Access for all
Meet four inspirational characters who are leading the charge for access to the outdoors for those with disabilities
“THE THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS OF OUTDOOR ADVENTURES FOR THE 14.1 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITY IN THE UK ARE HUGE”
AClimbing Blind, t 10.10pm on 4 June 2019, Jesse Dufton pressed his hands into rough sandstone and pulled himself onto the top of a 137m (449ft) sea stack teetering off the west coast of Orkney. As the sun set across the North Sea, his sight guide and partner Molly scrambled over the rim behind him. Jesse had just completed the first blind lead climb of the Old Man of Hoy. If you’ve seen the documentary of the ascent,
you’ll be familiar with the story, and if you haven’t you really should. It’s an inspiring account of a climb which is adventurous even with full sight, requiring a hairy scramble down a sketchy cliff path just to reach the start. For many able-bodied outdoor lovers it may well have been a first glimpse into what it’s like to get into wild places when you don’t have full use of your body.
Time in nature is essential for all human beings, regardless of mental or bodily ability.
Challenge, autonomy, mastery and the good soul-nourishing stuff of watching a sunset over the sea or feeling the cold wind on your face are important for everyone. We all appreciate nature and time in it, but it’s more straightforward for some of us to get it.
Jesse’s is an example of extraordinary skill, ability and commitment, but there are others. Scottish mountaineer and quadruple amputee Jamie Andrew made an ascent of Kilimajaro (5895m) in 2004 with an all-disabled team. In 2013, Arunima Sinha became the first female amputee to reach the summit of Everest. These are incredible achievements but some other people need more help. Disabilities can vary greatly in severity, hindering movement, communication, mental processing or sometimes all three. Some of us need a little help, others need a lot. Empathy and understanding are essential requirements.
How can we help more people get into nature? We spoke to people working in accessibility and inclusion, with varying experiences of disability, to find out more...