Every now and then we talk about creating an inclusive and barrier-free society for disabled persons but can you even count on your fingers how many of you have actually worked towards the same. But surprisingly there are only a few and that surely we can count on our fingers, who are working for the inclusive society. A different space has been created in Museum in Thiruvananthapuram, a barrier-free park that gives the differently-abled a recreational space with easy entry and smooth/free movement. It is a sensory garden that will provide children with autism and other intellectual challenges sensory stimulation have been set up on the Museum compound Thiruvananthpuram.
This initiative is a part of the Barrier-free Kerela project of the Social Justice Department.
The park will be inaugurated by Minister for Social Justice, R.Bindu at 4 P.M on January 11, Tuesday.
Minister for Museums Ahammad Devarkovil will be present at the event while MLA, V.K. Prasanth, will preside over the function.
This space which is located behind the Napier Museum, just opposite the Public Office Complex is built by Costford.
This 10,000-sq ft park provides differently-abled children various kinds of sensory opportunities in an environment where they can be one with nature.
P.B. Sajan, Joint Director, Costford says the garden has been designed in such a way that provides a number of sensory experiences to differently-abled children. In order to develop their sense of touch and feel, different kinds of tiles have been used in flooring. These include vitrified tiles, broken tiles, cobbled stones, marbles, granite stones, GI pipes, Kota stone, and so on.
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Autism Disorder
Autism spectrum disorder is a condition related to brain development that impacts how a person perceives and socializes with others, causing problems in social interaction and communication. Children with autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or other sensory challenges will find the park helpful in sensory development- discovery through sight, smell, touch, and sound. Such sensory experiences have an impact on their growth and development.
A curved passage covered with overhanging plants of various types, colorful flowers to help children explore the sense of sight and smell, an avalanche to explore a sound that would benefit the visually impaired, and a performance area with seating in various colors, lighting, and hanging planters is also a part of the park to provide children with stimulation and help them relax.
Also, one part of the park entrance leads to a barrier-free section that people in wheelchair can easily access and move about in.
This park will help in the physical and mental recreation of the differently-abled while furthering their right to movement.
