Amy Jaffe Barzach

Founder of Boundless Playgrounds

Amy Jaffe Barzach is the founder of Boundless Playgrounds, an organization created to develop barrier-free, developmentally advantageous playgrounds.

After the death of her son Jonathan from a rare condition, Amy found a way to cope with the grief of losing her son by creating a living memorial for him.

She was inspired by a little girl in a wheelchair who was unable to join the other children on a playground and decided to build a place where everyone could play, a Boundless Playground. For her ability to turn a tragedy into a living tribute, I would like to introduce this SuperHero, Amy Jaffe Barzach.

Amy Jaffe Barzach's Story

Building the Dream of Play for All

A little girl in a wheelchair sat on the sidelines fighting back tears as she watched the other children play on a playground she couldn't get on. She probably wondered why the playground wasn't a place where everyone could play.

Several months later, after the heartbreaking death of their nine-month-old son Jonathan from spinal muscular atrophy, Amy Jaffe Barzach and her husband Peter sought a meaningful way to honor his memory.

Remembering the little girl in the wheelchair, they decided to create a playground where children with and without disabilities could play and learn together.

With the support of 1,200 volunteers, that memorial playground opened in 1996. After the playground opened, hundreds of people wanted to know how they could build playgrounds for children of all abilities in their communities. In 1997, Boundless Playgrounds was founded with a passionate team of parents and professionals.

Source: Boundless Playgrounds. "Shouldn't Playgrounds Be for Everyone?" Brochure.

Deal with Loss by Celebrating Life.

Amy Jaffe Barzach's Inspirational Words

Boundless Playgrounds - A Last Minute Superhero Entry

You never know where inspiration will hit for creating lenses.

Amy Jaffee Barzach's amazing project Boundless Playgrounds was an 11th hour entry for me, the 11th Superhero lens that I created for the challenge.

I was relaxing on the beach reading a "Woman's World" magazine and watching my daughters build sandcastles at one of our favorite local lakes. I was pretty happy with the fact that I'd already made 10 lenses for the Superheroes, an organizing lens and created a group to feature everyone's efforts.

The July 7th issue "Woman's World" had a section on "Doing Good" they had a feature article about Amy Jaffe Barzach and Boundless Playgrounds.

By the time I'd reached the end of the article, I knew it would have to be made into a SuperHero lens and was already roughing out the lens sections. Since I'd been in the position of facing losing a child myself (but thankfully did not) and now was watching both of my girls happily playing on the beach, I wanted to help spread the word about her inspiring efforts with Boundless Playgrounds.

We left the lake a bit earlier than planned and I went home to create a lens got it in by the midnight deadline (I wasn't sure if it was midnight New York time or midnight California time). I was very relieved when Anne emailed back that she'd gotten the last entry.

Image Source: C. Thompson. Sandcastles on the Beach.

Amy Jaffe Barzach and Boundless Playgrounds is Lens of the Day

On July 7, the Superhero lens Amy Jaffe Barzach was named Lens of the Day.

With this honor comes the added recognition of being the first of five winners of the Superheroes challenge for charity.

Even better, as one of the winners of the Superhero challenge $500 will be donated from Squidoo to help the next playground be built.

Boundless Playgrounds

Boundless Playgrounds is the first national nonprofit dedicated to helping communities create extraordinary barrier-free playgrounds where children, with and without disabilities, can develop essential skills for life as they learn together through play.

Through Boundless Playgrounds Amy is helping to challenge cultural stereotypes and current practices that exclude children with disabilities from public play spaces.

Boundless Playgrounds works to create environments where children of all abilities can have the best opportunities for healthy development.

Characteristics of a Boundless Playground

On a Boundless playground you will find:

Every child can reach the highest play deck
Play structures configured to support children's development
Universally accessible pathways and surfacing
Cozy spots where everyone can gather
Equipment like swings and bouncers with back support
Elevated sand tables and activity panels where children of all abilities can play together
Sensory-rich activities that let the imagination soar
Everyone can be in the middle of the fun!

Reasons Why Amy Jaffe Barzach is a SuperHero

Amy Jaffe Barzach's Story
Boundless Playgrounds
Characteristics of a Boundless Playground
Promotional Video for Boundless Playgrounds on YouTube
More on Boundless Playgrounds
Happy Boundless Playground Players
Celebrating Jonathan
Happy Boundless Playground Girl
The Smile Says it All
Boundless Playground in Los Angeles

Is Amy Jaffe Barzach your superhero too?

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Yes. She's an inspiration.

beachbum_gabby says:

Of course, when there's someone who is determined to help the needy and that person is Amy.

Posted August 03, 2008

Shawna-Tayler says:

I love it when one person sees a need and is determined to find a way to fill it. Thanks for telling us about Amy Jaffe Barzach

Posted July 16, 2008

CertifiedHandy says:

Of course. Whenever a person works to make life better for others I have to stand with them. Blessings to you Amy in all you do...

Posted July 16, 2008

susanelainegalloway says:

She is an Angel with a Big Heart.

Posted July 09, 2008

sangeeta says:

She's fantastic. Is there any way we can reach out to Amy?

Posted July 09, 2008

debsgreatfinds says:

Amy First off sorry about your son that is wonderful that you came up with a playground for all kids to play in may your son live on in the memories of the park..

Posted July 08, 2008

DrD says:

This so totally rocks, and this lady and others like her are sure heroes, sure winners and superbly inspiring! Man keep 'em coming, folks like me and others need to hear about success, it's helps us keep believing that it can happen when the need shows itself and someone with courage like Amy has, chooses not to run from the challenge!

Posted July 08, 2008

MyNashville360 says:

We sure are fortunate enough to have you here on this world. I am really touched by your lens. Great job and keep up the good work. :)

Posted July 08, 2008

DrD says:

This lady is a fantastic representative of what is possible when a person can take their view and enlarge it. She is an inspiration and I appreciate so much being inspired by her and folks like her.

Posted July 08, 2008

Starving_Artist says:

a really great non-profit...I really hope word gets around about this.

Posted July 08, 2008

No. I have someone else in mind.

view all 29 comments

The Boundless Playgrounds Dream

Our Dream...for every child, a place to play:

Every Child!
Every Ability!
Everywhere!

Boundless Playgrounds: A Superhero Challenge winner!

Superheroes won't accept limits.

ComfortDoc introduces us to just such a Superhero with her amazing lens on Amy Jaffe Barzach and Boundless Playgrounds. It's the first of five winners of our Superheroes challenge for charity.

Amy founded Boundless Playgrounds so that all children can play together. The people at Boundless Playgrounds create "barrier-free" playgrounds so handicapped children can play with all the other kids.

Amy translated her own personal tragedy into doing something so that all children can have fun together. Nothing to stop them.

Thanks to you, the Squidoo community, and to ComfortDoc, $500 will be donated to help the next playground be built.

A visit to the playground anyone?

http://www.squidoo.com/boundless-playgrounds

AnneReidy

Source: Squidoo LOTD Blog. July 7th, 2008. Boundless Playgrounds: A Superhero Challenge winner!
Image Source: 500 Dollar Prize. Modified from Wikimedia. U.S. 100 Dollar Front. Government Image.

Promotional Video for Boundless Playgrounds on YouTube

Boundless Playgrounds Promo

Boundless Playgrounds promotional video

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curated content from YouTube

More on Boundless Playgrounds

Boundless Playgrounds: The main website for Boundless Playgrounds
Boundless Playgrounds - Find Playgrounds & Virtual Tour - Find a Playground: Find Boundless Playgrounds & Virtual Tour
Boundless Playgrounds - Get Involved - Volunteer Opportunities: Ways you can Get Involved with Boundless Playgrounds
Boundless Playgrounds - Ways to Give - Make a Difference: Ways to Give and Make a Difference with Boundless Playgrounds
How to Donate to Boundless Playgrounds: How you can Donate to Boundless Playgrounds

Happy Boundless Playground Players

Another Boundless Playground Video on YouTube

Boundless Playgrounds Music Video

McCullough Elementary's Dream Comes True The McCullough Elementary students, the Penn-Trafford School District, and Western Pennsylvania thank Boundless Playgrounds, Hasbro/Playskool, and Game Time for the Grand Prize of a universally-accessible playground where children of ALL abilities can play together. As you enjoy the Boundless Playground Music Video, please know that the lives of hundreds of children and families have been touched and many more will continue to be impacted for years to come. Children and families from all over will play and grow together because of the heart of Boundless Playgrounds and the generosity of Hasbro/Playskool and Game Time. Thank you for celebrating life by inspiring others!

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curated content from YouTube

Boundless Playgrounds Brochure

"Shouldn't Playgrounds Be for Everyone?" Brochure: PDF file of the brochure from Boundless Playgrounds on "Shouldn't Playgrounds Be for Everyone?"
"Fun For All Facts" Brochure: PDF file of the brochure from Boundless Playgrounds on "Fun For All Facts," a brochure that explains how the playgrounds work.

High Expectations in the Amazon Spotlight

High Expectations: Playgrounds for Children of All Abilities

Amazon Price: (as of 11/09/2009)

Published by the National Center for Boundless Playgrounds this limitedly available book is a winning blueprint for creating optimal, developmentally sound play environments.

The Right Words at the Right Time Volume 2 in the Amazon Spotlight

The Right Words at the Right Time Volume 2: Your Turn!

by: Marlo Thomas, Bruce Kluger, Carl Robbins, David Tabatsky

Amazon Price: $12.48 (as of 11/09/2009)

Amy Jaffe Barzach's inspirational story "Celebrating Jonathan" is one of the many inspirational collected stories from people describing times when well-chosen words impacted their lives.

Celebrating Jonathan

An Excerpt by Amy Jaffe Barzach on Celebrating Jonathan: Celebrating Jonathan by Amy Jaffe Barzach is an excerpt from the book, The Right Words at The Right Time - Volume 2 by Marlo Thomas.

Happy Boundless Playground Girl

Amy's Hope

I hope someday we're no needed anymore, because all playground will be like this!

Until then... I see Jonathan in all the smiles.
And I can't help thinking:

Maybe he chose us. Because he knew we'd do something good to honor his life.

Amy Jaffe Barzach

The Smile Says it All

Blog Posts about Boundless Playgrounds

American Tire Distributors announce a $100000 donation to ...: ?Boundless playgrounds provide safe, positive places for all children to play,? said Berry. ?And at the base of each playground is the very best use of worn-out tires I can imagine. We're thrilled to fund the first Boundless Playground ...
That VideoGame Blog » Hands-on / Joe Danger: When environments were boundless playgrounds of imagination? When character models had just that, character? We do. But in a world of gloomy skyscapes, barren wastelands and gruff space marines, you could forgive us for wondering if we ...
Space, Place & Scale: The Boundless Playground: The article I read was about the first Boundless Playground that was built in Boston, Massachusetts earlier on this year. A Boundless Playground is a play area that is truly public. It caters to the needs of all children, ...
CVS Caremark and Boundless Playgrounds Named Finalists for US ...: CVS Caremark and Boundless Playgrounds Named Finalists for US Chamber Partnership Award. Advertisement: read more.

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American Playgrounds: Revitalizing Community Space on Amazon

American Playgrounds: Revitalizing Community Space

by: Susan G. Solomon

Amazon Price: $23.10 (as of 11/09/2009)

Susan Solomon's groundbreaking and marvelously illustrated American Playgrounds book highlights the problems with contemporary playgrounds, tender sorely needed strategies with which to redress them, and stimulate national debate about today's crisis of undervalued public space.

Boundless Playground in Los Angeles

From Disability to Possibility on Amazon

From Disability to Possibility: The Power of Inclusive Classrooms

by: Patrick Schwarz

Amazon Price: $14.98 (as of 11/09/2009)

Ideal for general educators, special educators, administrators, educational leaders, related service professionals, paraeducators and self-advocates, From Disability to Possibility illustrates, through stories of struggle and success, how creative, conscientious teachers can work with everyone involved in a student's learning to make special education work.

Books on Raising a Child with a Disability on Amazon

Raising NLD Superstars: What Families with Nonverbal Learning Disabilities Need to Know about Nurturing Confident, Competent Kids

by: Marcia Brown Rubinstien

Amazon Price: $12.89 (as of 11/09/2009)

The Elephant in the Playroom: Ordinary Parents Write Intimately and Honestly About the Extraordinary Highs and Heartbreaking Lows of Raising Kids with Special Needs

by: Denise Brodey

Amazon Price: $14.93 (as of 11/09/2009)

Love You to Pieces: Creative Writers on Raising a Child with Special Needs

by: Suzanne Kamata

Amazon Price: $11.21 (as of 11/09/2009)

Special Children, Challenged Parents: The Struggles and Rewards of Raising a Child With a Disability

by: Robert A. Naseef

Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 11/09/2009)

Raising a Child Who Has a Physical Disability

by: Donna G. Albrecht

Amazon Price: $16.95 (as of 11/09/2009)

A Featured Lens on Loss, Grief & Bereavement

Loss, Grief and Bereavement

Loss is the disappearance of something cherished, often the death of a person, loss of a relationship, loss of a job or loss of health. Grief is the entire response--mind, body and spirit--to the loss. Bereavement is the often term used when the loss...

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A Featured SuperHero Group Lens

The Squidoo SuperHero Group Headquarters

The Squidoo SuperHero Group was created to highlight lenses made as part of the SuperHero Project in which lensmasters are challenged to create 5 lenses for charity about heroes who have inspired you, mentored you, changed the way you see the world,...

A Featured Lens about the Squidoo SuperHero Project

Squidoo SuperHero Project

The goal of the Squidoo SuperHero Project is to create 5 lenses for charity about heroes who have inspired you, mentored you, changed the way you see the world, or just made you smile. The SuperHero Project is the brainchild of Anne Reidy, Non-Profi...

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