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The stress-busting benefits of outdoor activities have recently been confirmed by research published in JAMA. Researchers found that spending time in green spaces, like woodlands, can significantly reduce one’s risk of developing mental health conditions like depression or anxiety.
Similar research shows that access to greenspaces is particularly important for neurodiverse folks. Spending time in nature can protect people against Alzheimer’s and may reduce the risk of hospitalization.
However, many of our natural parks and favorite outdoor activities are not accessible. This is a real issue for individuals with a disability who may feel put out and alienated by a lack of support.
Inclusive Recreation
Inclusivity shouldn’t be confined to our schools or places of work. True inclusivity is about ensuring that everyone can expand their boundaries and pursue a life that feels meaningful to them.
Empower your community by planning outdoor recreational events with local non-profits using universal design. Non-profit organizations like the American Disabled for Attendant Programs (ADAPT) and Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN) will be keen to hear your ideas and may be able to lend support during the planning phase.
Inclusive outdoor recreation isn’t just morally correct, it can do wonders for your well-being, too. After planning an outdoor event, you and your loved ones can enjoy the following benefits:
- Improved mood thanks to vitamin D exposure
- Enhanced day-to-day productivity
- Reduced stress and lower blood pressure
- Strengthened immune system
Breathing the fresh air as a group can be deeply empowering. Folks who are usually made to feel othered during outdoor activities will finally feel like part of the team in an inclusive activity for all. This can help individuals reassert their agency and spark a period of personal growth.
Remember to foreground the needs of attendees at all times. Use your own experiences as a carer or person with a disability to inform your decision-making and survey folks to find out if they need any accommodations that you may have overlooked. This can prevent accidental exclusions and help folks feel empowered while they enjoy the fresh air.
Challenging Barriers to Participation
Everyone deserves to spend time enjoying the great outdoors. However, many folks who live with disabilities face serious stereotypes that may curtail their ability to engage in outdoor activities.
When planning an event, be sure to address harmful stereotypes. Make it clear that people with disabilities deserve access to areas of natural beauty. You should also push back against outdated ideas that accessible accommodations are in conflict with conservation efforts. Installing ramps, rails, and roads need not undermine an area of natural beauty or unnecessarily harm the local environment.
You may encounter some severe financial barriers to outdoor activities. The cost of living for a household with a person who has a disability is already high, at an average of $17,690 per year more than households without a member with a disability. This means that many forgo expensive outdoor activities to save money.
You or your loved ones can navigate the financial strains associated with outdoor activities by fundraising in the lead-up to your outdoor activity or event. This is particularly important if you want to participate in a sport like adaptive golf that has a high cost to play. You may be surprised by the donations that you receive, as many in your community will be keen to help.
Transport
Outdoor events are deeply empowering and can help everyone live well with a disability. However, you or your loved ones may encounter some logistical hurdles in the lead-up to your accessible outdoor activity.
If possible, try to raise funds for a vehicle that is both accessible and outdoor-friendly. When searching for an all-terrain, accessible vehicle, ask yourself key questions like:
- Will the primary driver be a person with a disability? If so, what kinds of modifications are necessary?
- How will you transport wheelchair users and where will you store equipment?
- Do you need extra height for a large powered wheelchair?
- Will you take the vehicle off-road? What kind of road conditions do you expect to encounter?
- Will participants prefer a fold-out ramp or a slide-out ramp? How will this work when camping, fishing, or off-roading?
These questions will help you refine your parameters during your search. Be sure to get a vehicle that can scale to your needs, too, as you may find that more folks are interested in joining in with your outdoor activities as word spreads.
Conclusion
Outdoor activities are great for everyone’s mental health and wellbeing. Empower those around you through accessibility by foregrounding universal design while working with nonprofits. This will help you catch logistical issues and break down the barriers commonly associated with participation.
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