8. How to Build Accessibility

Cover image: a boardwalk with a gradual slope in (the Wilderness on Wheels boardwalk in Colorado) surrounded by green forest with three wheelchair users rolling up the boardwalk.

“‘We certainly don't want to pave the wilderness. However, when the decision is made to construct or alter a building, trail, recreation site, or other facility, we must ask, ‘How can we design, purchase, or build it to ensure all people have an equal opportunity to use this facility?’” (USDA Forest Service 3).

We know that creating accessibility is important- but how do we implement it? In this post, I will outline several ways that accessibility can be created in the outdoors (though this is more of an overview and only several of many ways). I think that there is a misconception that making certain sites or trails accessible is at the cost of the environment. However, the majority of these practices only widen or slightly expand manmade sites that were already in place or planned, certain easily implementable practices do not even touch nature, and others may even serve to protect it! The USDA operates by universal design as the best way to improve accessibility, and I will pull from their guidebook (a great resource to consult for more detail) as well as a few other sources to show how we can improve access in the outdoors.

Clear signs

One thing the handbook touches on is that certain signs like “partially accessible”, “accessible with assistance” and “ADA accessible” can be misleading at times and do not provide enough information for a person with a disability to tell if they can access the trail or not. They argue that either “accessible” or “not accessible” is the best way for signage to be clear (USDA 5). I agreed overall though maybe personally I tend to lean away from strict binaries; I would like to see trails that while they may not be able to become accessible enough to be deemed fully accessible, would still be designed to be as accessible as possible. “Partially accessible” isn’t meant for signs, because it is definitely unclear, but it may have a place in trail descriptions where explanatory detail can be added. Therefore, we can keep “as accessible as possible” in mind in our site and trail construction and not treat it as all or nothing. The latter part of this section is just personal thoughts though and could potentially be off.

Detailed trail descriptions

Trail descriptions are key! I know that I’ve benefitted a lot from the “Alltrails” app when choosing hikes because I’ve seen reviews indicating when there are issues, like many fallen trees to climb over and under, and I’ve readjusted my hiking plan as a result. I think that reviewing trails on platforms like Alltrails with information about accessibility is a great practice for community support that all hikers can do. These trail descriptions should be commonplace outside of just reviews (though those are quite helpful for current conditions) and should exist online and in guidebooks. In Elizabeth Wright’s article, she discusses how her disability prevents her from getting over gates and stiles so she always consults trail descriptions to know what trails to avoid. Different people have different needs and limitations so thorough information is key to making people with disabilities feel more comfortable traveling and starting a hiking trail and benefits everyone.

Font and audio choices

In trail guides, signs and more, having accessible fonts and print is very important. Visually impaired people may need large and dark fonts to be able to read these descriptions. This is a very easy change to implement that can make a big difference. Also, adding image descriptions in large clear fonts can be very helpful for visually impaired and color blind people. In ranger’s stations or educational programs that have auditory features, including subtitles, transcripts, and/or ASL interpreters can help improve accessibility for Deaf and hard of hearing folks.

Wheelchair accessible trails and facilities

Making facilities such as bathrooms, boat launching sites, etc. as well as widening and managing certain trails to make wheelchair accessible is key to improving accessibility for people with mobility impairments. The USDA says that this is best done when initially building a new site, trail or facility, so it is important to continue advocating for this so that it is actively considered in the designing and building process. One interesting thing that I learned is that boardwalks are one of the most wheelchair accessible trails and are even better for the environment. Wandering off trail often disrupts plants and disturbs wildlife, but boardwalks strongly deter people from doing this. A great example is Yellowstone, which has numerous boardwalk trails taking you through the various geysers and thermal pools. The boardwalks improve accessibility and keep both the environment and people safe. Another example is the “Wilderness on Wheels” boardwalk in Colorado, a one mile boardwalk intentionally designed for wheelchair users in the mountains that is accessible for everyone to roll or stroll along.

Provide Assistive Devices

One of my blog posts featured many assistive devices used by programs designed for people with disabilities to have outdoor adventure experiences. However, I think that these devices should be offered for free rental in ranger stations, outdoor shops and more so that everyone can access them, program or not. Staunton State Park offers Trackchairs that can be reserved for free and grant access to certain trails that a normal, everyday use wheelchair might not be able to. If more parks offered services like these with numerous types of assistive technology, accessibility could be greatly improved.

Transportation

Accessible and affordable public transportation to and from nature and parks is key for both people with disabilities and people who may not be able to afford cars. I’ve definitely been frustrated in the past because it feels almost impossible to get into nature without a car since public transportation is generally focused on cities. However, including more stops to parks and hikes in buses and trains that accommodate disability could be a great way of improving access. I also know that certain national parks like Yosemite offer public transit within the park to various hikes and landmarks, which seems like an amazing resource. This also would benefit the environment as there would be less incentive to drive to all of these places.

Another note- because of the Architectural Barriers Act (1968) among others, federally funded parks will be more accessible than most. “All facilities designed, built, altered, bought, rented, or leased by, for, or on behalf of a Federal agency must be accessible” and transition plans were ordered by 1997 (USDA 6). Therefore, national parks will be one of the best places to go in terms of accessibility because it is federally required, though this is not to say that further improvements do not need to be made in these places.

Not every trail will be accessible for everyone because the natural environment may be too rough or the destination too far. However, making as much as we can as accessible as we can is crucial to ensure equitable access to nature. To quote the organization Disabled Hikers, “Our Vision is an outdoors culture transformed by fair representation, accessibility, and justice for disabled and all other marginalized outdoors people” (1).

References:

“Building Disability Community and Justice in the Outdoors.” Disabled Hikers. Accessed May

10, 2021. https://disabledhikers.com/.

Wilderness on Wheels. Accessed May 16, 2021. https://www.wildernessonwheels.org/.

Wright, Elizabeth. “Learning to Hike With a Disability.” Backpacker, July 8, 2020.

https://www.backpacker.com/skills/learning-to-hike-with-a-disability/.

Zeller, Janet, Ruth Doyle, and Kathleen Snodgrass. Accessibility Guidebook for Outdoor

Recreation and Trails. Missoula, MT: USDA Forest Service, Technology and

Development Program, 2012.