OSHKOSH, Wis.-A trip to the playground is supposed to be fun. But for children with disabilities, it's often frustrating. Now, there's an effort underway in Oshkosh to make all children welcome and able to play.
Colson Tabbert is full of energy. His mom, Jennifer, says her son is often forced to sit on the sidelines while other kids play at the park. "He has a physical disability. It's called arthrogryposis multiplex congenita. He was born with it, and it means fixed or crooked joints," Jennifer explains.
But happier days are on the horizon. A new playground is in the works. Jessica Stieg and her team of volunteers are working tirelessly on the Oshkosh Inclusive Park Project. The city will turn Abe Rochlin Park into a wheelchair-friendly play area with rubberized mats, ramps and equipment people of all ages and abilities can access. "Our main goal in this project is just to really bring people together;" Jessica told us.
For the Tabbert family, it's a dream come true, a place where Colson can smile, play and just be a kid. "It's going to be so exciting to get him out of the house and be able to play, not go to the park and be stuck watching children play;" Jennifer says. "He'll be able to have fun too which he deserves, because he's had kind of a hard life."
The new, inclusive playground is expected to be built and open by next summer.
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