Kilikili

Kilikili, in collaboration with Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, has undertaken initiatives to create disabled-friendly play spaces in three parks across Bangalore. One such park, M N Krishna Rao Park, features a wheelchair-accessible play station with diverse interactive elements like sound rods, textured tiles, a bell, a steering wheel, knots and crosses, and an abacus. Additionally, the park offers safe swings, a tyre tunnel, wheelchair-friendly merry-go-rounds, and a Wheel-through arcade with varied textured pipes, providing multi-sensory stimulation for all children. Kilikili organizes regular inclusive activities aimed at integrating children of different abilities.
Gayatri Devi Park ihosts a unique play structure entirely accessible for wheelchairs, equipped with a ramp, merry-go-round, and slide. The park also includes other inclusive amenities such as wheelchair sand tables, secure swings, a sensory integration track, a tyre tunnel, and an accessible basketball pole.

Children access the inclusive play spaces through two main avenues:
1. Weekday School Programs: Special schools schedule visits for their children, providing them with a morning of play tailored to meet their developmental needs using specially designed play equipment. Each park accommodates approximately 100 children per week during school sessions.
2. Inclusive Events: Quarterly events bring together about 200 children, both with and without disabilities, on Saturday mornings. Supported by volunteers, parents, and teachers, these Integration Events focus on fostering interaction among children of all abilities. The aim is to encourage a sense of equality and sensitivity among participants. For children with disabilities, being integrated into a larger social group without discrimination contributes significantly to their sense of self-worth.

Observing the challenges faced by children with autism and developmental disabilities while interacting with others at Coles Park, Kilikili initiated a specialized social and play skills program. Addressing the core difficulty in autism—social interaction—this program aims to enhance the social engagement abilities of children.
Under the guidance of Sarbani Mallick, the founder Director of Bubbles Centre for Autism, a group of mothers and volunteers underwent training to administer a structured play skills development program. This initiative led to the establishment of the Buddies Centre on December 5, 2010, located on a volunteer's terrace. Weekly group play sessions have since been held, providing various activities such as music, movement, art, and outdoor games. These sessions assist children in learning to participate in group activities, express their needs, and follow social cues.

Various engaging auditory equipment designed to encourage creativity have been installed in the play area. The Elephant Slide incorporates bells along its steps, producing notes as children climb up. Additional musical experiences include tubular bells tuned to Hindolamragam notes, drums created from gas cylinders, and a Sound Strip featuring multiple sound-making instruments mounted on a frame. Sculptures of turtles with textured surfaces and a Wall mural featuring alphabets and numbers in both English and Braille captivate the children's interest. These installations cater to diverse games while also raising awareness and sensitivity among visitors about the Braille language.

Kilikili contributed to establishing an indoor play area within this school, addressing space limitations. The indoor space includes Braille Wall Murals in English and Kannada, a Knots and Crosses game, Tanagram puzzles, and an interactive installation involving nuts, bolts, and elastic ropes. These resources facilitate the creation of various shapes and aid in teaching mathematical concepts. Musical drums and a Singing Stone have also been set up. Notably, the project ensures consistent usage by integrating Play Space engagement into the school timetable.

The dedicated Centre designed to support the education and training of children with autism spectrum disorder features a Sensory Park, equipped with specially designed facilities to foster comprehensive child development. Along one side of the Centre, an Obstacle Course has been set up, incorporating a variety of elements including a tyre tunnel, a tube swing, a rope ladder, a small pond, a Burma bridge, a hanging bar, and a Climbing Wall. Additionally, traditional playground equipment such as a rope climber, a walking barrel, and textured stepping stones are available to familiarize children with standard park equipment. Furthermore, a pottery table has been established within the premises.