5 ways to make the outdoors more accessible to people with disabilities


Earlier this year, I took a road trip through the Southwest, stopping off at some of the most beautiful national parks in the country, including White Sands and Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. While walking along the sand dune boardwalk, a couple asked if they could take a photo with their wheelchair-bound son. I met them again the next day at the cave, we smiled at each other, and went about our day.

A typical experience in an amazing natural place, right? But without the sand boardwalk and wheelchair ramp leading to the cave, this family would have had a hard time enjoying it, or might not have been able to participate at all.

Many of the activities we take for granted, including the outdoors, are not available to everyone, and I was not very familiar with the challenges people face living with mobility impairments, sensory disabilities, chronic illnesses, or mental illnesses in daily life (let alone recreation).

We must make our outdoor spaces and public lands more accessible and usable for everyone.

These issues also exist on public lands, such as national parks. Laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) require federally funded facilities and outdoor areas to be accessible to people with disabilities, but there is still a long way to go before people with disabilities can fully use them, let alone feel welcome. Common issues include aging infrastructure, budgetary constraints, natural and difficult terrain, and lack of awareness or insensitivity on the part of other visitors.

The effort to improve accessibility on public lands continues, with many agencies and organizations developing their own guidelines. In September 2023, Rep. Melanie Stansbury (DN.M.-01) and Rep. Juan Siscomani (R-AZ-06) introduced the Federal Lands Accessibility Promotion Act, which aims to make public lands more accessible to people with disabilities. And we must work together to break down barriers, raise awareness, and create a culture of inclusion. And this can only happen by working together and putting people with disabilities at the center of the accessibility conversation.



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