A few years ago I took my son to Mosi (Museum of Science and Industry) and we played in the children's area. One of the exhibits was a obstacle course for someone to try and use a wheelchair and maneuver through and see how long it took to get from the beginning to the end. My son was four at the time (he is six now), so he had a hard time doing the course, but giggled and had fun.

We then went onto the other exhibits and finished the day with ice cream. While driving home, my son profoundly announces "being in a wheelchair is different, but it doesn't make YOU different." This coming from a 4 year old!! I said to him, you are absolutely right and went onto to talk about persons of all abilities. Being in my field and working with persons of all abilities, my son is always proud to meet amputees, persons in wheelchairs, and being his age and as you know, they just say it like they see it and ask questions.

We are excited because this weekend at Freedom Playground is Touch a Truck day. We will get to see all different trucks, fire trucks, moving trucks, ambulances, and of course, Adam will be looking for Sarah, so he can say "HI." Freedom Playground's created with Sarah and other children AND adults with physical limitations.

Ironically, I started writing this at the end of the day and didn't have a chance to finish, so I have continued onto to write it at home. While on my way home last night, I decided to call my dad. He seemed down and I inquired what was wrong. He unfortunately has many health issues and so I usually try to call and cheer him up. He informed me that the doctor told him that due to being unstable on his feet and the risk of falling too great, that he must get a power chair to be mobile from now on.

I just listened and told him if he needed me, that I was here. After we hung up, it dawned on me what I had started writing about, so I called him back and told him about the story of my son and I going to Mosi and about what he had said about being in a wheelchair. Although this was something nice for him to hear, he still has a huge adjustment to the fact his mobility will be changing. I hope to bring him closer to persons that are using wheelchairs and power scooters to see that the chair doesn't define them, that is simply a means of getting from point A to point B in a way you may not have been use to.

Well, it is Saturday morning and although we have a soccer game first, I cannot WAIT to go to Freedom Playground for "Touch a Truck" day!!

Freedom Playground was created by a mom who has two adorable girls and one of them has cerebral palsy, her means of mobility is using a power chair, so accessing a playground with bark and sand is not easy. Her daughter Sarah’s disability did not limit her desire to play; she just needed a more accessible place to play, so this inspired her mom to create a park for ALL abilities. In 2004, Freedom Playground Foundation formed a non-profit 501(c)(3). It brought together people of all abilities to create a beautiful barrier-free play environment in Macfarlane Park. Now they are part of the CVS All Kids Can program and are proud to have a few other projects and parks in the works.

To learn more about Freedom Playground, please go to www.freedomplayground.org