Seesaw Concept for Child Wheelchair Users

The latest ADA code has an entire section on playgrounds and making them accessible. So now there is a relatively new field of accessible playground equipment design (finally!). One of the first articles I wrote about featured playground equipment that children with disabilities could use. Many of those examples were of the modern style playground equipment. This week’s concept design feature harkens back to my childhood playground memories. Atlanta art director Michael Palermo has done this by designing a seesaw (teeter totter) that children who are wheelchair users can play on.

Teeter Then Totter
As we know a seesaw works as a board sitting atop a fulcrum. The children then use their legs to push off the ground and take turns going up. Naturally a wheelchair user would not be able to use a standard seesaw. So Palermo’s design utilizes upper body strength to set weight shifting into motion.

Push N’ Pull
At each end of the board is a seat with back and sides for the children to sit in. In front of them is a “T” shaped handle for them to push forwards and backwards. This shifts a weight above the fulcrum from one side to the other. Making the seesaw tilt one way then back the other.

Conclusion
Playground equipment doesn’t get much simpler than a seesaw but children always seem to take so much joy out of them. Making one that is accessible spreads the joyful experience to more children. And who’s against that? To see more of Michael Palermo’s portfolio visit this website or this website.