Jonesboro, AR – JonesboroRightNow.com – Westside Elementary recently received a grant from an autism nonprofit, enabling it to revamp its playground to make it more inclusive.

The $3,500 grant is from Ag for Autism, a nonprofit that brings together area agricultural businesses to collect donations for autism research and therapy programs, and will fund the majority of the project, with the Westside Consolidated School District helping fund when needed.

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Dr. Christy Kammerer, special education supervisor for the district, said the project will include installing wheelchair-accessible swings, with the goal of having them fully installed before the start of the upcoming school year. More accessibility features will be installed over the next few years as budgets allow.

“We applied for the grant because we do have our kindergarten classes coming in each year with a little bit more high needs, so we wanted our playground to be more inclusive for students,” Kammerer said. “We really wanted to be able to revamp our playground just that way, every student in this building has the opportunity to get out there and really are able to fully participate in those play experiences.”

Westside Elementary was not the only school to receive grant funding for inclusive/sensory-friendly spaces. Ag for Autism awarded money to over 30 schools during this past funding cycle, including Brookland, Nettleton STEAM, Valley View and more, Sarah Caples, Ag for Autism executive director, said.

“I think it’s really important for the school, and they understand that, too,” Caples said. “They see it every day whenever a kid isn’t comfortable. It’s hard to watch that because they need their own space.”

Kammerer said having a resource such as this for students with disabilities allows them to interact with their neurotypical peers.

“It gives them that extra time to be out there, to be included,” she said. “It gives everyone just that opportunity to just be out there and just be carefree kids.”

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