An ADA swing is one that provides access to the joy of swinging to children and adults with disabilities. Adaptive, Inclusive and Wheelchair swings are three popular terms used to describe different types of ADA swings. ADA playground equipment can be a godsend for parents of children with movement-related disabilities. Accessibility should be a consideration on any playground, and one way to improve it is to invest in ADA swings. With the help of these swing sets and swing seats, children with disabilities can have just as much fun as the rest of their peers. In short, the more inclusive a playground is, the greater number of children who can play.
ADA swings come in two primary types: wheelchair-accessible and non-wheelchair-accessible. Also known as platform swings, a wheelchair-accessible swing allows adults and kids with wheelchairs to roll onto the platform and engage in the same fun swinging motion facilitated by conventional swing sets. Non-wheelchair-accessible ADA swing seats are often referred to as adaptive or inclusive swings. They are characterized by a molded seat that fully supports the body of the user; in other words, they offer support for the head and back that typical belt seats lack. This design facilitates a sense of safety and comfort for children and adults with special needs. Adult adaptive swing seats can hold up to 300 lbs.
Regardless of which type of ADA swing you choose, ensuring proper surfacing in and around the area in which the swing resides is crucial to ensure the safety of your playground users. For loose-fill surfacing like rubber mulch, a depth of six to nine inches is often required to provide adequate shock absorption and protection in case of falls. In a similar vein, poured-in-place rubber surfacing under an ADA swing set has to be fully present with no significant cracks in order to be considered safe for ADA swing users. Poured-in-place is the ideal safety surfacing for accessible and inclusive playgrounds, as it is the easiest to navigate with mobility devices.
Adaptive ADA swings can be used by any child, not just those who need extra support. In fact, children of all ages can benefit immensely from the sort of support offered by ADA swings, particularly adaptive swing seats. ADA swings are designed to accommodate people with disabilities, but they can be enjoyed by all.
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