Family Fun and Networking Event for Children with Disabilities and Special Needs

At Kids Konnection Playground, Local Groups Team Up to Help Kids “Konnect”

Special needs children and their families are the guests of honor on Saturday, November 7^th from 9 am to 12 pm, at the Kids Konnection Playground, 21490 Koop Drive, Mandeville, courtesy of Ochsner Children’s Health Center – Covington and Lakeview Regional Medical Center.

The “Day in the Park” will include playground tours, medical information and networking opportunities for children with disabilities and special needs and their families.  Dr. Aaron M. Karlin, Section Head of Ochsner’s Department of Pediatric Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation as well as Pediatric Therapists from Lakeview Regional Medical Center are co-sponsoring the event and will be attending to answer questions and help facilitate networking among families.

The Kids Konnection Playground is a boundless, fenced playground built locally to encourage play among all children.   It is designed to allow parallel play for able-bodied children alongside children with wide-ranging disabilities and special needs. This includes ensuring that all play areas and apparatus are wheelchair accessible.  Other play attractions include:

    ·         Roller slide: Slide designed for individuals with Cochlear implants.

·         Sway fun: Offers individuals with wheelchairs a safe way to experience swinging.

·         Latex-free surfaces: No latex surfaces are in the playground to allow individuals with Spina Bifida to play.

·         Additional sensory centers: Sand, plants and sound are included to benefit those with hearing or sight impairments or those with autism.

“This playground, the first of its kind in south Louisiana, is a great opportunity for children with disabilities and special needs to be involved in cooperative play.  Our goal is that these children and their parents will take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to have fun and meet one another to network and see that they are not alone,” says Ochsner Pediatric Rehabilitation specialist Aaron Karlin, M.D. The event will also include a hands on small animal display and play area sponsored by Milliken Farms, which will give them the chance to pet and play with some of nature’s creatures.

“Since the Kids Konnection playground was established we are seeing many more children enjoying the unique features it has to offer. This truly is a great opportunity for residents in our community and I hope families of special needs children from the North and South Shore will take advantage of it,” says Susan McHugh, Kids Konnection committee member.  The Kids Konnection playground is open for play seven days a week from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.  The playground is closed every Monday morning until 11:00 am for maintenance.  To learn more about the playground log on to www.tammanytrace.org/mission.shtml.