Normalizing Disabled Folks in Outdoor Spaces
This blog short was originally written for Instagram. Follow me at @disabledinthewild7
"Disability does not mean inability"
I have always had a deep love for the outdoors. Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, I lived for fishing trips to the nearby forest preserve and visits to see our family in the woods of Wisconsin. I decided I wanted to move to Montana when I was 12 years old, and I made that dream come true four days after I turned 18. I'll never forget those first few mountain hikes: the breathtaking views, the smell of the cool mountain air, and the feeling of strength in my body.
Fourteen years later, my love for the outdoors remains the same, though my "trekking poles" may look a bit different. I am learning how to explore nature within my body's new limitations and support needs. It takes me about an hour to walk a mile, and I can walk about two miles in one day. Three miles is my record! Depending on the activity, I have to take a lot of breaks, but I’m learning to appreciate the opportunity to really take in the view while I rest. The recovery afterwards can be rough, but it's almost always worth it to me. Almost.
People aren't quite sure what to think when they see me crutching around in the wild. I used to feel extremely self-conscious about the crutches and the way my legs move, but now I actually want to be seen. My mere existence in the outdoors challenges most non-disabled people's perspectives of what disability means, and normalizing disabled people in outdoor spaces is a step toward getting access for all people with varying abilities.
When people see me outdoors, I want them to know: disability does not mean inability. Just like some non-disabled people want to explore the outdoors, some disabled people want to explore the outdoors too! It doesn’t matter if your limitations are 20 miles in a day, or two miles, or if your body’s support needs are comfortable hiking shoes, or forearm crutches: we all belong outdoors, and we all deserve access to outdoor spaces.
