Kids with disabilities are helping design inclusive playgrounds

Thirteen-year-old John Buettner grew up watching from his wheelchair as classmates played. That changed when he was invited to help design and test inclusive playgrounds, starting with Glen Lake Elementary in Minnetonka. He and other kids with disabilities brought firsthand expertise to make play spaces work for children who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices.

The school effort began after students noticed peers “just sitting on the sideline.” Community fundraising took off—from bake sales and coin drives to a $50,000 gift from BMW—turning one planned piece of equipment into a fully inclusive project. Even after John moved on to middle school before installation, he emphasized the pride of contributing to a playground designed so more kids could participate.

Playground manufacturer Landscape Structures later recruited John and teammates to a junior play group to test prototypes. Designers watched how kids used equipment and asked what worked and what didn’t—an approach rooted in Inclusive Design and practical advocacy. Feedback from disabled children led to features benefiting wheelchair users, Blind/Low vision kids, Deaf and hard of hearing kids, autistic kids, and children with cognitive disabilities.

Today John supports a new accessible playground with Minnesota Play For All, and the Glen Lake experience even inspired the children’s book “A Swing for Samara.” His story highlights how listening to disabled kids removes barriers to play and strengthens community belonging—clear steps toward Removing Barriers and building vibrant, inclusive neighborhoods where specific groups of children can participate fully.