Whether they’re using their creativity to make music, expressing themselves through a communication board, or simply having fun, this new inclusive playground at the North Syracuse Early Education Program (NSEEP) is a rubber surface of opportunity for children with disabilities.
It’s a program that serves disabled and non-disabled preschool children.
“It’s just freedom for the kids to move,” said Cheri Rotelli, a physical therapist at NSEEP. “Move more safely, they can move fast, they can move slow. They don’t need to wait for an adult to help them. Their walkers don’t get stuck. Their wheelchairs don’t get stuck. They don’t have to stand and watch their friends move away from them and realize that they can’t.”
Rotelli is says they spent the past three years planning and building with help from the community.
The playground stimulates all of the senses and is wheelchair-accessible for children like Madelaine Hertweck who graduated in 2019.
It also breaks down barriers for children like 4-year-old Joey with cerebral palsy; and 4-year-old Avery, who has ataxia, which affects his balance, vision, and speech.
“My first time pulling up here and seeing Avery playing on it, it was just pure joy in mine and my wife’s hearts that we’re seeing him go and run with the kids,” said Casey Dawley, Avery’s father.
Not only do they have a space to build their physical and social-emotional skills, but they can also feel united with all children.
“Just to see that inclusion where a lot of times [Avery's] slower and left behind, he is not on this playground,” said Dawley. “This playground allows him to keep up with everybody.”
“They need to live in a world where they can be productive, where they can be safe, where they can be social and where they can be more independent,” said Rotelli. They are definitely more confident, and they’re definitely more free. That’s all I wanted for them.”
They hope this helps children like Joey, Avery and Madelaine look at the rest of the world as a place where nothing can stop them.
Rotelli says this playground wouldn’t have been possible without the community’s support.
They received a $30,000 grant from the Central New York Community Foundation, $20,000 from the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation, $20,000 from Summerwood Pediatrics, $25,000 from the North Syracuse Central School District, $2,500 from Lockheed Martin and donations from Al Stripe and the community.
Although the playground is already built, it isn’t completely paid for, and donations are being accepted. They are payable to FNSEEP, 210 S. Main Street Syracuse, NY 13212.