Placemaking: How to build kinship and inclusive park spaces for children with disabilities
As the dad of a daughter who experiences disabilities and as a professional who has spent his career working in National, state and city parks conserving nature and designing parks, I’ve found my professional and personal life at odds. My career path has focused on park planning, park design, visitor experience, land management and environmental conservation. However, much of the great work I believed I was doing in my job seemed to only create additional barriers for my daughter to access nature, from added steps on trails to inaccessible environmental education programs.
Over the years, Lydia has inspired me to think of and conceptualize accessibility in new ways within my professional role as the park planning manager at the City of Boulder, Colorado. She has been a crucial influence in this journey to ensure that not only she, but all children can universally access the many benefits of being in nature.
This is a very thoughtful article written by a father a child with disabilities who loves nature and would like to increase access and activities for children with disabilities in nature. Read this article for ideas and strategies to expand your thinking about how to enjoy and play in nature using universal design and a range of senses that we don’t always think about.