Bethany Boaz loves to visit the playground.
"She has a blast. She loves interacting with other kids, and sometimes that's an issue because the other kids don't understand like why she's not talking to me, because she is, for the most part, nonverbal,” said Brittany Boaz, Bethany’s mom.
Her mother said her playground experience can be a difficult one when compared to other children.
"She has a hearing disorder. It's called auditory neuropathy. So that can cause for her hearing to be distorted. So my issue when we come to the park is trying to get her attention if she's trying to run away from me or if she does ever get away from me," said Brittany.
Bethany's mother described it as a frightening experience.
"Being able to call her name to find where she is doesn't work for me. So, being at a park where it’s wide open, there's nothing but road around it, can be a little scary whenever we come," said Brittany.
In an effort to help kids like Bethany, Coryell Community Church is aiming to build the first all-abilities playground in Coryell County, and they say there really is a need.
“Just according to the local school district here, we're not a very large school district, there are over 300 children in our school district alone with some sort of disability," said Daniel Crowther, lead pastor at Coryell Community Church.
However, the church is working on making a play space where no matter their ability any child can play on it.
"All kinds of different things that engage all seven senses. We have things that engage visual setbacks, auditory setbacks. There's a lot of social engagement that's intentionally planned into that, of course, there are the swings and there are the playscapes and other things,” said Crowther.
Something families said they were glad to hear.
"I'm excited about that. Meeting other kids who sign. Meeting other parent's who've gone through the same stuff. Having a place where we can all go and just hang out and relax and let our kids be kids," said Brittany.
The church is raising money to build the new playground, and they hope for it to be fully funded and built by summer 2019.
To help with their efforts, you donate to the cause or text "Coryell" to 77977.
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