Kanics Inclusive Design Services, LLC.

Kanics Inclusive Design Services, LLC. Inclusive Play in every community! Ingrid M. She was senior play environment specialist at the Center for Creative Play, Pittsburgh, PA.

Kanics, OTR/L is an Occupational Therapist who has worked for 10 years helping communities create and run amazing places where all children can play together. During that time she worked with numerous communities and children’s museums helping them expand their understanding of Universal Design and the importance of Sensory Play in every childs’ development. She continued this work as Therapy Director at Hattie Larlham, Mantua, OH, where she oversaw therapy and recreation programs for children of varying abilities. She now owns her own consulting business (Kanics Inclusive Design Services LLC) focusing on creating great play spaces in communities where everyone can play. She has presented at local, state, and national conferences on the topics play, sensory integration and Universal Design. Conferences include the Association of Children’s Museums, American Occupational Therapy Association, Parents As Teachers, and National Association of the Education of the Young Child (NAEYC).

10/17/2025
10/15/2025

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: How Loose Parts Spark S.T.E.A.M. Learning. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

10/11/2025
09/26/2025

“Don’t run, you’ll fall!!!”

Children hear this all the time. We hold their hands to steady them, we hover too closely, we warn, and sometimes we even stop them altogether. These days we even see children on leashes, tethered to an adult so they cannot move too far or too fast.

While well intentioned, all of these precautions can take away the very experiences that help their bodies and brains develop. Falling is necessary and it is part of how children learn.

When a child falls, multiple systems in the body activate at once. The vestibular system, which governs balance, is challenged and strengthened. The proprioceptive system, which tells the brain where the body is in space, refines its signals. Muscles engage to stabilize and recover. This feedback sharpens coordination and strengthens both fine and gross motor skills. Over time, children build resilience in their movement and learn how to manage risk with more confidence.

The benefits of falling are not only physical, as every tumble carries an emotional lesson too. Children feel surprise, frustration, or fear, and then they look to caregivers for cues. When adults respond calmly (and we cannot emphasize CALMLY enough), children practice regulating their emotions and learn that they are safe to try again. These moments strengthen attachment, confidence, and persistence.

Sensory processing challenges, coordination delays, weak motor skills, and struggles with emotional regulation are all on the rise in childhood today. Preventing falls is of course not the only cause, but it is certainly an important piece of the large puzzle. When we overprotect children from falling, we remove opportunities for their bodies and brains to integrate essential experiences (necessary for short and long term development).

Letting children run, climb, trip, and get back up is not neglectful. It shows trust. Trust in their capacity to learn through the natural consequences of movement. Trust in the body’s design to build strength through trial and error. And trust in the resilience that develops when children discover for themselves that they can fall, recover, and keep going.

09/12/2025

Fifth Goal of Universal Design: Wellness
Design contributes to health promotion, avoidance of disease, and protection from hazards.

In outdoor environments, Wellness means shaping spaces that encourage safe and healthy activity for all. In this illustration:

Painted Walkways & Bike Lanes: Simple markings clearly separate pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles, reducing the risk of collisions.

Vegetation as a Buffer: Greenery provides natural separation between travel lanes, enhancing safety while also improving air quality and the overall experience.

Complete Streets in Action: These strategies reflect Complete Streets initiatives in Buffalo and across the country, showing how design can support active, inclusive lifestyles.

By using straightforward, cost-effective design choices, communities can create safer, friendlier, and more inviting spaces that promote health and wellness for everyone.

Click the link to download a two-page handout of the Goals of UD.https://www.udeworld.com/Documents/GoalsofUD_Handout.pdf

Follow along with us as we review each of the Goals of Universal Design; Body Fit, Comfort, Awareness, Understanding, Wellness, Social Integration, Personalization, and Cultural Appropriateness.



Architecture and Planning - University at Buffalo University at Buffalo The American Institute of Architects National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC)

09/10/2025
09/10/2025

The importance of play for skill development.

Via Gooey Brains - Child Development

09/09/2025

The quote Children learn by doing, and doing is noisy, untidy, messy, and unpredictable means that kids learn best when they try things for themselves.

Learning by Doing: Kids understand things better when they use their hands, explore, and try new activities like building, drawing, or playing outside.

Messiness is Normal: Learning isn’t always clean or quiet. It can get messy, loud, and sometimes things don’t go as planned, but that’s okay.

Exploration is Important: This reminds parents and teachers to let kids explore and make a mess because that’s how they grow and figure things out.

In short, the mess and noise are part of how kids learn and discover new things. It’s all part of the fun💛

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Our Story

Ingrid M. Kanics, OTR/L, FAOTA is an Occupational Therapist who has worked for 15 years helping communities create and run amazing places where all children can play together. She was senior play environment specialist at the Center for Creative Play, Pittsburgh, PA. During that time she worked with numerous communities and children’s museums helping them expand their understanding of Universal Design and the importance of Sensory Play in every childs’ development. She continued this work as Therapy Director at Hattie Larlham, Mantua, OH, where she oversaw therapy and recreation programs for children of varying abilities. She now owns her own consulting business (Kanics Inclusive Design Services, LLC) focusing on creating great play spaces in communities where everyone can play. She has presented at local, state, and national conferences on the topics play, sensory integration and Universal Design. Conferences include the Association of Children’s Museums, American Occupational Therapy Association, Parents As Teachers, and National Association of the Education of the Young Child (NAEYC).