Editorial: It's worth the effort to care for those with special needs

It wouldn't be surprising if a cost-conscious Elk Grove Park District board had been tempted to turn down a request from Sheri Cappello - or dismissed her with vague promises to consider her idea.

But the board didn't.

It launched a serious study of its facilities accessible to children with disabilities, and that led to the opening last weekend of a new $100,000 all-inclusive playground at the village's Al Hattendorf Center.

The new area adds a variety of new attractions specially designed for children with special needs.

Capello, of Elk Grove Village, appeared before the park board because she wanted more opportunities for her son with special needs.

"The park board voted for it, and thanks to them, we now have a park," she told our Bob Chwedyk at the playground dedication Saturday.

Of course, it wasn't quite so simple. First, the park district reviewed its facilities and its population and determined the need for additional options. Then it identified pieces of equipment to add and developed a plan for the addition.

It's what park boards do, certainly. Identify needs and find ways to address them. But it's also especially gratifying to see organizations willing to commit resources to limited populations.

The Elk Grove parks study found 500 families who participate in programs from the Northwest Special Recreation Association alone, so a demand for parks services was evident, but that demand had to be considered in the context of a community of nearly 35,000 residents.

Thankfully, the Elk Grove park board saw the value of fitting special-needs kids into that context. And it's not alone in such an assessment. Communities throughout the suburbs are increasingly finding ways to incorporate kids with special needs and their families into their planning and development.

Last May, the DuPage County Forest Preserve District approved a new phase in the development of a sensory garden and playground for children with special needs in the Wheaton Park District. Festivals like Elburn Days, South Elgin's Riverfest Express, Naperville's Ribfest and countless others make provisions to ensure that kids with physical and developmental disabilities can get into the spirit of celebration and enjoy their communities' amenities as much as every other resident.

In a fully inclusive world, such efforts ought not seem extraordinary, and, to be sure, they're growing increasingly common in the suburbs. But they also don't come easy or cheap.

Agencies that provide them aren't just helping the limited population affected, they're also adding to a caring and welcoming environment that benefits their entire community.