By Andie Gunter
A PLACE FOR ALL
Macie Kern is small but fierce. Her mom, Chelsie, describes her as full of life – strongly independent and smart, with a huge personality. She loves to sing and dance. Macie also has diastrophic dysplasia, which is one of the 400 types of dwarfism. Her doctors expect she will reach about 3 feet, 5 inches in height when she is fully grown.
Macie has had many surgeries to address different issues. After one of these surgeries, at age 3, she was able to start walking. Because the joints in her hands are fused, her fingers don’t bend. Chelsie said these issues don’t stop Macie. Chelsie has told Macie’s preschool teachers to let her do things her own way. It may not look the same as how other kids do things, but she figures out the way that works best for her. Chelsie, who has a background in early-childhood education, says Macie is great at coloring even though she holds a crayon differently than most kids.
Macie will begin kindergarten at St. James School in Haubstadt in the fall. When discussing replacing the playground at the school, the idea was brought up to install a playground that would work for kids of differing abilities – not just for Macie, but for other kids who will attend the school or who live in the area. It will be the first of its kind in Gibson County.
The new playground will feature a solid surface that is wheelchair accessible and helpful for those, like Macie, who struggle to walk on uneven surfaces. It will have ramps, an accessible swing, and five or six slides of different sizes. It will include features that are helpful for kids with ADHD. There will be drums to pound on and steps to hop across. The playground will be in St. James’ school colors – blue and gold. The hope is to build a playground that will be fun for preschoolers as well as eighth graders.
Christy Karcher, who heads the playground committee, says they have seen lots of support come in – from the Men’s Club and the Altar Society to the Student Council, which held a free-dress day to raise funds. The committee has applied for grants and has a few more fundraisers planned. The hope is to have the playground ready by the beginning of the 2023-24 school year in August.
Play – climbing, spinning and running around – helps kids in many ways. Playing on playgrounds give kids a chance to burn energy, and improves mental health and behavior. Creating an inclusive playground removes obstacles that keep some kids from reaping these benefits.
When asked what she’s most looking forward to with the playground, Macie said “Everything!” – and that she can’t wait to play on it with her friends once it’s finished.
If you would like to learn more about plans for the playground, visit stjameshaubstadt.com. The committee hopes to post drawings of the playground soon.
Andie Gunter serves as Office Coordinator for the Diocese of Evansville Office of Catechesis.