Wollongong Council installs braille signage at playground

Wollongong City Council has installed braille signage at Luke’s Place, Corrimal to help children and carers who are blind or have low vision enjoy the playground.

Luke’s Place now includes a Braille map of the internal space and equipment for carers and children. The signage provides opportunities for all children to interact with the Braille to learn more about how some children and adults read in this way.

The playground features the region’s first carousel that can be used by children of all abilities. It also offers colour-coded, textured sections for children with low vision, areas where deaf children or children with limited hearing can interact with noise and vibration as well as active and quiet zones.

In developing the signage the Council worked closely with Vision Australia in Wollongong to create a map that will enable the children and carers to more easily navigate the playground and find equipment to play on.

Explaining that the development allows children with low vision or who may be blind to enjoy the playground and the full range of equipment, Wollongong City Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery stated "we’ve not heard of another children’s playground where you have a sign that helps children who are blind or have low vision. Council’s staff in Community Development worked closely with Vision Australia and a specific sign maker in Taree on this project.”

Luke’s Place is a specially designed playground where children of all abilities can play.

The Council designed the playground with the help of local children and community members.

The playground was named in honour of Corrimal resident Luke Rapley, whose family helped to make the park a reality.