LIC School Debuts Playground For Kids With Autism

LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS — A Long Island City public school for children with special needs unveiled a new playground designed for individuals on the autism spectrum.

P4Q@Skillman, a K-8 school for students with autism and special needs, celebrated the ribbon cutting of a $250,000 sensory playground on Wednesday. The playground project won the most votes in City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer's 2015-2016 participatory budget, which allows residents to choose how to spend public funds.

The Long Island City school has about 100 students with autism, according to Assistant Principal Stephen Reese. The new sensory playground — which received more than 1,400 votes — is designed specifically for children with motor skill and sensory issues. Both can be symptoms of autism, according to the organization Autism Speaks.

Jadyn Ramirez, 6, enjoys P4@Skillman’s new “sensory playground” designed for children with autism and other special needs.

Ramirez has Down syndrome and is on the autism spectrum, and he is nonverbal.@JimmyVanBramer pic.twitter.com/kkSmNyfIod
— Maya Kaufman (@mayakauf) April 10, 2019

"As Mr. Rogers said, ‘Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood,’" Alison Quinlan, Interim Acting Principal of P4Q, said. "Now, we are able to not only address educational and social skills but now play."

P4Q@Skillman's sensory playground features "touch and feel areas", rock climbing and a slide — all on a special surface to cushion falls.

Thrilled to join teachers, admin, & the entire student body of P4Q@Skillman for the ribbon cutting of its new sensory playground, funded through #ParticipatoryBudgeting! So proud that our efforts will allow children with autism and special needs to play, explore, & learn! pic.twitter.com/NovABicBq5
— Jimmy Van Bramer (@JimmyVanBramer) April 10, 2019

"I do a lot of ribbon cuttings," Van Bramer said during the ceremony, "but there are very few that are as meaningful as this one."

P4 Queens has a total of five schools across the borough that serve children with autism and other special needs.