Resources For Building An Unpaved, Universally Accessible, All Persons Trail
Stop Building Trails For Us, Start Building Trails With Us:
This is our top tip for building an accessible trail!
That's because having the perspective of lived experience of disability on a project is a critical component of creating authentic, high-quality, user-friendly accessible trails. Unfortunately, you can follow all the guidelines available for designing and building accessible trails and still end up with a space that doesn't work for many people who have disabilities. We frequently experience trails that are less-accessible than they could, and should be. These types of mistakes are often easily avoidable. When a trail is build without the perspective of lived experience it shows. Please include people from the disability community in your projects from the very beginning.
Consulting & Partnering
Unpaved Trails For All is a volunteer, disability-led, grassroots collective of advocates. We educate about the importance of accessible trails and advocate for more inclusive and accessible nature spaces. While it's very important to have the perspective of lived experience of disability on a project, it's not feasible or equitable for those who are part of a marginalized population to donate their time to individual projects.
If you have a project you'd like help with:
Some of our advocates also offer consulting services individually. Email us at UnpavedTrailsForAll (at) gmail to connect and discuss accessibility consulting services for your trail or other outdoor recreation project.
Nothing About Us Without Us:
There are a wide variety of factors that go into making an accessible nature space. Unfortunately many that have been designed to be accessible, still don't meet the needs of actual trail users as well as they could. Having an expert trail user, with the lived experience of disability involved in the process is the best way to make sure your organization is creating a truly accessible space.
Accessible and Non-accessible Spaces
We like to think of access on a spectrum, the goal should be universal accessibility, but if that goal can't be met, the space can still be made more inclusive. Even when barriers do exist, access to the space can usually be improved.
Information is key. Provide as much information about the space, and the obstacles that may exist, as you can. That way people can self-determine if the space is right for them.
Programming, Communication & Education
Those who work as consultants can also conduct educational and training webinars for organizations and agencies. We give guidance in the following areas: appropriate, non-offensive language usage; how to make programming more inclusive; information and education about accessible trails, outdoor recreation accessibility and inclusivity.
Email us to connect at UnpavedTrailsForAll (at) gmail
More Resources
Access Versus Accessibility - American Trails Webinar
with The Founder of Unpaved Trails For All,
Part of the Advancing The Trails Series
US Forest Service
Accessible Trail Guidelines PDF
Design Guide- a resource for land managers and landscape designers
US Access Board