Nature for All: Increasing Accessibility for People With Disabilities
By Olivia Le Warn, Engagement Coordinator, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed
July 2020 marks Disability Awareness Month and celebrates the 30th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. People with disabilities make up 26% of the American population, and approximately half of those with disabilities have mobility impairments.
As environmentalists, many of us have first-hand experience with the joy that being in nature can bring to our lives. For people with mobility impairments and other disabilities, navigating outdoor recreation can be challenging. But there are steps that outdoor recreation and environmental organizations can take to have their programs and activities be more accessible for all.
A study by the USDA surveyed the able-bodied and people with mobility impairments on their participation of 35 different outdoor activities. No significant differences were seen in the participation of viewing wildlife, viewing fish, visiting nature centers, bird watching, camping, sledding, backpacking, and canoeing. While this demonstrates a clear interest to participate in outdoor recreation activities from those with mobility impairments, the people surveyed with mobility disabilities were significantly more likely to identify constraints to their participation in outdoor activities. Some constraints to enjoying these outdoor activities were personal health, inadequate transportation, inadequate facilities, poorly maintained areas, and lack of assistance for their mobility condition. Another common barrier discussed in the study was social expectations, self-perception, and social fears. If people with disabilities perceive a culture that discourages certain activities for being suitable for them, they are less likely to feel comfortable participating.
So how can organizations meet the desires of those with disabilities to participate in outdoor adventures and other programming? The options are plentiful:
A critical first step is to meet with people with mobility disabilities or advocacy groups and listen to their perspective and concerns. It can be difficult for able-bodied people, or people with a disability other than a mobility impairment, to recognize the range of factors that can be barriers for those with mobility impairments.
For organizations that encourage outdoor recreation, there are different types of adaptive equipment options to invest in, like this resource on adaptive paddling equipment or beach wheelchairs.
If your organization is hosting a lecture or other programming, consider hiring a sign interpreter for the hard of hearing. If hosting a movie night, always turn on the closed captioning. Services are also available to closed caption Zoom and web meetings.
If your organization has a nature preserve or trail it oversees, take the time to describe these areas on your website, noting if they are ADA accessible. Descriptions that can be included are factors such as the incline of the trail, surface type (paved, gravel, compact dirt, frequently muddy, etc.), cell service, public transportation options, or proximity to a medical facility.
The Spoon Rating Guide from the website Disabled Hikers is a great example of how trails can be described so folks with disabilities can assess if a trail is accessible to them. This is especially useful because there are a wide range of mobility impairments that require different information to be considered, not just if a site or trail is wheelchair accessible.
For organizations with birding sites, share the accessibility of these locations using National Audubon Society’s Birdability Survey.
Throughout the process, continue to listen to and value of the participation of people with disabilities. It may be worthwhile to host a staff training to ensure inclusive language and attitudes are adopted, especially if staff is interacting with the public.
Able-bodied people can also see the benefits of increased inclusivity for the disabled, which is often referred to as the “Curb Cut Effect.” Curb cuts were originally intended to increase accessibility for people who use wheelchairs, people pushing strollers, pulling suitcases, delivery people, bikers, and many other groups benefited from the widespread implementation of curb cuts.
For more resources on increasing disability inclusion at your organization, visit the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed’s DEIJ Resource Library and check out the DEIJ toolkit.