Cover Story December 2022

By Annette Pinder

 

Jason and Jennifer Evchich’s 9-year-old son Mason is afflicted with hypomyelinating leukodystrophy, a genetic condition affecting the myelin sheath in his central nervous system. Mason’s brother, Matthew, succumbed to same condition, when he was just 5-years old. Despite being unable to walk, talk, crawl, or even play outside, the boys shared an incredible bond. Sadly, like many disabled children, Mason and Matthew were unable to play alongside their sister McKenna or other neurotypical children.

Realizing that interacting with others their age is crucial to a child’s development, Jason and Jennifer founded Mason’s Mission. Their goal was to create a fully accessible playground for children of all abilities. Since then, Mason’s Mission Pendleton Park Playground has become a model for the other playgrounds they have built in Tonawanda, Holland, and most recently, the accessible indoor playground at Explore & More – The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children’s Museum (Explore & More).

To explain what children and families experience at Mason’s Mission playgrounds, Jason loves recounting a story that inspires him to keep going. He says, “One day, I watched two 3-year-old boys playing with one another in the sensory area in Pendleton. One child was neurotypical, while the other had muscular dystrophy and used a walker. When I noticed the mom of the neurotypical child walk over to the grandmother of a boy with muscular dystrophy, I fully expected her to remove her child out of fear of harming the disabled child. Instead, she introduced herself, and both families have since enjoyed a lasting friendship. Two years later, I received a call asking us to reserve the pavilion so that the boys could celebrate their fifth birthday together. Even more special is that the boys share the same birthdate!”

Knowing that the only 100% inclusive playgrounds in WNY were all designed and created by Mason’s Mission, but could only be used for part of the year due to our weather, Explore & More wanted to take the inclusive outdoor playground concept and bring it inside. With the help of Mason’s Mission, Dunn Tire, the Ferranti family, and dozens of Give 716 supporters, the museum’s indoor accessible playground is now open, just in time for the holiday season and the cold winter months.

At the center of the playground is the We-Go-Round® carousel for children of all abilities. The We-Go-Round® can be turned from the inside or outside, features a base that is flush with surrounding surfacing for easy wheelchair roll-on, and multiple benches and spaces for wheelchairs. Silvia Steele, Explore & More’s Access and Inclusion Specialist, explains, “The carousel promotes social and communication skills by having users face the center for better interactions, and has an integrated speed control for fun and safe rotation. Sensory tunnels offer an experience filled with color, light, and texture through a mix of materials. They are wide enough for users of wheelchairs and walkers and develop the senses by encouraging imaginative and self-led exploration. The playground walls also feature activities that enable children to engage in sensory interactions, including playing with the color wheel, making music on the bongo drums, or spinning gears to learn about cause-and-effect.”

Noting the importance of inclusion and accessibility, Steele says, “Physical play is an important part of every child’s brain development. Multiple studies have shown that physical play benefits children’s physical, cognitive and social development, giving them a higher level of self-confidence and keeping them healthier overall. This is true for all kids – whether they have disabilities or not.”

Explore & More holds Au-Some Evenings the second Friday of every month from 5:30 to 7:30 pm for families of children with autism and sensory processing needs. In addition to exhibits, special programming includes themed art activities, SPCA support animals, a music group, and volunteers from SUNY Buffalo State’s Exceptional Education Graduate Program. Sensory-friendly backpacks are available upon request that include noise-canceling headphones, sensory toys, and fidgets in order to enhance a child’s museum experience. There are also two quiet spaces at the museum equipped with special lighting and calming sensory elements that support children and families who need a break, or who are overwhelmed by the stimulating environment.

Meanwhile, Mason Mission’s next playground is being planned for Maple West Elementary School in Williamsville, and Pendleton is being expanded to include a waterpark, waterproof wheelchairs, a floating playground, new accessible bathrooms, a second pavilion, inclusion classes, and help for parents and caretakers.

Learn more about Mason’s Mission and see photos of Mason and his family at https://masonsmissionfoundation.org. For information about Explore & More, call 716-655-5131 and visit www.exploreandmore.org.