Wheelchair Accessible Parks Bill for Texas

posted on Jun 01 by Amelia in the Advocacy, Disability Law, Disability News, Wheelchair Accessibility, Wheelchair Accessibility Laws category

Currently there are no laws that require accessibility to be integrated into playgrounds and public parks, but a bill is being proposed for the state of Texas that could change everything.

“We’d like it to become part of the design that you always, from this point forward, make sure that you have some area for a child in a wheelchair that can access and can enjoy,” said Sergio Zarate.

Sergio Zarate is a co-founder of Down by the Border, a special needs advocacy group.

Zarate has been pushing for a Texas bill that will allow children in wheelchairs the same opportunity to play at the playground.

In the bill, legislation would require all parks to be 10 to 15 percent wheelchair accessible.

“They’ll be able to enjoy it just like any other child,” said Zarate.

The games can include a ramp to get to picture blocks, slides, wheelchair accessible swings, or elevated sandboxes.

Down by the Border hopes the bill will be introduced in January of next year.  Already, Zarate said State Representatives like Eddie Lucio III, is interested in backing the bill.