inclusive play park

Lochore Meadows Country Park

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I have been keen to visit the play park at Lochore Meadows Country park since it opened in March this year and it did not disappoint! It had so much more than the usual basket swing and accessible roundabout. There was something for Quinns to explore in all parts of the park which meant he was able to keep up with his friends and play both with and alongside them.

Anita and Quinns smile from on top of a piece of play equipment with sunshade above them.

After exploring the fully enclosed park which included going up and down the ramps of the two main pieces of climbing equipment he then went across the suspension bridge multiple times as his friends bounced along with him.

Rather than go for his usual high-backed swing (we weren’t sure the style of swing would work for him) we instead waited for our moment and took over the piece of equipment all the kids wanted to go on, the one with the biggest thrill. I’m not sure of the name of it, but it could be a flying chair swing or a carousel sky swing!

Quinns smiles strapped into his Go-To seat in a high backed swing seat which is spinning around with all his friends.

Five of them could sit on the individual seats and it spun them around and outwards. It’s the first time I’ve seen one with a high back seat. So with the help of the trusty Go-To seat Quinns got to experience a new sensation and be as adventurous as everyone else.

Of course, he tried out the wheelchair swing and the accessible roundabout. Apart from all that there was also at least one accessible trampoline, a rainbow tunnel, a double slide and multiple sensory boards plus things I may not have spotted in the busy-ness of the park.

Quinns throws his head back in excitement as Anita holds on tight while the two of them spin on a wheelchair accessible roundabout.
Quinns grins a broad grin as his friend pushes him on the wheelchair accessible swing.

It is the first time I’ve felt disappointed to leave a park with Quinns as I didn’t feel like we had explored everything it had to offer. With a café right next to the play park and a Changing Places toilet in the nearby education centre though I have no doubt we’ll be back at some point to play some more!

Quinns, trains and…Changing Places

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Now that Quinns’ diagnosis has changed it’s a bit awkward writing a blog with cerebral palsy in the name. I don’t really want to change it and risk losing the readers and followers who support me but I’ve finally decided to rename it ‘Quinns, trains & changing places’ which allows me to keep the qtandcp. I’ve learned through this journey that it is places that need to change for inclusion to succeed so the purpose of the blog will remain the same. I’m sure there will still be plenty of cute photographs of Quinns and his Big Sister.

3 year old Quinns sits in his working chair smiling with a handwritten sign in front of him which reads 'Nobody should have to lie on a toilet floor! #ChangingPlaces
7 year old Quinns sits in his car seat cuddling his toy giraffe. He is smiling up at the camera.

As well as the change of diagnosis over the last 5 years of writing we’ve seen some massive changes in our lives. We’ve stayed at home a lot and we’ve travelled a little. We’ve enjoyed simple pleasures and taken on big adventures. 

We had to move house and then make adaptations to the new house. In between we raised awareness of the need to change play parks and raised the money to make our local play park more inclusive with paths and accessible play equipment.

Quinns finished nursery and started school. He has been teaching the teachers for three years now about everything from eye gaze technology to nasogastric feeding and we’ve experienced various versions of schooling; home, online and hospital.

Throughout it all and a big incentive for the change of blog name has been Changing Places toilets. These facilities have become even more essential to us over the last few years. We struggle to go anywhere that doesn’t have access to one these days. We have visited many that have been newly installed but there still aren’t nearly enough to make it easy for us to get Quinns out and about.

This Changing Places awareness day we support the campaign for all healthcare settings, cinemas and theatres to have Changing Places. I also want to raise awareness of the #RiseForSport petition aiming for Changing Places in all sports venues. I hope throughout the next five years I will be able to share photos of Quinns and his Big Sister outside many, many more.

So the name change not only covers Quinns’ change of diagnosis and everything we’ve been through in the last five years but also one of my favourite topics, Changing Place toilets!