During Disability Awareness Month, we look at how much money is needed to build a playground that is inclusive for kids, teens, and young adults in Mahoning County who have special needs. 
 
A fundraising dinner is helping raise the money needed to buy playground equipment to meet students' needs at Leonard Kirtz School.
 
The school serves children aged five to young adults up to age 22 who live in Mahoning County and need services.
 
"We have our Cavatelli dinner which is take-out, then we have 91 baskets for a basket raffle, and our big-ticket items," Jules Hazlett, a teacher said.
 
Big-ticket items in the raffle include a Kate Spade purse with gift cards inside, a lawnmower, ladder, and grill.
 
So far the school has raised around $68,000 thousand dollars of its goal. 
 
They hope to raise $5,000 from this fundraising dinner and basket raffle.
 
The current playground is in a sad state. There are five swings that are meant to be used by people who use wheelchairs for mobility.  But they are not being used due to safety reasons. Motorized wheelchairs could weigh up to 250 pounds. 
 
For every 5,000 dollars raised,  a color piece of the puzzle brings to life visually how close they are to their goal of $250,000 for the new playground.
 
"We're starting with one main structure, that will have things like a simulated climbing wall, different sensory things like wheels they can turn and move, buttons they can push, slides, some climbers, different types of adaptive swings so they can actually put a wheelchair on adaptive swings, so they can actually put a wheelchair swing so they can swing," Principal Gina Symsek said.
 
Leonard Kirtz principal, teachers, and staff thank the businesses and people who donated all who volunteered, and everyone who supports their events.
 
The playground will help kids, teens, and young adults with developmental disabilities from across Mahoning County, play and socialize with their peers, something they're often not able to do at home.