{{short description|Accessible playgrounds (non-profit organization)}} thumb|Adaptive swings at Shane's Inspiration playground in Griffith Park, Los Angeles

'''Shane's Inspiration''' is a California-based nonprofit organization that works toward creating accessible playgrounds and supporting inclusive play, through projects in the United States and abroad.

==Origins== thumb|Griffith Park playground equipment with a castle theme thumb|Griffith Park playground equipment with a rocket theme

Shane's Inspiration was founded in 1998, by television producer Scott A. Williams and his wife Catherine Curry-Williams, and their friend Tiffany Harris, in memory of Scott and Catherine's son Shane, who died in infancy from the effects of spinal muscular atrophy.<ref>[http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/05/13/local-couple-gives-disabled-children-a-place-to-play-after-loss-of-son/ "Local Couple Gives Disabled Children a Place to Play after Loss of Son"] ''CBS Los Angeles'' (May 13, 2014).</ref><ref>Duane Noriyuki, [https://web.archive.org/web/20160307131551/http://articles.latimes.com/1998/apr/01/news/ls-34695/2 "Always In Their Heart"] ''Los Angeles Times'' (April 1, 1998).</ref> They were inspired in part by the work of Amy Jaffe Barzach, founder of Boundless Playgrounds a few years earlier.<ref>Lorenzo Benet and Christina Tapper, [http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20230447,00.html "A Chance to Play for Disabled Children"] ''People Magazine'' 70(14)(October 6, 2008).</ref> The flagship Shane's Inspiration playground in Griffith Park opened in the autumn of 2000.<ref>[http://www.laparks.org/dos/playground/facility/griffithUAPk.htm Shane's Inspiration - Griffith Park], City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.</ref>

==Projects and programs== Since the first playground was established, more than fifty community playgrounds have followed, large and small, with involvement from Shane's Inspiration which may include help with design, sourcing materials, grant writing, working with local governments, or other steps in the process. Among their completed projects are Aidan's Place in Westwood,<ref>Duane Noriyuki, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-dec-05-lv-playground5-story.html "In a Boy's Memory, the Gift of Play"] ''Los Angeles Times'' (December 5, 2001).</ref> Brandon's Village in Calabasas,<ref>Adam Wills, [http://www.jewishjournal.com/community_briefs/article/calabasas_evens_playing_field_for_specialneeds_kids_20061020/ "Calabasas Evens Playing Field for Special-Needs Kids"] ''Jewish Journal of Greater L. A.'' (October 19, 2006).</ref> Chanticleer Park in Live Oak,<ref>Noel Smith, [http://www.tpgonlinedaily.com/chanticleer-park/ "A Story of Determination and Collaboration"] ''Aptos Times'' (September 26, 2015).</ref><ref>Mariana Hicks, [http://www.kionrightnow.com/news/local-news/local-moms-team-up-to-create-a-place-for-all-kids-to-play/33743870 "Local Moms Team Up to Create a Place for All Kids to Play"] ''KIONRight Now'' (June 23, 2015).</ref> SEBA Park in Elgin, Illinois,<ref>Janelle Walker, [http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elgin-courier-news/news/ct-ecn-south-elgin-park-st-0809-20150808-story.html "Despite Budget Cuts, SEBA Playground Opens to All Needs"] ''Chicago Tribune'' (August 8, 2015).</ref> Winwood's Enchanted Playground in Hutchinson, Kansas,<ref>Ken Stephens, [http://www.hutchnews.com/news/local_state_news/city-donors-to-open-inclusive-playground-at-new-park-on/article_e931020f-2cbc-5ae8-b936-bdbfdef86c04.html "City, Donors to Open Inclusive Playground at New Park on Friday"] ''Hutchinson News'' (June 17, 2014).</ref> Fernangeles Park in Sun Valley, California,<ref>Daniel Serrano, [http://www.playgroundprofessionals.com/news/projects/las-new-inclusive-playground-sun-valley-ready-fun108 "L. A.'s New Inclusive Playground in Sun Valley is Ready for Fun"] ''Los Angeles Register'' (August 1, 2014).</ref> and inclusive playgrounds in Cuenca, Ecuador<ref>[http://www.vicepresidencia.gob.ec/cuenca-tendra-el-primer-parque-inclusivo-infantil-de-ecuador/ "Cuenca tendrá el primer Parque Inclusivo Infantil de Ecuador"] Vicepresidencia, Republica del Ecuador (October 17, 2012).</ref> and Bangalore, India.<ref>Sruthi Atmakur, [http://www.unicef.org/sowc2013/focus_playgrounds_of_inclusion.html "Focus: Playgrounds of Inclusion"] ''The State of the World's Children 2013: Children with Disabilities'' (UNICEF Publications).</ref>

In addition to the building of physical playgrounds, Shane's Inspiration has developed curricula and social programming to sustain inclusive play at the sites it develops.<ref>Angela Hokanson, [http://articles.glendalenewspress.com/2007-11-30/news/gnp-playground30_1_playgrounds-disabilities-glendale-unified-school-district "Program Has Kids' Group Up to Learn about Special Needs"] ''Glendale News-Press'' (November 30, 2007).</ref> Shane's Inspiration has also collaborated with Too Small to Fail and equipment manufacturer Landscape Structures Inc., to create playground signage in English and Spanish that encourages conversations between parents and children.<ref>Christina Samuels, [http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/early_years/2015/06/laundromats_playgrounds_to_promote_early-childhood_literacy.html "Laundromats, Playgrounds, to Promote Early-Childhood Literacy"] ''Education Week'' (June 10, 2015).</ref>

Fundraising activities for Shane's Inspiration include the annual "Walk and Roll" event in Griffith Park.<ref>Brittany Scheffler, [http://www.canyon-news.com/run-walk-and-roll-for-shanes-inspiration/39043 "Run, Walk, and Roll for Shane's Inspiration"] ''Canyon News'' (September 6, 2015).</ref><ref>Danny LoPriore, [http://yonkers.dailyvoice.com/neighbors/yonkers-scott-williams-writes-ncis-builds-playgrounds/534485/ "Yonkers' Scott Williams Writes NCIS, Builds Playgrounds"] ''Yonkers Daily Voice'' (October 1, 2012).</ref>

[[File:Los Angeles Metro and LADOT Dash bus play equipment at Aidan's Place at Westwood Recreation Center, Los Angeles, California.jpg|thumb|left|Los Angeles Metro and LADOT Dash transit-themed play equipment at Aidan's Place at Westwood Recreation Center, Los Angeles, California]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commonscat|Shane's Inspiration}} *[http://www.shanesinspiration.org/ Shane's Inspiration's website.]

Category:Disability organizations based in California Category:Non-profit organizations based in California