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Gwen Ciccozzi, a 7-year-old who lives with cerebral palsy and had a perinatal stroke, is raising money to help build Brunswick\u2019s first inclusive playground.<\/p>\n
When Gwen was still in her mother Rebecca Ciccozzi\u2019s womb, she suffered a stroke. Her mother wasn\u2019t sure if after surviving the stroke, Gwen would be able to \u201cwalk, or talk, or even be able to understand what other people were saying.\u201d<\/p>\n
It hasn’t been an easy childhood for Gwen. Her health condition requires her to use a wheelchair, and this makes it difficult for her to freely enjoy her favorite place: the playground.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlaygrounds were very — and sometimes still are very — difficult. Traditional playgrounds with wood chips and climbers are just something that Gwen really struggled with,\u201d Ciccozzi told ABC News 5 Cleveland<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n For Gwen to enjoy spending time at the playground, her family would have to drive 20 minutes from her home to the closest inclusive playground. According to Leann Alerio, Gwen\u2019s former teacher and a Special Education Coordinator for Brunswick City Schools, having to drive those distances to go to a park can make a child feel like they don\u2019t fit in. That feeling of exclusion can affect a child\u2019s social, emotional, and mental development.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n