Nature doesn’t discriminate, it doesn’t make judgments. Rain falls on every child.
– Ruth Wilson, author and Children & Nature Network research library curator

Thanks to Ruth Wilson for sharing “Connecting Children of All Abilities to Nature Play & Therapeutic Gardens,” a rich collection of resources from the Children and Nature Network. Along with Louise Chawla, Wilson curated the collection, which includes a research digest focused on “the benefits children with special needs receive from engagement with nature, various types of nature-based interventions, as well as barriers to nature engagement for children with special needs.”

In one piece in the research digest, a 2020 research review by Masterton et al, 27 of 49 studies “found that the interaction of nature, individual changes, and social changes were linked to best mental health outcomes, regardless of program type (e.g., wilderness adventures, horticultural therapy, care farms, etc.). The desired outcomes include decreased stress, anxiety, and mental fatigue and increased physical activity, confidence, self-esteem, and willingness to make change. Some of the mechanisms related to the desired outcomes include time for reflection, planned structured activities, learning new skills, and opportunities to share.”

Also included in the resource collection is “Say Yes to Kids with Disabilities: Stories and Strategies for Including ALL Kids,” by Elizabeth Bullard et al. In it, they note:

“Inclusion goes beyond accessibility—it is the active and meaningful engagement of people with disabilities in all levels of society. The presence of people with disabilities does not constitute inclusion, unless people with disabilities are valued, seen as contributing members of the group, and feel a sense of belonging.”

Today is World Down Syndrome Day. Celebrate by watching the brief 50 mums, 50 Kids, 1 Extra Chromosome from Wouldn’t Change a Thing and by connecting with the people with Down Syndrome who’ve enriched your life!