What is the future of accessibility in the US?

The outdoor industry has made some big strides over the last few years to be more inclusive and accessible for people with disabilities. But under a Trump presidency, it’s going to be a lot harder to keep that momentum going. The administration’s push to shut down federal diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) programs could seriously set us back, making it harder to tackle ableism and the broader inequities that keep outdoor spaces inaccessible for so many people.

Specifically I wanted to shed light on two new executive orders called "Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing" and “Ending Illegal Discrimination And Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity." These orders paint DEIA work as "radical," "wasteful," and "illegal." They demand detailed records from anyone who’s gotten federal grants or contracts for DEI initiatives, and go further to discourage accessibility work in the private and state sectors, calling for investigations into DEI practices and even threatening them with lawsuits (Sect 4). Unfortunately, this is sounding all too familiar from American history (click here for information on the Red Scare).

This kind of fear-mongering discourages outdoor organizations and state programs from prioritizing inclusion. It could mean fewer adaptive recreation programs, less training on accessibility, and even abandoning projects to make trails and facilities more inclusive. It’s clear the goal is to discourage organizations from doing this kind of work by making it feel risky or controversial. For those of us who have been advocating for accessibility in outdoor spaces, this is a huge step backward.

Let me remind you that 25% of Americans have a disability, making this the largest minority group in the country. This population includes individuals of all ages, backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, and races. The proposed policies will negatively impact a quarter of our population, including veterans who have served to protect our freedoms—yet are now at risk of being excluded from equitable access to outdoor recreation.

While these executive orders don’t repeal the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA), we all know these laws don’t go far enough. They fail to allow for full participation in society and come with serious limitations, including lack of regulations for outdoor spaces, which is exactly what we’re trying to expose and fix with accessibility work. Relying solely on these limited frameworks leaves huge gaps in equity and access—gaps that federal DEIA initiatives were starting to address before they were gutted. Accessibility work is fundamentally a civil rights effort aimed at ensuring equal access, opportunity, and dignity for disabled individuals in all aspects of society, including public spaces, services, and recreation. This work is far from “wasteful.”

I also urge you to understand that accessibility and equity go hand in hand; there is real intersectionality here. We cannot have progress making places more approachable for people of all abilities without the key work that is being done for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. Not to mention that BIPOC people experience higher rates of disability because of systemic barriers in healthcare, housing, and employment. When racial equity takes a hit, accessibility does too. Ignoring this intersection only deepens existing barriers.

So where do we go from here? First, we need to keep fighting for policies that prioritize accessibility and equity. That means pushing back against efforts to dismantle DEIA programs and making sure disabled voices—especially from marginalized communities—are front and center. Find your local community organization and work to collaborate to keep accessibility on the agenda. Second, there are a lot of people who have been doing this work for the last 4 years who have lost their jobs and/or partners related to this order. Step up and take their training online, join their Patreon, etc. Lastly, contact your representatives in congress about your needs related to accessibility and the importance to go beyond ADA and ABA requirements for true equity. They need to hear it from you, their constituents, to understand your lived experience. Outdoor organizations also have a role to play. Even in this tough political climate, they need to stay committed to creating inclusive and accessible spaces. By standing firm, they can ensure that outdoor spaces remain places where everyone—no matter their ability or background—can feel welcome and included. 

Image credit from the New York Times

While this is a scary time, it’s also an opportunity to come together and strengthen our resolve. Let me remind you that the ADA itself was created because people with disabilities stood up against a federal government that wasn’t recognizing their needs. And it started small in local spaces and grew toward this major legislation. We’ve been here before, and we know what to do—stand together, raise our voices, and demand the changes we deserve.