Outside Accessibility for All, A Look at Universal Design within the Rugged Outdoors for Individuals with a Physical Disability

This land and its wild outdoor recreation spaces “were made for you and me” as the old Woody Guthrie song goes (Guthrie, 1944). When I find peace and joy in the rugged national parks, I would like to share it with all my friends, able bodied and not. It is for this reason I explore a thesis topic of accessibility within the rugged outdoors. Therefore my guiding thesis question was: How do our natural outdoor recreation spaces in the USA offer full accessibility for individuals with a physical disability? While completing the literature for this capstone thesis, several key influences included Burns, N., et al. as well as Donlon, J. G. and the Targeted News Service reports. Burns et al. completed two studies (in 2008 and 2013) that were particularly relevant, as they centered specifically around disabled people’s experiences in the outdoors. Donlon’s work simplified American with Disability Act statues for the common person, and explored the impact of those statues on outdoor parks through the lens of attraction. Lastly, Targeted News Service reported on several replies issued to the Department of Veterans Affairs in response to their call for comment on disabled veterans’ accessibility programs from organizations that use outdoor parks. In addition to the literature review, research was conducted in two methods - survey and ethnographic interviews. The survey was directly distributed via some 350 emails, nationwide to members of Team River Runner - a disabled veterans’ kayaking group. Survey data resulted in quantitative analysis of general preferences and experiences of disabled individuals within the outdoors. Out of 17 survey participants, 2 individuals were then part of an ethnographic interview, resulting in more qualitative data concerning personal experiences. Through research it became apparent that differently abled individuals enjoy the outdoors just as much as anyone, but they often have to overcome obstacles presented by disability aor accommodating amenities. Safety, universal design and feeling welcome are some answers to inclusion. Bringing the voices of those who have disabilities into the planning conversations would advocate designs that are universally accessible, inherently safe and welcoming to all individuals regardless of disability status.