Disability and risky outdoor play

A range of factors, including a safety focus in countries such as Australia, have reduced children’s opportunities to engage in risky outdoor play. Initiatives to promote risky play in typically developing children can also be beneficial for children with disabilities. Nonetheless, there are particular barriers for children with disabilities. The chapter starts by examining relevant legislation and conventions that recognise the rights of children with disabilities to engage in all types of play. Although significant reforms have been made, persistent problems exist with access to play spaces that afford risky play and autonomy when those spaces are available. Research discussed in this chapter reveals that some of the difficulties relate to immediate interactions with carers, which can be restrictive. Research also indicates that what happens in interactions between carers and children is often impacted by stigma related to disability. Where possible, this chapter uses systematic and scoping reviews as the main evidence base to capture the findings of large numbers of studies.