words to help people of all ages and abilities communicate, interact and take part in play. It can support a range of communication styles and preferences, including those of people with autism, young children, people learning English and anyone requiring additional assistance.
Council community partnerships manager Matt Holloway said the initiative was inspired by a proposal from local paediatric speech pathology service ATUNE Kids.
“They help users express ideas, feelings and preferences, make choices, share experiences and join in social interactions,” he said.
“It was inspired by a proposal by local paediatric speech pathology service ATUNE Kids, which identified an opportunity to make our playgrounds more inclusive.”
ATUNE senior speech pathologist Katrina Allen said the boards were particularly useful for people who used augmentative and alternative communication.
“Alongside speech, people naturally use facial expressions, body language, gestures, pointing and visual supports. For some children and adults, these alternative forms of communication are their primary way of expressing themselves,” she said.
“As a speech pathologist, I think it’s really important that our community spaces reflect the people who use them. We know that children and adults communicate in lots of different ways, and having communication boards in our playgrounds is one small but meaningful way of recognising and celebrating that diversity.”
Council consulted its Access and Inclusion Advisory Panel before selecting the concept and Thomas H Halton Park, which already has accessible facilities and is popular with local families.
Lake Macquarie mother Abbey Caroll, whose six-year-old son Cliff relies on non-verbal communication, welcomed the initiative.
“I love it. It’s inclusion, and that’s what every autism parent wants for their kids – to feel like they’re included,” she said.
The board was developed in partnership with Scope Australia and features symbols and core vocabulary tailored to playground settings. While communication boards are already used in schools, community facilities and health services across Australia, this is the first trial at a Lake Macquarie council site.
“By introducing this trial in such a popular location, we’re helping normalise different ways of communicating and making it easier for everyone to join in play,” Mr Holloway said.
Community members can visit the playground and provide feedback through a survey on Council’s website. The responses will help determine whether communication boards are installed at other sites.
