‘When was the last time you saw a child in a wheelchair in a park playground?'
Think about it, says Maida Vale mum as she launches campaign
Friday, 24th February 2023 — By Tom Foot
Sara Momtaz has already had a campaign victory in Westminster
SARA Momtaz remembers the moment the fire was lit in her belly and set her on course for a nationwide campaign.
The corporate asset manager turned children’s book writer was watching a brother and sister playing happily together in park in Paddington Rec, as another sibling in a wheelchair watched-on in envy.
The 46-year-old, who is back living in Maida Vale in the area she grew up in, has a three-year-old daughter diagnosed with Down’s syndrome which, combined with related medical conditions, prevents her from using traditional playground equipment like swings, slides and seesaws.
But not only has she realised disabled children were being routinely excluded from playing with their peers, up and down the country, she has actually done something about it.
Ms Momtaz told Extra: “The trouble is when these things don’t affect you you just don’t notice them.
“It’s through this campaign that I realised how big the problem was – there is nothing out there, inclusive playgrounds for all children to play together literally do not exist.
“Think about it. The last time you were in a park, did you see a child in a wheelchair?
“If you have a child in a wheelchair there is just not enough for them to do.
“You can’t pick them up and put them in a swing. You can’t use a roundabout, especially if your child can only take a couple of steps.
“Playgrounds are just not very friendly places in terms of the equipment.
“Things are really backwards when it comes to the mindset on recreation in this country, particularly in comparison to Scandinavian counties.”
Sara’s daughter
Recalling the lightbulb moment, she said: “I was in Paddington Rec, which is a fantastic park, and I was watching this family a brother and sister and one young boy was in a wheelchair.
“The brother and sister were running around having a fantastic time. But this boy in the wheelchair, he couldn’t join in.
“The little boy’s face, I won’t forget it. That’s the thing that made me think this shouldn’t be happening and let’s do something about this.”
Now, with the help of a project team and experts at the University of Westminster, Ms Momtaz’s All Play campaign has seen designs drawn up for a playground that will be installed in a soon-to-be-revealed location in Westminster.
It will become one of the country’s first fully inclusive playgrounds – where all children can play together – with swings specially designed for children in wheelchairs, an activities corner that children with autism, ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and visual and hearing impairments, will be able to enjoy, with a “communications board”.
On top of that Ms Momtaz said Westminster playgrounds, when they are refurbished in the future, will be done with the All Play concept in mind.
She said: “It’s really important that this is not considered to be a park just for disabled children.
“That’s why the campaign is called All Play… because it’s about everyone being able to play together, regardless of your needs.
“What I hope is that this playground ends up being envied all around the world. Westminster is one of the richest councils in the country.
“If we can get it right here, other councils will jump up on board.”
Ms Momtaz worked for many years in the corporate world with asset management firms, most recently in the UAE.
But since her daughter Amani was born three years ago, her life has been transformed.
On top of campaigning for more inclusive playgrounds she has also published a series of children books: The Amazing Adventures of MouMou & Friends normalises children with disabilities and special needs and encourage them to play with their peers.
Ms Momtaz said: “My daughter has flipped my life upside down. She was born with a severe heart failure.
“When she was three months old I had the idea of a children’s character, MouMou, with Down’s syndrome and [puppy] Harvey.
“The Enzo character is my brother cat. Each of the stories introduces a new character with a disability.
“It’s about trying to raise awareness about kindness, that’s the concept.”
Westminster Council was approached for comment.
Enzo the cat
