Parks For All!

By Kaya Maciak and Angela Llano

Back in November, New Jersey’s third largest city Paterson opened two new inclusive playgrounds to accommodate children with disabilities in the area. According to a study published by the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 35 children in New Jersey were diagnosed with autism by their 4th birthday. The Roberto Clemente Park, located in Paterson’s 5th ward, features wheelchair accessible equipment, while the Lou Costello Park specifically caters to neurodiverse children. This story is centerd around Paterson resident and mother of three, Mayra-Raquel Amador, who would travel 15 minutes to a nearby town in search of an inclusive playground for her oldest daughter Vitzie, diagnosed with PDD-NOS—in short for Pervasive Developmental Disorder- Not Otherwise Specified. Amador finds Vitzie’s interactions outside of school vital to her social and personal development.​​ Co-producers Kaya Maciak and Angela Llano hoped that this story would spark discussions for accommodating children with disabilities closer to home. 

To read the written story, click here