Amanda Bostik, the mother of Gemma – a little girl born with a rare neuromuscular disorder – is looking for community support to develop Richmond’s first fully accessible playground. Later this month, she will attend her third meeting with the City and they have encouraged her to ask residents of Richmond to write letters of support.
Dr. Erik Swartz, Head of the Department of Pediatrics at Richmond Hospital, and one of Gemma’s physicians, submitted the following letter:
It is a privilege to write this letter in support of a fully accessible playground for the City of Richmond.
The construction of a play area that could be used by ALL of our children should be a priority for Richmond’s citizens.It would support their physical, emotional and social health. The U.S. National Center on Accessibility comments that playgrounds allow us to improve our physical fitness, build skills, work on problem solving, practice communication, set goals, share expectations, understand roles, and develop friendships. Because a child or an adult has a disability, does not mean their need for recreation is lessened. While play promotes self-awareness, inclusion promotes community awareness by involving both people with and without disabilities.
For more information, you can check out a recent article here. If you would like to write a letter of support, you can address it to the City of Richmond, and e-mail it to Amanda at cabostik@hotmail.com.