"Let us say 'no' to an economy of exclusion and inequality, where money rules, rather than service. That economy kills. That economy excludes. That economy destroys Mother Earth." -- Pope Francis
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June 29, 2018
Exploring
the Planet, One Accessible Trail at a Time
My wife Nellis -- Director of
Equity for Sierra Club and the usual author of this blog -- and I have been
exploring and enjoying the planet together for over ten years. When I was
diagnosed with lupus a
few years ago, we promised ourselves that we wouldn’t let our health challenges
stop our adventuring. But it hasn’t always been easy.
Suzanne enjoying the outdoors
People with disabilities are excluded from public life, and
especially outdoor spaces, in a million ways both visible and invisible. Living
with lupus means being careful about getting my heart rate elevated, staying
out in the sun, or tiring myself out. On bad days even a flight of stairs can
cause a lupus flare that could take me more than a week to recover from. So
when I do get outside to enjoy the fresh air and contemplate my existence in
this beautiful world, I take pride in my accomplishment. The first trip I took
after being diagnosed with lupus was to the White Sands National Park in New
Mexico. I was so afraid of not being near a hospital in case of an emergency,
or of getting sick from being in the sun for too long, but with every step I
took I felt just a little bit more in control of my life and my health.
As Nellis has written in the past on this blog: identities
intersect. Our Native and queer identities
often make us a target for bigotry. Living at the intersection of several
marginalized identities means that we have to think twice about everything we
do. If we’re adventuring near the border of the U.S. and Mexico, we have to
think -- will the color of our skin attract attention from violent militias, or
from the Border Patrol? When we’re deciding which national park to visit next,
we have to think -- is the surrounding area a safe one for queer folks? (The
answer is usually no, and we take our chances.) And no matter where we go,
whether outdoors or just to a restaurant for dinner, we have to wonder -- is
this space ADA compliant? Is there an elevator, or will I have to climb stairs?
Are there any accessible, paved hiking paths? It gets complicated quickly.
But we live our lives. We recently went on a trip to Rocky
Mountain National Park with a friend and had a great time thanks to an
accessible trail we found. It was wide, paved, and flat, making it possible for
me to get out of the car and explore. But often we visit parks where no such
facilities exist.
Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park
People with disabilities are coming up with our own solutions
and work-arounds to address the obstacles we face in accessing nature. A few
years ago, Nellis and I published a whole series of videos on Youtube called
Kickin’ It with Lupus, to share some of the tips and tricks we have come up
with to make camping and hiking possible and comfortable for people with lupus
and other disabilities. Check out the video below for some practical advice on
how to make your next outdoor adventure inclusive for people in your community
who live with disabilities.
All of us can work toward a more inclusive world for folks with
disabilities in every aspect of our lives. One of the ways to show up as an
ally to people with disabilities that feels important to me is to use people-first
language. That means acknowledging the fullness and complexity of my
identity and life experience in the ways that you refer to me. I’d rather not
be thought of as a “lupus patient” or “disabled person.” My name is Suzanne, I
live with lupus and I love the outdoors and work really hard to spend my time
there. Now if only the people my wife and I ask to take our obligatory picture
in front of every park’s designated sign knew how much physical effort and
years of advocacy went into making my visits to our national parks possible,
then maybe they would stop taking pictures from our waists up. I can’t
help but suspect the sight of my forearm crutches or my walker is what they are
trying to exclude. As if I made it to this spot to get my picture taken looking
just like everyone else. That is not my truth and I am proud of my journey and
the accessibility aids that make it possible. One day I hope to live in a world
where people with disabilities are fully included in public life, seen as
complex individuals with much to contribute, and have access to all the same
opportunities and spaces as people without disabilities.
Wednesday, Sept. 12
Muslims are observing Muḥarram, the
first month of the Islamic calendar and one of four sacred months of the year. [Fast Forward, September 12, 2018]
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NOTE: I have no official connection to any organization from which information is shared.. Occasionally, I post informational material and/or an opportunity to donate or join as a "community service" announcement. These again are shared for their varying perspectives.
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