Three additional boards with 66 picture symbols facilitate communication and promote inclusion
The town of Reinheim has equipped three more playgrounds with communication boards. The new boards are located at the playground on Taubenstraße in Zeilhard, at the Georgenhausen leisure center, and at the playground on Am Schützenrain in Ueberau. They are designed to help children with varying linguistic and cognitive abilities communicate and play together. According to the town, there is now one such board in every district of Reinheim.
The city had already installed communication boards at the playgrounds "Am Spielfeld" and "In den Orscheläckern" in the past two years. With these three new locations, the service is now being extended to the entire city area.
66 pictograms facilitate communication
The colorful communication boards each contain 66 so-called METACOM symbols. These are easily understandable pictograms designed to enable communication even without spoken language.
The symbols help, for example, children with disabilities or people with limited German language skills. They can point to the pictures to communicate with others and express their wishes or needs.
The METACOM symbol system was specifically developed for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Its clearly designed pictograms help to overcome language barriers and facilitate everyday communication.
Playing together without language barriers
Playgrounds bring together children with different abilities, needs, and language skills. It's not always equally easy for everyone to communicate with each other.
The communication boards are intended to provide practical support. Using the picture symbols, children can interact with each other and participate in playing together.
This benefits not only children with language or cognitive impairments. Children who speak little German also gain an additional opportunity to communicate with others.
The food banks thus contribute to breaking down barriers and promoting participation in play and social activities.
Mayor Feick: Strengthening inclusion in public spaces
For Mayor Manuel Feick, the communication boards are an important part of the city's efforts to promote greater inclusion.
"The communication boards are part of a longer-term inclusive concept of the city of Reinheim. There is now such a board in every district, which aims to offer all children equal communication opportunities and to strengthen social participation," explains Feick.
By expanding the range of services, the city aims to make playgrounds places where as many children as possible can come into contact with each other, regardless of their individual circumstances.
Communication boards at five locations
With the three new signs, there are now a total of five playgrounds in Reinheim equipped accordingly.
The existing information boards are located at the playgrounds "Am Spielfeld" and "In den Orscheläckern". New locations have been added in Zeilhard, Georgenhausen and Ueberau.
Equipping playgrounds with communication boards is therefore a further step towards implementing the city of Reinheim's long-term inclusion concept.
The most important information
What: Communication boards on Reinheim playgrounds
Number: Five signs throughout the city, three of which are newly installed
Image symbols: 66 METACOM symbols each
Goal: To facilitate understanding and promote social participation
Target groups: In particular, children with linguistic or cognitive impairments as well as people with limited German language skills
New locations:
- Playground Taubenstraße in Zeilhard
- Georgenhausen Leisure Centre
- Playground Am Schützenrain in Ueberau
Existing locations: Playgrounds “Am Spielfeld” and “In den Orscheläckern”
Initiator: City of Reinheim
(REINHEIM – RED/PSR)
