Wheelchair Accessible Obstacle Course

By: Chessa BirrellGirl Scout Gold Award Project

Troop 222889-29-13

Project Inspiration

• There does not seem to be enough recreational activities for children and adults with orthopedic impairments. Many people do not know how to facilitate activities for people who use wheelchairs and walkers. When you look for activities to do and search for them on the internet, they are difficult to find. When people get together with other disabled friends they need to have some fun activities to do that could be constructed quickly.

• Through this plan I hope to spread awareness, educate people about this cause, and show them what they can do to help disabled people have fun.

• This PowerPoint Plan shows how to construct a fun temporary obstacle course for disabled children and adults that use wheelchairs or walkers. I have found that many non-disabled children enjoy the course and some like to challenge themselves by going through the course using the crab walk or wheelbarrow.

• The plan includes many elements that you can choose from to set up a course. For each course element, a list of materials and instructions on how to set it up is provided along with a discussion of any safety concerns. I have tested each element before including it in this plan. The elements try to stimulate the senses with physical movement, hearing, and touch.

• Courses can be set up around a theme such as beach party, luau, Halloween, and color coordinated with the theme or season. Playing music, adding lights, and other features can make the course more visually stimulating and fun.

• Signs can be made with the fun names for each element and be placed by the element. I made signs in PowerPoint and put them in sheet protectors and placed the sheet protectors over water bottles.

• We hope you will share this plan with others so they can use it to create fun obstacle courses at their get-togethers, parties and events. Organizations can set up courses at their events and fundraisers.

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Safety

• Some elements require spotters to ensure participant’s safety.

• Materials need to be safe for the health of the participants. Allergies must be considered when choosing materials that come in contract with the participants.

• Materials should not damage the wheelchairs or equipment used by the participants.

• All participants need to be made aware of the materials used.

• Adding music, lights, noises, fans, etc. may make it more fun, however, you need to consider that some children’s disabilities are triggered by strobe lights, and other features. Always ask your participants if they have any concerns before they start your course and remove any elements of concern.

• Be careful not to damage any floors, make sure any tape you use will not a residue or react with the floor finish.

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List of Course Elements

1. Firecracker Fairway2. Teeter Totter or The Fulcrum3. Bubbles4. Water Wars5. Wheelchair Bowling 6. Beach Ball Maze7. Rocky Road8. Barrel Racing9. Curtains10. Brick Wall11. Car Wash12. Box Tunnel13. Balloon blast14. Swinging Monkeys (Pendulum)15. Wind Machine

16. Snake Pit17. S Curve18. Hairpin Turn19. Round About20. Puddle Jumping21. Straight Away – Full Speed Ahead22. Backwards23. Musical Mat24. Limbo25. Las Monos26. Slalom27. Sideways Slope28. Speed Bumps29. A-frame

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Start S-CurveRocky Road Slalom Hairpin Turn

FulcrumSpeed BumpBubblesLimbo

Balloon Blast Sideways Incline Backwards Roundabout Tunnel

Beach Ball MazeWheelchair BowlingWater WarsCurtainsLos Manos

Straight Away Firecracker Fairway

End

Sample Course Layout

Firecracker FairwayInstructions:1. Roll out bubble wrap on to

ground/floor with bubbles up. You also can tape together smaller pieces keeping back sides facing the same way and taped edges together.

2. Tape bubble wrap to floor3. Have kids/adults drive/walk

over it as fast as they can to make a firework type of noise

*NOTE* - Works best if laid out on hard surfaces such as flooring, pavement or concrete. Grass does not work well.

Materials:• Roll of bubble wrap.

Large bubbles make louder noise.

• Tape• Hard surface

Safety concerns:• Some young children may be

afraid of the loud noise this element makes. Therefore, this should be demonstrated with a persons foot before allowing the participants to go on it.

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Notes: • The platform should be a minimum of 10” wider than the

widest chair/walker.• For a smaller drop, use a 2”x4” instead of a 4”x4” for the

pivot.

Materials:• Platform

- ¾ “ Plywood, L-60”, W-40”• Pivot board

- 4”x4”x40”.• Side rails

- 2”x2”x60”, 2 each.• 18 wood screws, #6x2”• Glue

Safety Concerns:• The board may jar a person if they go over

it to quickly.• Smaller wheels may not go over the front

lip of the platform easily. A metal threshold may be attached to the leading edge of the platform to alleviate this problem

Teeter Totter or The Fulcrum

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Equipment:• Tape measure• Saw• Screwdriver• Drill with #6 bit• Countersink

PivotEnd view

Cut

1”

1”

1”Center of

Platform

Instructions:1. Find the center of the platform and draw a line across it.2. Drill 6 holes evenly spaced across the platform approximately 1”

from the center. Countersink the holes on the top of the platform. This will be the center of the pivot.

3. Drill 6 holes evenly spaced along the edge of the platformapproximately 1” from the edge. Countersink the holes on the bottom of the platform.

4. Glue (optional) the side rails onto each top edge of the platform and secure with wood screws from the bottom of the platform.

5. If possible, cut the corners lengthwise off the pivot6. Place the center line of the pivot on the line of holes going

across the platform with the corner cuts away from the platform, glue (optional) and secure with wood screws.

Bubbles

Instructions: 1. Have people line up facing each other

a) Leave enough room for the participants to drive/walk through

2. As the participants drive/walk through blow the bubbles

3. Have the participants pop as many bubbles as they can

4. This element works best when there is little to no wind

Materials:• Bubble solution and wands or

electric bubble maker.

Safety Concerns:• Keep bubble juice away from small

children so they don’t accidentally drink it.

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Water Wars

Instructions: 1. Have people line up facing each other

a) Leave enough room for the participants to drive/walk through

2. As the participants drive/walk through, spray them with water

*NOTE* - Some participants may not like getting wet, if so do not spray them.

Materials:• Spray bottles• Water

Safety Concerns:• Be carful not to get electronic

components wet. You can cover them with a large plastic bag.

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Wheelchair Bowling

Instructions: 1. Stack cups/cones in a pyramid and you

have to toss a ball into them and knock some down before proceeding

2. Or have the participants run into them and knock them down with their chairs or walkers

Materials:• Plastic cups or cones

Safety Concerns:• None.

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Beach Ball Maze

Instructions:1. Beach ball maze, move the ball

between gates with no hands or feet, use wheelchairs only.

Materials:• 42” or very large beach balls• Tape or sting or benches to outline the

path

Safety Concerns:• The balls need to be large enough not

to get stuck under any of the wheelchairs.

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Rocky Road

Instructions: 1. Cut a flat surface on the balls

and glue to the cardboard.2. Cut pool noodles crossways to

from circle of various lengths form about 1” to 2.5” thick and glue to cardboard

3. Have participants roll over the cardboard and experience the rocks!

4. Or place cut up foam on the ground.

Materials:• Foam, pool noodles, and/or

foam and rubber (super) balls• Cardboard

Safety Concerns:• The “rocks” should be small enough not

as not to get stuck under the wheelchair.• Some wheelchairs have EZ Lock docking

system bolts hanging down under their chairs that may catch the “rocks.”

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Barrel Racing

Instructions: 1. Place 3 barrels in the pattern shown.

The distance between the barrels depends on the space available.

2. The barrels should be large enough to be seen from the start/finish line and from each barrel.

3. Draw tape or chalk lines to show the path to follow with arrows showing the direction of travel.

Materials:• 3 Barrels, tall

boxes, water cooler bottles, etc.

• Chalk

Safety Concerns:• None.

Start & Finish

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Curtains

Instructions: 1. Fold tablecloth in half lengthwise2. Fold tablecloth in half widthwise until

about 12” wide3. Cut strips from bottom of tablecloth

toward the top stopping about 8” from the top. This keeps tablecloth in one piece and leaves a solid portion to hang over the pole.

4. Hang tablecloth over pole or tape or pin to beam

Materials:• Plastic tablecloth• Scissors• A-frame or beam• Tape or pins

Safety Concerns:• Be sure the curtains do not hang down

so low that they will get caught in the participant’s wheels.

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Brick WallInstructions: 1. Glue boxes closed.2. Number the boxes as shown.3. Use a hole saw the same diameter as the

rolls to cut holes in the boxes as shown. The holes are at 1/3 and 2/3 of length of the box. For a 12” box they are at 3”and 9” from the edge. Do not cut holes in the tops of the green boxes or the bottoms of the blue boxes if you want a solid looking top.

4. Cut 6 of the rolls so they are the same length as 3 boxes are high. The other two rolls should be a few inches longer than 3 boxes are high.

5. Push the boxes onto the rolls as shown to align the boxes and stabilize the structure.

6. The interior rolls are hidden inside the boxes. The outer rolls should protrude above and below the outer boxes (1,5,8,12) so they can be pushed over the poles from the canopy.

7. Use hot glue to glue the boxes together around the tubes.

8. Paint the boxes to look like bricks.9. Slide outer tubes onto legs of a canopy

frame. They will swing apart as the participants' push through them.

Materials/Resources:• 16 boxes about 12” x 12” x 6”• 8 plastic or cardboard rolls at lease 3’

long• Hole saw, same diameter as the rolls• Glue sticks• Paint• Canopy Frame

Safety Concerns:• None.

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3

6

4

1 2

11 12

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Car WashInstructions: 1. Combine curtains element and brick

wall elements.2. Place tarps on top of canopy frame so

that the sides hang down as far as possible.

3. Put brick wall on one side of the canopy frame.

4. Hang curtains on both ends of the canopy frame.

Materials/Resources:• Canopy frame and tarps• Curtains Element• Brick Wall Element

Safety Concerns:• None.

Box TunnelInstructions: 1. Cut one side of each box down the center

and open flaps. The flaps from one box will over lap the other box to join the two boxes at the center of the tunnel.

2. Cut the other sides of the two boxes like French doors as shown. Be sure not to cut all the way up the center. This gives the boxes some structure to stay together. Trim the top and bottom of the doors about ¼” to allow the doors to swing easily.

3. Do not cut the top or bottom of the boxes. The participants will roll over the bottom. The top will keep the tunnel dark.

4. Join the full open ends of the two boxes together with tape to form the center of the tunnel.

5. Participants push the first doors in to enter the tunnel and push the other doors out to exit the tunnel. Doors may need to be closed manually for the next participant.

Materials:• Two same sized large appliance

cardboard boxes at least 30” wide.• Duct or packing tape• Add a light stick or singing mat

inside the tunnel for added effects.

Safety Concerns:• None.

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Balloon Blast

Instructions: 1. Blow up balloons2. Decorate the pipe foam with colored duck

tape 3. Tie string to end of balloon and tie a large

paperclip to the other end of the ribbon4. Drop the paperclip through the pipe foam and

remove paperclip5. Tie the ribbon to the A-frame and tape it so it

will not move.6. Tie crepe paper around A-frame if desired

Materials:• A-frame (see separate instructions)• Balloons• ½” diameter pipe wrap insulation

foam or pool noodles with center hole• Colored Ribbon or String• Colored Duck Tape• Crepe paper if desired

Safety Concerns: • Allergies to latex, Mylar etc. need to be

considered before purchasing balloons and allowing participants to do this activity

• Balloons must be secured to the A-frame so participants do not become tangled in the string. Cover string with pipe insulator foam or pool noodles.

• String must be short enough as to not get caught in wheels or around participant’s neck.

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Swinging Monkeys (Pendulum)

Instructions: 1. Build A-frame2. Tie one end of the string to the

stuffed monkey3. Tie the other end of the string

to the A-frame4. Course staff will set the

swinging monkey in motion and reset when necessary

Materials:• A-frame (see separate

instructions)• Stuffed Monkey or other

animal• String or ribbon

Safety Concerns:• String should be short enough to

not get caught in the wheels.• Spotter required to make sure the

monkey does not get tangled around the participant or their chair.

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Wind Machine

Instructions: 1. Place the fan on a small table or

box so that it blows air at the participants faces as they drive by.

2. Use an extension cord if necessary to reach an electrical outlet.

Materials:• Electric fan• Extension cord• Table or box

Safety Concerns:• The fan should be stable on the

table and not easily tipped over.• The extension cord must not be in

the course path.

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Snake Pit

Instructions: 1. Place rubber snakes in the

course path for participants to drive over.

Materials:• Rubber snakes

Safety Concerns:• Some children may be afraid of

the snakes, allow for a detour path so they can go around them.

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S-CurveInstructions: 1. Draw both sides of an S-curve

path on concrete or asphalt or use rope to outline the s-curve

Materials:• Rope or chalk

Safety Concerns:• None.

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Hair Pin Turn

Instructions: 1. Draw both sides of an hair pin

turn on concrete or asphalt or use rope to outline the turn

Materials:• Rope or chalk

Safety Concerns:• None.

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Round About

Instructions: 1. Draw a round about path on

concrete or asphalt or use rope to outline the path or use a kids pool to form a circle.

2. For a more complicated path, the round about path can have one entrance and one exit, either across from each other or at 90 from each other.

3. Participants have to go around the circle or round about path until they reach the exit path.

Materials:• Rope, chalk, or small

kids pool• Circle outlined with

colored cones

Safety Concerns:• None.

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Puddle Jumping

Instructions: 1. If you have an outdoor course, you can

create a puddle of water about 1” to 3” deep depending on your participants mobility.

2. Participants drive though the puddle and make a splash!

Materials:• Puddle of water

Safety Concerns:• Do not have puddles if you have

children using walkers.• Puddles are safe for wheelchairs, but

do not make them too deep. They should not be deep enough o get the bearing in the wheels wet.

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Straight Away Full Speed Ahead!

Instructions: 1. Chalk two parallel lines on the

ground or for the straight away element. Or you can use rope or cones to outline the path.

2. Have participants go as fast as they can through the straight away element.

Materials:• Chalk, rope, cones,

or cups

Safety Concerns:• Keep the track clear or people

and things during the course.

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Backwards

Instructions: 1. Create two lines in any

configuration on the ground for the backwards element to outline the path. Be sure lines are wide enough apart to ensure that participants have enough room to maneuver.

2. Have participants go as fat as they can through the path.

Materials:• Chalk, rope, cups,

or cones

Safety Concerns:• Keep the track clear or people

and things during the course.

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Musical Mat

Instructions: 1. Place mat on floor and have

participants roll or walk over it.2. Put in the box tunnel for a fun

or scary surprise.

Materials:• Singing or screaming doormat

Safety Concerns:• None.

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Limbo

Instructions: 1. Tape pom-poms to ends of broom

handle to make it more interesting, if desired.

2. Have one or two people hold the ends of the pole just at the participant’s head level so the participants has to drive under it.

3. The holders can raise the pole to let them by if needed.

Materials:• Broom handle, pole or stick about 4’

long• Pom-Poms

Safety Concerns:• Make sure participants do not run into

the pole or get hit by it when crossing under it.

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Las Monos

Instructions: 1. Fill gloves with enough water to fill

fingers, blow up with air, and tie in a knot2. Decorate the pipe foam with colored duck

tape 3. Tie string to end of glove and tie a large

paperclip to the other end of the ribbon4. Drop the paperclip through the pipe foam

and remove paperclip5. Tie the ribbon to the A-frame and tape it so

it will not move.

Materials:• A-frame (see separate instructions)• ½” diameter pipe wrap insulation foam or

pool noodles with center hole• Colored Ribbon or String• Colored Duck Tape• Latex free medical gloves• Water

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Safety Concerns: • Allergies to latex need to be considered before

purchasing gloves and allowing participants to do this activity

• Gloves must be secured to the A-frame so participants do not become tangled in the string. Cover string with pipe insulator foam or pool noodles.

• String must be short enough as to not get caught in wheels or around participant’s neck.

Slalom

Instructions: 1. Set up cones in a straight line about

3’-5’ apart and have participants weave in and out around the cones down the path.

Materials:• Colored cones or large plastic cups

Safety Concerns:• Cones might get stuck under

the chairs – need spotter

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Sideways Slope

Instructions: 1. One side of chair is driven up the

incline and the other is on the flat ground.

Safety Concerns:• If incline is too steep, chair could tip

over.• Keep only two wheels from the same

side of the chair on the ramp.32

Materials: • Platform

- ¾ “ Plywood, L-40”, W-24”• Base

- 4” x 4” x 42”• Ramps

- ¾ “ Plywood, Right Triangles, Height-60”, Base-40”, 2 each• Ramp Brace

- ¾ “ Plywood, 3” x 20”. 2 Each.• Side rails

- Platform rail - 2”x2”x40”, 1 each.- Ramp rails - 2”x2”x10”, 2 each.

• 6 wood screws, #6 x 3 ½ ”• 12 wood screws, #6 x 1 ¼ ”• 4 Heavy duty hinge, 2 ½ “ to 3” with screws• Glue

Equipment:• Tape measure• Saw• Screwdriver• Drill with #6 bit• Countersink

Sideways Incline Continued

40”10” 10”

24”

Top View

42”

1”, 200 Bevel

Base, End View

Instructions:1. Cut an approximate 20o bevel off both ends of the top of the base 1” from the end.2. If possible, cut an approximate 20o bevel lengthwise off the base.3. Drill 6 #6 holes evenly spaced through the platform rail. Countersink.4. Place the rail on one edge of the platform and drill 6 holes through the platform that align with the 6

holes in the platform rail.5. Glue and screw the rail, platform, and base together using the #6 x 3 ½ ” screws, lining up the three

edges. The 1” bevel on the base should extend past the platform on each end.6. Drill 2 holes in the 10” side of each triangle ramp 1” from the edge. Countersink.7. Glue and screw the ramp rails to the ramp using #6 x 1 ¼ ” screws.8. Bevel one of the long edges of each ramp brace approximate 20o.9. Drill 4 holes evenly spaced in each ramp brace. Countersink.10. Glue and screw the ramp braces to each end of the platform. Position the brace so the end is butted

up against the base and the beveled edge extends past the end of the platform approximately 1”.11. Attach a ramp to the each end of the platform using the hinges. Screw one hinge to the end of the

base and the bottom of the ramp, and screw the other hinge to the bottom of the ramp brace and the bottom of the ramp about two-thirds the way down from the base.

Platform, Side View

Ramp BraceSide Platform Rail

Base

Speed Bumps

Instructions: 1. Cut pool noodles in half lengthwise2. If desired, paint cardboard and allow to

dry3. Glue pool noodles to cardboard with

space between them (one to two pool noodles width apart using hot glue gun.

4. Tape cardboard to floor. Use floor or painters tape if taping to basketball court or wood flooring to avoid damaging the floor. Duck tape works well for concrete.

Materials:• Cardboard• Pool noodles• Hot glue gun• Glue sticks• Tape

Safety Concerns:• None

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A-frame

Instructions:

1. The A-frame needs to be taller than the tallest person using the course.

2. For example if you have a 30 angle for the A-frame legs and you need the height to be 5 feet, then the legs need to be 5.2 feet or 5’ 2.4”. For a 6’ height with a 30 angle the legs need to be 6.2’ or 6 ‘ 2.4 “. A= 75

5’a

b

c

C= 90

B= 15

Using the sine function in a right triangle:Sin of an angle is the opposite over the hypotenusesin 75 = a/cc = 5’/sin 75c = 5.2’

D= 30

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