ChangeX’s Post

Take the Play Challenge!! Calling all kids, parents, families, and friends to take the Play Challenge! Let’s encourage our kids to get back to basics to read, walk, jump, and most importantly, PLAY! Play is children’s work—it’s where they discover themselves, others, and the world around them. The magic of free, fun, child-led play plants the seeds of joy and wonder in living and learning. In today’s busy world, with endless choices and competing priorities, playtime often gets pushed aside. The TBO Playathon inspires kids to rediscover the joy of play—getting active, creative, and together with friends. It’s time to get off those screens and back to playing! Aussie kids love to help each other, and we believe every child deserves to play. The TBO Playathon is inclusive for ALL kids, regardless of age, interests, location, or circumstances. It’s free to register, and every play hour counts! Even if you choose not to fundraise, your participation contributes to more playtime for Aussie kids. Those who do fundraise support the TBO Playmakers, who create more play opportunities for everyone. Official playing months are June & July, but you can start logging your play hours and fundraising efforts now. Every dollar raised goes towards creating inclusive playspaces, promoting the health, happiness, and well-being of Aussie kids. Together, let's make sure every child feels safe, welcome, and included in play. Join the TBO Playathon today and let’s play for a more playful world!  https://lnkd.in/gdqnryb2 #PlayChallenge #TBOPlayathon #PlayForAll #Playathon #Inclusiveplay #touchedbyolivia

Scope’s new Playground Accessibility Map reveals that only 1 in 10 playgrounds are inclusive for disabled children. Play helps children explore and understand their world. Accessible playgrounds show children that an inclusive world is possible. You can use this map to :https://lnkd.in/eBawqeJU 💜 Find out where your nearest accessible playground is 💜Show local decision makers why they should create more inclusive playgrounds 💜 Discover how accessible and inclusive playgrounds across the country are In the summer of 2023, 1,083 Scope campaigners visited 1,004 local playgrounds. They answered some questions to see how accessible and inclusive the playground was for disabled children. Scope has turned the results into an interactive map. 💜National and local government must work with families, campaigners and charities using tools like this map to ensure more playgrounds are designed with disabled children in mind. If you agree, please use this map to continue campaigning for change in your local area #PlaygroundAccessibility #InclusivePlaygrounds #Scope #CreatingInclusiveSpaces

👀 NEW Shared Digital Guide: Making a Minecraft community for young people with additional needs using open working. In a new Guide, Rachel Conlisk shares how Creative Active Lives CIC used open working practices to set up a custom Minecraft server for young people with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities). In a step-by-step walkthrough of the process, Rachel shares insights and tips on understanding audience needs, selecting and setting up digital tools, customising your server, establishing safeguarding processes, listening to feedback and sharing what you learn 👉 https://buff.ly/4eLLneh Could you share your own insights? If your organisation is using a digital tool in a useful or interesting way, and you could share your experience to help charities follow a similar path, we'd love to hear from you! Please get in touch via the Shared Digital Guides platform 👉 https://buff.ly/3K3kcNX #charity #nonprofit #digital #advice #guide #peertopeer

👀 NEW Shared Digital Guide: Making a Minecraft community for young people with additional needs using open working. In a new Guide, Rachel Conlisk shares how Creative Active Lives CIC used open working practices to set up a custom Minecraft server for young people with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities). In a step-by-step walkthrough of the process, Rachel shares insights and tips on understanding audience needs, selecting and setting up digital tools, customising your server, establishing safeguarding processes, listening to feedback and sharing what you learn 👉 https://buff.ly/4eLLneh Could you share your own insights? If your organisation is using a digital tool in a useful or interesting way, and you could share your experience to help charities follow a similar path, we'd love to hear from you! Please get in touch via the Shared Digital Guides platform 👉 https://buff.ly/3K3kcNX #charities #charity #digital #advice #guide #peertopeer

It has been so exciting to watch the world’s Paralympic athletes compete in Paris. Their path to representing their countries in the sports they love is even more difficult than many of us can appreciate. Compared to children who do not identify as having a disability, children with a disability are far more likely to be restricted by the cost of sport, they are far more likely to believe they are not good enough to play and they are far more likely to feel unwelcome in sport spaces. These are only some of the reasons why we need to continue eliminating the barriers to sport participation for children of all abilities. To learn more about the experience of children with disabilities in sport, download Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities State of Play report at

I can’t say I ever thought much about playground mulch when I was a kid. If you did, you might already know where I’m going with this story👉 You see, some of the kids at Alexander Elementary are talking about mulch quite a lot these days. It started with a girl in a wheelchair who had to sit and watch her friends from afar every day at recess. Mulch was part of the problem: it made the wheels of her chair spin out. (Surprisingly enough, mulch is apparently still considered ADA-compliant.) Then there was the playground equipment, much of which she just couldn’t use. The girl’s mom went to the school to see if there was anything they could do. There wasn’t, until another mom made a similar request not long after. The two women met and began raising money to rebuild Alexander’s three elementary playgrounds. Just a few years later, the first big stage of that renovation is finished. And it’s fostered a genuine conversation among other kids at the school about how to design more inclusive play areas — for example, by replacing mulch with rubber. You can read the full story I did for WOUB Public Media and Report for America on the WOUB website… which I won’t link to here, just to see how it affects the algorithm (it’s WOUB-dot-ORG). And if you learn something new, pass it on! #playground #disability #k12education #disabilityinclusion #accessibility

Inclusive playgrounds are gaining momentum as cities across the UK strive to create environments that cater to all children, regardless of their age, ability or gender. We have seen charities such as makespaceforgirls.co.uk push for parks, play equipment and public spaces to be made more appealing to girls, as their research showed that there is a clear lack of facilities for them. As for accessibility, Scope.org.uk carried out the "Playground Accessibility Report" and found that only 1 in 10 playgrounds are inclusive to disabled children and that nearly three-quarters of playgrounds are places where it would be difficult for disabled and non-disabled children to play together. These are important conversations to have, at Lightmain we want to do our part to support this by understanding how the design of Multi-Use Games Areas and playgrounds can not only incorporate but prioritise accessibility and inclusivity. The video clip below shows an example of an inclusive roundabout we installed. What features do you think are essential in an inclusive playground? Let's discuss how we can make recreational spaces welcoming for all. #inclusiveplay #urbandesign #accessibility #communityengagement #lightmain

Happy GiveSTL Day! It’s finally here and we’d love to take a moment to express our Gratitude to all of our staff, board members, donors and volunteers that have kept this ship afloat since 2002! Your support has lasting effects, giving Artscope the ability to impact the lives of local families, and unite communities through the lens of creativity and accessible art programs. Imagine a world where everyone has the opportunity to explore their creativity, where artistic expression isn’t just a hobby but a tool for unlocking limitless potential. This is the vision we strive for at Artscope, and we invite you to join us in making it a reality. Here’s how your support can make a difference: 1. School’s Out & Summer Camp Create Programming: With your help, we can provide immersive art-making experiences and outdoor explorations for children during school breaks. These programs not only foster a deep connection with creativity but also instill problem-solving skills and a love for exploration. 2. Artists-in-Residence Fund: Our artists-in-residence program brings the magic of art directly to local schools, transforming classrooms into vibrant creative hubs. Your donation will support interactive classes and mentorship, empowering students to unlock their artistic potential. 3. Summer Camp Create Scholarship Fund: We believe that arts education should be accessible to all. Your contribution to our scholarship fund will ensure that every child, regardless of financial circumstances, can experience the joy of our summer camp. Help us provide sliding scale scholarships to accommodate every family’s needs. By supporting these initiatives, your generosity will: • Provide quality camp and art supplies for our campers and instructors. •Support our dedicated teaching artists with equitable compensation. • Cover summer camp tuition for local families, including aftercare services. •Contribute to essential training costs, ensuring the safety and well-being of our staff. We know you have many other amazing nonprofits to choose from and support today, but we ask that you consider Artscope when making your GiveSTL Day Donations ✨ Click the link below to donate today: https://lnkd.in/ec6uFV6B #givestlday #artseducation

Recently, at the Hopscotch campuses in New York, a School Wide Picnic was held to celebrate the end of the school year 🌟 This traditional event brings both campuses together to mark a productive year of learning and have fun together. As our school community continues to grow, the picnics are becoming more elaborate! In many ways, such events take care of themselves: parents and children socialize, eat, and play games, so there's no need for additional entertainment. However, certain activities are necessary, such as our big community sing-along or a charity art fair featuring student works, as we did this year. Even when it comes to fundraising and supporting our campus in Ukraine, we aim to maintain a positive atmosphere and focus on gratitude. To ensure a smooth process, we outline a tentative schedule for the day, assign roles, and strive to prepare all materials and equipment the day before. A designated person is assigned to capture the event and photograph each child and family. Teachers and directors won't have time for this, and memories should be preserved for everyone 🙏 In the end, we realized that there's no need to fear large events! The most important thing is not perfect timing but the genuine joy of spending time together, so don't overwhelm your community with too many activities :) #hopscotchhub #leadership #education #montessorieducation #business #entrepreneurship

🚲 BE THE ONE! ▪️Learning to ride a bike can be a journey of liberation that offers freedom, confidence, and a sense of achievement that transforms lives. THIS PAST SUMMER, Eva alongside 7 other tweens, teens, and young adults were able to experience a week-long workshop of outdoors exploration, movement, bike mechanics, trail maintenance, and learning how to ride a bike with @adventureforallfund at zero cost to participants and powered by volunteers like @huffyusa ! In fact, less that 10% of children and adults like Eva will independently learn to ride a bike due to societal limitations and the lack of opportunities that challenge their abilities. ➡️ YOU can help support this incredible mission and the expansion of AFA's programming here in Bentonville, Arkansas that supports diverse abilities! 🎉 Bentonville, AR Fundraising Page HERE: https://lnkd.in/gUXdTY9M This limitation reflects a wider gap in opportunities for personal growth and independence. Most programs designed for this population are support-based and lack challenging, growth-oriented opportunities. This only worsens their situation, as many will become dependent on others when parents are no longer there to support them. Adventure For All is on a mission to dismantle the current system. Together, we believe in unearthing the untapped potential of exceptional individuals and providing them with the opportunities they need for further achievements in education, employment, and community engagement. Biking is more than a physical activity it is often the first step on their endless journey of growth and autonomy. It builds confidence, enhances physical health, provides a realistic form of transportation (which opens doors for part-time jobs), and enhances connections with their friends, family, and others in the community. 📣 YOU HAVE THE POWER TO IGNITE THIS TRANSFORMATIVE JOURNEY! Consider making a donation today for AFA's Bentonville Chapter to support this impactful programming. #VideoDescription : A video of @huffyusa with @adventureforallfund participant Eva, a 12 years old girl who also has #downsyndrome