Investigating the Separation of Environmental Education and People with Mobility/Motor Disabilities in National Parks

Accessibility in national parks is crucial for inclusive environmental education (EE) programs, yet significant barriers persist for individuals with physical disabilities. This study investigates how 4 educators at 4 national parks perceive and implement inclusive practices in outdoor educational programming for people with physical disabilities by answering the questions: How do educators at national parks describe their ability to include people with physical disabilities in outdoor educational programming? What have these educators found to be successful in delivering inclusive outdoor educational programs to people with physical disabilities? Drawing on study participants’ professional experiences, the study explores the current state of accessibility in national parks, highlighting challenges faced by disabled visitors and the efforts made by park services to improve inclusivity. A qualitative research approach is used in this study, with virtual interviews focusing on open-ended questions in order to have an explorative approach. The findings of this study show that educators at national parks believe that there is room for improvement in their ability to include people with disabilities in outdoor education programs. However, they note that communication is one of their biggest successes in delivering inclusive experiences.