Chennai to Get its First Special Park For Disabled Children

Kilikili, a Kannada term, translates to the warbling laughter of a child. It is also the name of a registered trust, formed by parents of children with special needs.

Driven by volunteers and supported by professionals, its aim is to make play areas accessible to all children, regardless of their disabilities.

Taking stock of the lack of such facilities in Chennai, the Greater Chennai Corporation is working with Kilikili to create such a public play space near Santhome. The special park will not only be used by children with disabilities, but by all kids, the Times of India reported.

The park is part of Chennai’s Smart City Mission endeavor.

The wheelchair-friendly park will cost Rs 1.3 crore to build. Among other play equipment, it will have apparatus that stimulate the sensory development of children.

Kilikili managing trustee Kavitha Krishnamoorthy told ToI that the park would also be open to youngsters without special needs as well, to allow all children to interact with each other. Making play inclusive is what the organisation wishes to do.

Kilikili mission, Krishnamoorthy said to ToI, is to create an “inclusive society where all children, all people are respected for their unique abilities, where diversity is viewed as a societal strength”.

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The trust, which has in the past received recognition for its work from Unicef, has set up three such parks in Bengaluru with help from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). The respective locations of such parks are Basavangudi, Coles Park and Rajajinagar.

Bengaluru is said to have the highest number of disabled friendly parks in the country.

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