Identifying and Removing Barriers to Accessibility in Environmental Education and Outdoor Recreation
Term
Summer 2024
Capstone
Capstone Project
Degree Name
MAED: NSEE
Facilitator(s)
Trish Harvey
Content Expert
Patty Born, Jessica Burke
Abstract
There are numerous mental, physical, and socio-emotional health benefits to spending time outdoors, and this is especially true for people with disabilities. However, outdoor spaces such as park systems, nature centers, and other natural places are typically not accessible for people with disabilities. Research shows there are numerous barriers they encounter when trying to attend outdoor areas. The capstone project, titled Nature Adapted: Guidebook for evaluating and modifying current programs and practices to increase outdoor accessibility, was created to assist environmental education centers and outdoor recreation organizations in becoming more inclusive. It includes information sections, pre-assessements, reflections, and places to identify barriers and goals. This guidebook will hopefully be used by nature centers and park systems to take a deeper look at their current practices and learn ways to incorporate more accessible programming at their organization. The goal is to increase the level of access to natural spaces and become a more welcoming place for the disability community to enjoy.
Project Type
Field Guide Project
Keywords
Environmental Studies, Accessibility, Inclusive Practices, Environmental Education
Recommended Citation
Bonnin, Patricia, "Identifying and Removing Barriers to Accessibility in Environmental Education and Outdoor Recreation" (2024). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects. 1025.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_cp/1025
dc_type
text
dc_publisher
DigitalCommons@Hamline
dc_format
application/pdf
dc_source
School of Education Student Capstone Projects