As we head into the thick of Summer here in the US, many of us are trying to beat the heat by venturing out to beaches, pools, parks, and trails. Thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other related laws, people with disabilities have many more opportunities to access these recreational spaces. These include built resources like community pools and parks, with ramps, pool lifts, and accessible playground and splash park equipment. These spaces can also include hiking trails and campgrounds that have been modified to accommodate mobility equipment. In addition to physical benefits, outdoor recreation can have benefits for mental health and social wellness.

We took a quick look at some of the resources available from the NIDILRR grantee community, as well as the wider disability and rehabilitation community, to support full access to outdoor recreation spaces and programs:

• The ADA National Network regional centers have hosted many programs on access to recreation and outdoor spaces:
  • ADA Live! Beach Access
  • Accessible Beach Access Routes
  • Access to Community Recreation Areas
  • Accessible Pedestrian Trials and Shared Use Paths
  • Accessible Camping
  • They are called “Natural” Resources, not “Built” Resources; How do we access them?
  • Fishing and Boating for a Variety of Disabilities
  • Best Practices for Inclusive Recreation Programs
  • Theme Parks and Accessibility
  • Everybody Outside: Accessing the Inclusive Hiking Experience
• The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Community Living and Participation for People with Serious Mental Illness has developed many resources for people with these disabilities to connect with the outdoors and recreation and leisure as part of their recovery. These include resources for administrators and facilities managers for creating welcoming parks and other recreation environments, which the developers discussed in a webinar in May 2022.
• The Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center offers evidence-based information resources developed with researchers from the Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Burn Injury Model System Centers. These include:
  • Adaptive Sports and Recreation
  • Sun Protection After Burn Injury
• RRTC for Place-Based Solutions to Rural Community Participation, Health, and Employment maintains a searchable Rural Disability Resource Library, including those related to recreation, with a wealth of toolkits, factsheets, maps, and more.

Beyond the NIDILRR community, you may want to check out these resources:

• The US Access Board published Outdoor Developed Areas (PDF), a summary of accessibility standards for trails, camping facilities, beach access, viewing areas, and more.
• The US Department of Agriculture also published an Accessibility Guidebook for Outdoor Recreation and Trails (PDF).
• The National Park Service offers a free pass to all of its parks and recreation areas to people with disabilities with the Access Pass (small processing fee). Each park has accessibility information available on its website.
• The National Center on Health, Physical Activity, and Disability offers a large collection of articles, videos, and other resources for both people with disabilities and fitness professionals. A quick list of “fun and leisure” resources includes articles on camping, fishing, family fun outdoors, and much more.

We hope you have a great time exploring the outdoor spaces near you!