Using a simple and inexpensive accommodation, Erin participates in a hike with her friends.
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Wilderness Inquiry’s Disability Database.
About Disability & Making Accommodations
What is Asperger’s syndrome? How can I communicate with a deaf child? What snacks can we serve kids with diabetes? What about restrooms for children in wheelchairs?
There are many questions that naturally arise when you first consider bringing youth with disabilities into your programs. You don’t have to be an expert on the range of disabilities; there are resources on specific disabilities that provide all the information you may need to understand the general characteristics.
The most important point is to identify what accommodations, if any, the child might need. An accommodation is any item or action that helps the individual fit in and fully participate. Glasses, hearing aids, and wheelchairs are some common accommodations. Others might include using pictures instead of verbal descriptions, reading instructions aloud, or making sure ramps are available at access points.
The kids themselves and their parents can usually tell you exactly what accommodations they need. Most children with severe disabilities have personal care assistants. Keep in mind that the ADA does not obligate you to fundamentally change a program if the expense is unreasonable or to offer personal services unless they are normally provided to all.
| Accessibility Guidebook for Outfitters/Guides Operating on Public Lands | Wilderness Inquiry/USDA | book | |
| Universal Program Participation Model | Wilderness Inquiry | handout |