Inclusive Playgrounds, Autism, and Community Change with Erica Witte

Episode 64 of the Inchstones Podcast, host & Autism Mom Sarah Kernion sits down with Erica Witte, mom and founder of Project Playground, to explore how her own advocacy sparked a movement for inclusive play spaces where all children (neurodiverse, disable, neurotypical) can play and connect together.

Erica shares how her experience as a special-needs parent inspired her to design accessible playgrounds equipped with communication boards, created in collaboration with local high school students. Together, Sarah and Erica discuss how inclusion is built through community, creativity, and conscious design.

This episode is a story of hope, practical innovation, and maternal leadership, showing that when parents model advocacy, they shape a more inclusive world for future generations.

Key Takeaways:

• Project Playground was founded to make play accessible for every child.
• Inclusive design builds empathy, confidence, and social skills.
• Community collaboration drives sustainable change.
• Communication boards improve access for non-speaking children.
• Advocacy modeled by parents inspires lifelong inclusion values.
• Empowering youth through design fosters connection and creativity.
• Awareness of accessibility is growing thanks to grassroots efforts.
• Emotional purpose often fuels the most impactful local projects.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Inchtones: Erica Witte on Project Playground
• (00:01:13) - What is Project Playground?
• (00:04:28) - The Imagination Tour of the School
• (00:09:37) - The Special Needs Mom Network
• (00:13:52) - Project Playground: Communication Boards for Non-Verbally Speaking
• (00:21:37) - What would be an inch stone win of yours currently as these projects