MTC Attends Accessibility Workshop
The Maine Trails Coalition recently attended a sold out Accessibility Workshop that introduced land trust staff, board members, and more from Maine and NH to the Land Trust Alliance's Open to All- Disability Inclusion Guide for Land Trusts, accessibility case studies and success stories from here in Maine. The interactive breakout sessions covered a variety topics and some even put participants in the shoes of someone with a disability trying to navigate a trail in a wheelchair.
A special thank you to the Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Blue Hill Heritage Trust, Maine Land Trust Network for organizing, Disability Rights Maine, Go Beyond the Fence’s Enock Glidden, Peter Doehring (ASD Roadmaps), all the presenters, the Adaptive Outdoor Education Center, and to the Onion Foundation for supporting this workshop. Thank you!
We learned so much from the speakers and demos, and look forward to making trails and outdoor spaces more open to all!
Presenters included:
Peter Doehring, a researcher, and consultant on developing programs for people with Autism or intellectual/developmental disabilities and co-author of Open to All- Disability Inclusion Guide for Land Trusts
Enock Glidden, Maine Trail Finder employee who was born with Spina Bifida, is an athlete, adventurer, motivational speaker, and an advocate for others with disabilities.
Dan Ostrye and Erik Donohoe, lead builders for Yarmouth’s accessible West Side Trail
Breakout sessions:
Disability Etiquette and Adaptive Equipment Demonstrations with AOEC’s Bruce Albiston & Zach Stegeman- Learn about inclusive language, how to engage in a thoughtful way while being inclusive and integrative.
Accessibility Philosophy & Demonstration by Enock Glidden- Enock will discuss his Accessibility Philosophy and give participants an interactive demo on how he approaches trails that are not “accessible”.
Building Accessible Trails with Blue Hill Heritage Trust, Island Heritage Trust, and West Side Trail- Learn how their accessible trails were created with packed gravel and boardwalk on a variety of terrain and talk about collaboration between land trusts, schools, and community.
Introducing people with Intellectual Disabilities or on the Autism Spectrum to Nature with Peter Doehring and AOEC’s Bruce Albiston
*Photos: Donna Bissett and Tyler Kidder
