Visitors to Thomas H Halton Park playground at Croudace Bay now have a new way to connect, with Lake Macquarie City Council installing a communication board as part of an inclusive play trial.
The board uses a combination of symbols, pictures and words to support people of all ages and abilities to communicate, interact and take part in play.
Council's Manager Community Partnerships Matt Holloway said communication boards could be used by people with a wide range of communication styles and preferences, including people with autism, young children, people learning English, and anyone else who required additional support.
"They help users express ideas, feelings and preferences, make choices, share experiences and join in social interactions," he said.
"It was inspired by a proposal by local paediatric speech pathology service ATUNE Kids, which identified an opportunity to make our playgrounds more inclusive."
ATUNE Senior Speech Pathologist Katrina Allen said communication boards were particularly useful for people who used augmentative and alternative communication.
"Alongside speech, people naturally use facial expressions, body language, gestures, pointing and visual supports. For some children and adults, these alternative forms of communication are their primary way of expressing themselves," she said.
"As a speech pathologist, I think it's really important that our community spaces reflect the people who use them. We know that children and adults communicate in lots of different ways, and having communication boards in our playgrounds is one small but meaningful way of recognising and celebrating that diversity."
Council consulted with its Access and Inclusion Advisory Panel before settling on the concept and the Thomas H Halton Park site, which already has accessible facilities and is popular with local families.
"By introducing this trial in such a popular location, we're helping normalise different ways of communicating and making it easier for everyone to join in play," Mr Holloway said.
Lake Macquarie mum Abbey Caroll, whose son, Cliff, 6, relies on non-verbal forms of communication, welcomed the initiative.
"I love it. It's inclusion, and that's what every autism parent wants for their kids - to feel like they're included," she said.
The board was developed in partnership with Scope Australia, which provides accessible communication boards used in community settings across the country. The design features symbols and core vocabulary tailored to playground environments.
"Communication boards are used in a range of public settings across Australia, including schools, community facilities and health services, but this is the first time we've trialled one at a Council site," Mr Holloway said.
Community members are encouraged to visit the playground and provide feedback through Council's survey at lakemac.com.au.
"Council will monitor feedback from the trial to help determine whether it will be rolled out at other sites," Mr Holloway said.
