On May 24, 2025, Play, Connect, Thrive: Perspectives on Inclusive Outdoor Activities for Autistic Children brought together voices from research, education, and living and lived experience to imagine outdoor spaces where every child can play, connect, and thrive.
Families, educators, researchers, and community partners gathered at the Giant Steps Centre in Montreal for a conversation that reached far beyond the playground (Production: Marrone Films)
Opening the afternoon, Chief Kawisente Carole McGregor reminded us that “our relationship with land and nature is sacred, and every child deserves to feel they belong in it.” Her words echoed through discussions that explored why outdoor play matters so deeply, and what still stands in the way for too many autistic children.
The panel, co-organized by TACC and Giant Steps, drew together local and national leaders. “There’s so much evidence that nature supports children’s well-being,” said Louise de Lannoy of Outdoor Play Canada, “but our spaces are not always designed with neurodivergent kids in mind. We can change that.”
For Kelly Bron Johnson, founder of Completely Inclusive and a parent to an autistic child, change starts with listening. “When my son tells me he feels left out because he can’t access a play structure, that’s a design problem, not his problem.”
Participants didn’t just talk about inclusion; they experienced it. Metalude, a Montreal-based non-profit, led children and families through play activities in the Giant Steps playground, itself an example of how accessible design can open opportunities for joy and connection.
In interviews during the event, Seiun Thomas Henderson, Director of Research and Innovation at Giant Steps, spoke to the importance of evidence-informed design: “This is a playground built by and for our community. It’s not only about ramps and sensory-friendly spaces, but also about creating social opportunities where autistic youth feel welcomed and understood.”
(Photos by: Patrizia Castiglione)
The impact of the day rippled beyond the Centre’s grounds. As CTV News, City News and Global News highlighted in their coverage, the conversations sparked by this event are part of a broader research and advocacy effort to transform how public spaces are imagined and built.
“Today was about more than play,” said Martine Habra, Partnerships and Knowledge Mobilization Lead at TACC. “It’s about shifting perspectives, and generating knowledge, so that autistic children and their families don’t have to keep asking for a place at the park. It’s already there for them.”
As families left the Giant Steps playground that afternoon—kids laughing, adults exchanging ideas—one thing was clear: when research and community come together to design for all, we all thrive.
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Missed the event? Watch the full recording online.
Learn more about TACC’s commitment to inclusive research and community engagement here.
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