Trail Access Project goes to Washington D.C. |
October 17-18, 2023, Trail Access Project visited Washington D.C. to discuss needs of our community with disabilities for access to our nation's beautiful public lands. Our visits were facilitated by our partner Conservation Lands Foundation and Bertha Gutierrez.
We visited face to face with Tracy Stone-Manning, Director of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, U.S. Representative Dina Titus, and Representative Susie Lee. U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen was not available because she had just returned from Israel, but we were able to meet with her staff. Thanks to our Board members Angel Frechette, Shelley Price, Ed Price, and Bertha Gutierrez. Our Position America’s public lands are a treasure of this country, yet citizens with disabilities cannot meaningfully experience their beauty and solitude in nature because of lack of access. The vision All people, regardless of ability, can meaningfully experience the intangible beauty of America’s public lands. Asks We need an ally at BLM: A full-time staff member at the Bureau of Land Management dedicated to leading accessibility efforts at the agency. We can do this together! We want to be part of the conversation with the creation of a citizens advisory committee at the BLM national or state levels, that includes a diverse representation of disability types (vision, physical/movement, intellectual/learning, hearing, mental health, social relationship) Outcome Everyone we met with were very supportive of our vision and agreed to help as they could, even with legislation if necessary. |