A team of Tennessee Tech engineering students has built new adaptive playground equipment for kids with disabilities at White County’s Findlay Elementary.
The team inspired after meeting Alivia Mosher, a Findlay Elementary student with cerebral palsy. The equipment resembles a playhouse and is designed to accommodate Mosher and her peers. Findlay Elementary Assistant Principal Kyle Hicks said the new playground equipment has been a huge success.
“Anytime that you see them happy, I mean, this is kind of the reason we do what we do,” Hicks said. “Just I keep reiterating, you know, the word blessing, but you know it’s a blessing to see her out there with her peers.”
Another group of Tennessee Tech students improved Mosher’s mobility on the playground by adding a removable stabilizing wheel to the front of Mosher’s wheelchair. Hicks said the new playground space will always have a special meaning since it was built by Tennessee Tech students.
“I enjoy seeing those students give back to the communities in the Upper Cumberland,” Hicks said. “Which it does make a big difference. It’s local, it’s like I said, I’m an alum there, so it brings a smile to my face to see those kids, you know, give back to the community and help those that are in need of help.”
Hicks said in years past, Findlay Elementary’s Comprehensive Development Classes were handled by Woodland Park. Hicks said the school started to build an adaptive playground space when the school started handling some of those students two years ago.
“We were trying to put one together, so it’s been a huge help because we can’t just go out there and buy just what we want,” Hicks said. “I mean, it’s costly. Our funds are kind of tight, so we buy a piece or two a year, and I think with the partnership with Tech, that is gonna help us out a lot as far as putting more pieces of playground equipment on the playground.”
Hicks said the school is currently fundraising to purchase more adaptive playground equipment.