Even before the first flight departs, a feature of the new Kansas City International Airport is making history around the world. Kansas City is home to the world’s first accessible, comprehensive play area within an airport, and dozens of families have had the opportunity to see it. First time on Monday – and kids of all abilities got to try it. “That’s the magic of what we do,” said Deborah Wibrecht, head of inclusion for the Variety Children’s Charity in Greater Kansas City. “It allows all children to play together and make friends, and we want to be seen as the friendliest place in the world. We want people to come here and have a holiday here and we want people to move here because of the overall effort.” The play area has a simulator plane and a motion control tower. weather. It also features comprehensive exercise videos and sensory games. “Children with special needs and able-bodied children can play together,” Weibrecht said. “Because when children play together, they learn tolerance, acceptance and diversity, and they forget that there are differences and become friends.” For parents like Ali O’Grady, the play area has extra meaning. Her four-year-old son has autism, and she said, “It just makes my heart glow.” “The idea that my son can come here and have an area where he can play and interact with other kids and be a part of something special.” She said the play area is something everyone can benefit from. O’Grady said, “A very proud moment as a Kansas. And to be here and see our community being built and see my son being thought of and included in our society.” They hope more cities will implement inclusive play areas at their airports. Variety KC also helped implement a universal changing room that can be used for adults and children, a sensory room and playroom Flight Simulation, a six-year project in the making.
Even before the first flight departs, the feature of the new Kansas City International Airport is making history around the world.
Kansas City is home to the world’s first accessible comprehensive play area inside an airport.
Dozens of families got to see it for the first time on Monday – and kids of all abilities got to experience it.
“That’s the magic of what we do,” said Deborah Weibrecht, chief inclusion officer for the Children’s Charity Variety of Greater Kansas City. “It allows all the kids to play together and make friends, and we want to be seen as the friendliest place in the world. We want people to come here and vacation here and we want people to move here because of the overall effort.”
The play area contains a simulated plane and an air traffic control tower. It also features comprehensive exercise videos and sensory games.
“Children with special needs and able-bodied children can play together,” Wibrecht said. “Because when children play together, they learn tolerance, acceptance and diversity, and they forget that there are differences and just become friends.”
For parents like Ali O’Grady, the play area is extra meaningful. Her four-year-old son is autistic.
“It just makes my heart glow,” she said. “The idea that my son can come here and have an area where he can play and interact with other kids and be part of something special.”
She said the play area is something everyone can benefit from.
“It’s just a very, very proud moment as a Kansas City. And to be here and see our community being built and to see my son being thought of and included in our community,” O’Grady said.
They’re pleased with Kansas City’s ability to set standards, and they’re hopeful that more cities will implement comprehensive play areas at their airports.
Variety KC also helped implement a universal changing room that could be used for adults and children, a sensory room and a flight simulator room. They said this was a six year in the making project.
“Devoted student. Bacon advocate. Beer scholar. Troublemaker. Falls down a lot. Typical coffee enthusiast.”