Krida: Design for Special Needs
Fostering accessible play environments that support sensory engagement and bring children of all abilities together.
A range of play structures that was designed as part of the course ‘Design for Special Needs’ guided by Dr. Gayatri Menon at NID Ahmedabad.
During the 3 weeks, we worked closely with the NGO ‘Prabhat Foundation’ and did extensive research to understand the unique needs and challenges that children with different locomotor disabilities face in their day to day lives.
By involving families, teachers, physiotherapists and caregivers, we ensured that the aids and toys were not only beneficial and enjoyable for the children but were also easy to incorporate into their daily lives at school and home.
Krida is an inclusive play space designed to engage children of all abilities in sensory-rich, accessible environments. With adaptable structures and multi-sensory elements, Krida enables children with diverse needs to explore, connect, and grow together through play. Developed in collaboration with educators and therapists, the project fosters empathy, encourages social interaction, and promotes motor and sensory skills, creating a safe and joyful space where differences are celebrated. Krida demonstrates how inclusive design can make play meaningful and accessible for every child.
”We focus so much on what they can’t do and we try to teach them that instead of focusing on what they can do and helping them improve in that aspect.”
- Kashmira, Teacher at Prabhat Foundation
What is cerebral palsy?
Cerebral Palsy refers to a group of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement & muscle coordination. It is caused by damage to or abnormalities inside the developing brain that disrupt the brain's ability to control movement and maintain posture and balance.
Spastic CP
Cerebral Cortex
Monoplegia
Dyskinetic CP
Basal Ganglia
Hemiplegia
Ataxic CP
Cerebellum
Diplegia
Mixed CP
Multiple Brain Areas
Quadriplegia
Symptoms
Increased or Decreased
Muscle Tone
Arching of the
back
Poor head
control
Inability to sit up by 8
months
Seizures / epilepsy
Random or uncontrolled
body movement
Balance & coordination
problems
Issues with eating
and swallowing
Learning difficulty
Visual / hearing
problems
Behavioral
problems
Sleeping problems
Treatments
Medication
Equipment
Physical Therapy
Surgery
Prabhat Foundation, Ahmedabad
Primary Research
Existing Therapies
Symptoms
Symptoms
Aarav
-
Prone to quick anger
-
Enjoys music, but gets agitated by harsh sounds
-
Appreciation motivation him
-
Low attention span
-
Enjoys therapy
-
Good Memory fordaily task
-
Knows to use mobile phone (good cognitive level)
3.5 Yrs
Vanshika
-
Orthopedic problem- restricted joint movements
-
Very friendly and playful
-
Loves appreciation
-
Low attention span
-
Therapy is painful for her
3 Yrs
Saqib
-
His has difficulty in speaking or expressing
-
Is enthusiastic about learning
-
Has difficulty in writing but is persistent on trying
-
And gets easily familiar with new people
10 Yrs
Hardik
-
Tends to get angry fast
-
Loves sugary food
-
Low attention span
-
Only comfortable with family
-
Have trust issues
-
Ptosis (abnormal low positioned upper eye lid)
5 Yrs
Commonalities
Happy in a social environment | Appreciation motivates them | Avoid & dislike forced activities | Short attention spans
To design a modular, low cost indoor or semi outdoor play structure for 5-10 year olds that helps them develop motor skills and improve their muscle strength along with balance and coordination.
Brief
Symptoms
A modular, semi outdoor play structure for children with locomotor disabilities to aid in full body movement and gross motor control through crawling. Crawling through the playhouse strengthens core muscles and limbs. The playhouse allows ‘abled’ and ‘differently abled’ children to play together and interact; thus building social skills. The individual cubes can be arranged in a different layouts to create interest and increase complexity to help the child develop further. The coloured windows result in light interaction which is an enjoyable experience for the child.
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A chalkboard for children with locomotor disabilities. The organic form and uneven surface encourages crawling on the chalkboard which strengthens core muscles and upper limbs. This action enhances coordination, balance, and body movement and promotes gross motor skill development through play while developing body awareness through rhythmic movement. It also fosters inclusivity by enabling all children to play together.
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