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Committee weighs $2,000 parks communication board to help nonverbal users
Summary
Members discussed a proposal for a visual 'communication board' for parks to aid nonverbal visitors and people with communication challenges; staff said a large board costs a little over $2,000 and suggested St. Pete Park as the first site with potential sponsor logos for additional support.
A staff member proposed adding a visual "communication board" to Sweet Home parks to help nonverbal users and people with communication challenges interact and participate in park activities.
"So basically it is a visual image board with all kinds of relevant park-related images so that people who have challenges communicating or who are nonverbal are able to still have social interactions with people who are in the parks," the staff member said, explaining the device is a low-tech, inclusive way for people to point at images to request activities, spell a name or indicate a parent’s phone number if a child is lost. She said a large board would cost a little over $2,000 and that adding up to eight sponsor logos would cost about $100 extra.
Committee members responded favorably and discussed starting with St. Pete Park because it is the committee’s most heavily used park. Members noted the board could tie to earlier autism-friendly efforts and that the police department recently completed related training.
Next steps: staff said they would work on a fundraising approach and return with a draft letter or sponsorship plan for committee consideration.
