DURHAM, N.C. -- Playgrounds are supposed to be a place for fun, but for some students, playgrounds pose some challenges.
- In the summer of 2019, a group of Durham Tech students decided to create a playspace designed specifically for kids with autism
- The space for kindergarten through second grade students includes a sensory wall, a music wall, a garden, and a bowling area
- The elementary students, per their teacher, say the space is a huge hit. These everyday heroes were hoping for that exact reaction
In the summer of 2019, a group of Durham Tech students decided to create a playspace designed specifically for kids with autism at Washington Magnet Elementary in Raleigh.
"For this classroom in particular, going to the traditional playground with all of the other typical classrooms, it can be just too much for them," says Durham Tech student Taylor Greenhill.
Four students in the Occupational Therapy Assistant class at Durham Tech took about six weeks to transform the area into a place for the kids to play and sharpen their skills.
"Getting them able to come out here and just function at each section or each activity, just getting them to have some kind of play to enforce socialization for them was key," says student Kajuan Davis.
The space for kindergarten through second grade students includes a sensory wall, a music wall, a garden, and a bowling area.
"It was really kind of nice to actually have this creative outlet for us to put all of our knowledge into so that we can create activities that are focused on this particular population of students," says student Lindsay Copper.
The elementary students, per their teacher, say the space is a huge hit. These everyday heroes were hoping for that exact reaction.
"This is exactly what I want to do. I want to work in pediatric special needs and we just had the best team we possibly could have had to complete everything we wanted to," says Durham Tech student Rachel Hayes.
