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Listen actively

Take care of you; take care of us

Consent to learn in public

Step up, step back

Assume positive intent; seek clarity when needed

Own your impact

Bring joy and curiosity to the group

Make the best use of our time

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Acknowledgments and statements can be an important measure when paired with action — but such articulations need to be intentional and purposeful. In this session we’ll discuss best practices for crafting a statement and who should be part of the process, as well as how to communicate the statement to stakeholders. We’ll also have time to share resources and statements from our own organizations.

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So you’re ready to implement DEI into your organizational structure, but not sure where to start? Here we’ll discuss how to cultivate buy-in from your stakeholders and take the next steps so that DEI is an integrated part of all your operations, rather than a siloed initiative. Whether your organization is just starting out or has been on a DEI journey for years, you can come to learn and share with your fellow peers in this Facilitated Discussion.

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Is your nature center accessible? Access to nature is important for everyone, abled and disabled. In this session we’ll discuss the differences in abilities that we should be aware of, and what changes we can make to better accommodate disabled community members. Join us for a Facilitated Discussion with your fellow peers.

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Choose one question to discuss as a group (if you finish that conversation, choose another!)

1. If you have written a land acknowledgment or DEI statement, what did you learn? If you have not, what has been holding you back?

2. As you consider writing a land acknowledgment or DEI statement, reflect on your stakeholders:

1. Which stakeholders are going to be champions of your statement? How can you engage them?

2. Which stakeholders are you anticipating resistance from? How can you engage them/bring them along? (Or, what will you do if you can’t?)

3. If you already have written a statement, share your experience with engaging stakeholders in the process: both supporters and “resistors.”

3. DEI Statements and Land Acknowledgements are just the first step in expressing solidarity with marginalized groups in your community. What other steps could you take to build relationships and show solidarity?

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1/25 Discussion questions to choose from:

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1/25 Discussion questions to choose from:

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Have each person share a success and a struggle they are encountering with DEI at their org. Pick one or more of the challenges someone shared and dig in! Brainstorm/share solutions.

Have each person share how they began DEI work at their org.  What were your first steps in getting started? What did you learn?

Look at pgs 60-63 of "Dismantling Racism Workbook" on the padlet.  Where does your organization fit? How might you take steps to move yourself to the next "level"?

Look at the "6 Phases of Racial Equity Practice" graphic on the padlet. What resonates with you? Which phase do you think your org is in?

Have you used any of the resources shared on the padlet? Did you find them useful? Do you have other resources to share?

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Here is a discussion guide for your time in small groups:

*Introductions: Name, Location, Pronouns

*Choose one question to discuss as a group (if you finish that conversation, choose another!)

1. What is coming up for you related to access and ableism at your center? What learnings do you have to share or challenges do you need support with?

2. Look at the “Birdability Checklist” together – what jumps out at you on the list? Are there easy things you might be able to do at your center to improve accessibility? Anything that surprised you or is making you think differently?

3. This article about trail accessibility for folks with disabilities lists these as the four top barriers for folks with physical disabilities:

signage/up-to-date trail conditions

visual barriers at seat height

width of trail entrances

lack of seating that is marked on a map

Based on this list, what improvements do you think you could advocate for at your center (and/or what additional information do you need and how can you get it?)

4. Especially given that many disabilities are “invisible” (e.g. neurodiversity, chronic illness, etc), support and solutions often need to be made in a nuanced and case-by-case way. What actions could you take to better understand the needs of individual visitors or program participants to help give the support or accommodations they need to enjoy your site?

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Especially pgs 56-75 http://intergroupresources.com/rc/RESOURCE%20CENTER/OWEN%27S%20CATEGORIZATION%20OF%20RC/2%20-%20Curricular%20Materials/2a%20-%20Publicly%20available/Dismantling%20Racism-%20A%20Resource%20Book%20for%20Social%20Change%20Groups%20--%20Western%20States%20Center.pdf

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https://www.dismantlingracism.org/uploads/4/3/5/7/43579015/racial_equity_stages_graphic.pdf

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Podcast: Are workplace DEI programs doing more harm than good?

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Podcast: Are workplace DEI programs doing more harm than good?

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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/are-workplace-diversity-programs-doing-more-harm-than-good/id1438024613?i=1000531687642

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It's time to rethink what's working in the modern workplace and what's failing. Amid a pandemic that overturned how so many work, increased calls for racial and social justice put a new pressure on companies to ensure - or at least to seem as if they ensure - equality among their employees. Diversity, equity and inclusion (D.E.I.) programs are an increasingly popular solution deployed by management. But do these initiatives do marginalized employees any good? And who are the true beneficiaries of diversity programs, anyway?

Jane Coaston has spent years on the receiving end of diversity initiatives, and for that reason, she's skeptical. To debate D.E.I. programs' efficacy, she brought together Dr. Sonia Kang, who does research on identity, diversity and inclusion at the University of Toronto, and Lily Zheng, a D.E.I. strategy consultant and public speaker, to argue what works and doesn't when it comes to making workplaces fair for all.

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are workplace diversity programs doing more harm than good?

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‎The Argument: Are Workplace Diversity Programs Doing More Harm Than Good? on Apple Podcasts

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It's time to rethink what's working in the modern workplace and what's failing. Amid a pandemic that overturned how so many work, increased calls for racial and social justice put a new pressure on companies to ensure - or at least to seem as if they ensure - equality among their employees.

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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-build-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-that-sticks/id702896920?i=1000551238431

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We may have moved from a time of reckoning on racial equity to a time of transformation, says business leader Dr. Rohini Anand, and that gives her hope. The author of "Leading Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: A Guide for Systemic Change in Multinational Organizations," Anand advises leaders all over the world on how to get to work and make DEI improvements that stick. Each situation is unique, but the principles Anand has come up with help leaders adapt her expertise to their own organization. Miecha Ranea Forbes, the Aspen Institute's Vice President of People and Culture, interviews Dr. Anand and shares some of her own expertise in this work. The talk is hosted by Ascend at the Aspen Institute; Ascend is a catalyst and convener for systems, policy, and social impact leaders working to create a society where every family passes a legacy of prosperity and well-being from one generation to the next.

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‎Aspen Ideas to Go: How to Build Diversity, Equity and Inclusion that Sticks on Apple Podcasts

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We may have moved from a time of reckoning on racial equity to a time of transformation, says business leader Dr. Rohini Anand, and that gives her hope. The author of "Leading Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: A Guide for Systemic Change in Multinational Organizations," Anand advises leaders a...

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Dr. Rohini Anand's Five Principles for DEI

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Dr. Rohini Anand's Five Principles for DEI

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https://www.oecd-forum.org/posts/global-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-dei

(Dr. Rohini Anand was the guest in the Aspen Ideas podcast -- here is an article that summarizes the five principles she talks about in that podcast)

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This article is part of a series in which OECD experts and thought leaders - from around the world and Join the Forum Network for free using your email or social media accounts to share your own stories, ideas and expertise in the comments. all parts of society - discuss and develop solutions now and for the future. Aiming to foster the fruitful exchange of expertise and perspectives across fields to help us rise to this critical challenge, opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the OECD.
Global transformation work is not a one-size-fits all initiative. Global diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) change is both unique to each culture and is systemic-something I saw firsthand during my time working with the Saudi Sodexo team.

My trip to Bahrain to conduct a workshop with the team was both a moving and a compelling experience. I spent the day in a room of mostly men, including one Saudi man in his flowing white thobe. Three Saudi women in their tastefully embroidered pastel abayas remained at the other end of the room with me. Despite an initial hesitancy, the women participated fully in the workshop, sharing their views energetically.

Engaging with these Saudi women was a disruptive experience for me. I had heard about the high education level amongst Saudi women, but I also knew that Saudi Arabia is ranked 146 out of 153 countries in the World Economic Forum's 2020 Global Gender Gap report. I was familiar with the fact that for years, Saudi women were considered legal minors and subject to a far-reaching male guardianship system that required permission to travel, work, and more.

I was inspired and humbled listening to the life-stories that the women shared, awed by the drive and ambition with which they approached their work and their curiosity about the world.

But given the restrictive context for women in Saudi, I was perplexed at how we could advance the global gender equity strategy in the region. How do we understand and respect local contexts with their specific cultural values while simultaneously pushing for change? To what extent do we adapt to each context?

Given the complex and dynamic nature of global transformation work, there is no quick checklist or playbook for global DEI culture change. It's not enough to have the right initiatives, strategy, or best practices. In my own journey and in my effort to figure out how to advance DEI culture change and progress globally, I've come to recognize some principles that provide a through line in working in divergent cultures. I share these in my upcoming book, Leading Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Each principle is a simple, yet disruptive, statement. They are not intended to provide standards, nor are they a plug-and-play template based on what has worked in one country. In fact, these assumptions are some of the foundational mistakes in global DEI work. What makes them powerful and useful is they can be applied with sensitivity to any culture.

The first principle is Make It Local. Any global framework for DEI change must be rooted in local particulars, informed by the history, culture, language, and laws of each place 'Make it Local' implies understanding the context and with that knowledge and designing interventions to disrupt the status quo, but doing so alongside local change agents.

I learned that the Saudi Sodexo leadership team noticed things opening up and pushed to hire more Saudi women. According to Sharia law, women had to work in a separate room with the door closed. They were not to be seen by male colleagues, and they had to communicate via an intercom. Men could not enter the space where they were working without announcing themselves, and if women were to stray from that area-say for a work meeting-they needed a male Muslim chaperone.

I asked myself whether it would be productive to view this situation through a Western feminist lens. The answer was that if the leadership had taken this approach, these working conditions would be absolutely unacceptable and women would not have been able to work for Sodexo at all. I would never have had the opportunity to meet these amazing, inspiring women!

Now that they had increased the number of women on staff, the leadership opted for slowly stretching and disrupting the status quo from within. Some of the leaders were from outside Saudi Arabia, walking a fine line between not imposing their views while using their "outsider" status to raise issues that are difficult to broach from the inside.

The leaders told me that it soon became clear the women would occasionally need to meet with male colleagues. But conservative men on staff pushed back; they felt it was not acceptable for women to have work meetings with men without a Saudi or Muslim man to accompany them.

So the Sodexo leadership put the dilemma back to these men. Eventually, these conservative men proposed that women could meet with men, as long as they were sitting on different sides of the desk and the door to the office was open.
Find out more about the OECD's work on Gender Equality in the MENA region
The Sodexo Saudi Arabia leaders' approach disrupted the status quo. Using their outsider status, they had the freedom to push for increased hiring of women. Then, they invited the insiders-those with local knowledge, and even those most resistant-to propose fundamental changes to women's career opportunities. These leaders worked toward gender equity in Saudi Arabia with an understanding of the local context.

The second principle is Leaders Change to Lead Change. The Sodexo leadership in Saudi internalized the benefit of DEI to themselves and to the business, leading with purpose and passion to hire and retain Saudi women. Transformative leadership is critical to any successful DEI change initiative.

Equally important is identifying a powerful reason to change. Without a compelling change narrative, any transformational initiative will struggle to be sustained. The third principle, And Its Good Business, Too, exemplifies this necessity. These Sodexo leaders recognized an opening for hiring more local national women partly due to a nationalization program launched by the Saudi Arabian government in 2011. The program, referred to as Nitaqat, categorized private sector companies into various color-coded classes with varying benefits based on their number of local hires.

The fourth principle is Go Deep, Wide, and Inside Out. Organizations are comprised of interconnected systems that work in concert with each other and, as such, DEI needs to be infused into the processes, policies, and structures throughout an organization. The external ecosystem also influences organizational outcomes. The leadership in Saudi went deep and wide by seeding the organization with change agents who supported the success of the women hired. They embedded processes like benefits and work arrangements to make it a desirable workplace for the Saudi women. And they went inside out to partner with the government and NGOs to facilitate the hiring of women.

The fifth principle is Know What Matters and Count it. Metrics provide a global framework and a cohesive narrative. They communicate both an organization's intent and its commitment. They spotlight problem areas and possible solutions, while enabling and promoting accountability. Sodexo had a global target of 40% women in senior leadership positions. The Sodexo leadership in Saudi translated this target to the local context and in doing so increased the representation of women five-fold.

Over the years it became clear to me that organizational leaders around the world struggle to implement large scale change initiatives globally-not because of a lack of technical competence, but because of a lack of nuanced understanding of the local context. My peers in other organizations are not always sure how to make DEI relevant across geographies. In my upcoming book, Leading Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, I lay out how using these five guiding principles of localizing the strategy, transformative leadership, building a relevant and compelling case for change, engaging the entire ecosystem, and holding leaders accountable can successfully guide global change efforts.

Find out more about Leading Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion,by Rohini Anand (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, November 2021)

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Unique but Systemic: Five Principles for Leading Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

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Global diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) change is both unique to each culture and systemic. Dr. Rohini Anand introduces for the Forum Network her five Principles for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion through the lens of her recent experience in Bahrain. Banner image: Shutterstock/Freeograph

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Over 30 years ago, leaders of nature and environmental learning centers began to share ideas, experiences, and hard-won professional knowledge. Those conversations soon became the Association of Nature Center Administrators (ANCA), a professional association dedicated to leaders in the nature and environmental learning center profession, including directors, managers, senior administrators and board members. ANCA is the only such organization in North America and supports over 700 dues-paying members. See our Member Map here.

Mission

The Association of Nature Center Administrators promotes and supports best leadership and management practices for the nature and environmental learning center profession.

Core Values

As an Organization, a Staff, and a Board;

We are an Inclusive, Welcoming, and Supportive Community.

We value Learning and Sharing.

We believe that the Collective Wisdom and Diversity of our Peer Network is our greatest resource.

Vision of Success ANCA 2025

ANCA's Vision of Success statements represents a desired future by 2025. Some Vision of Success goals may be attained in a much shorter time frame while others may continue into the next strategic plan.

By 2025:

1. ANCA will have organizational capacity and financial stability to meet its current and future objectives.

2. ANCA will maintain best practices that promote diversity, equity, and inclusiveness within our membership and the profession.

3. ANCA will continue to recognize and promote its core values while responding & adapting to trends within the dynamic profession.

4. ANCA will be the leading source for professional development tools and relevant resources for leaders and aspiring leaders in the nature and environmental field.

5. ANCA will explore and define our voice toward relevant advocacy and civic engagement.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Statement

ANCA will model diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in all our policies, practices and procedures. ANCA will:

Create a diverse, equitable and inclusive membership by recruiting members from all arenas of the nature center and environmental learning profession as well as by retaining current members.

Communicate our policies and procedures related to diversity, equity and inclusion to our members and non-members alike.

Conduct programs and provide services that support and encourage our membership to include DEI policies and strategies in their work in their own communities

Collect, conduct and share best practices related to our work on DEI to the profession.

We welcome feedback from the ANCA Community in this effort. See our always-evolving list of DEI resources here and as well as our statement on racial justice in 2020.

Public Policy and Advocacy Strategy

ANCA may take public positions on governmental and non-governmental activities when these activities may impact our ability or capacity to accomplish our mission or affect the nature and environmental learning center profession and professionals. Our plan and strategies will focus on actions that impact the ANCA community at large.

As part of this strategy, ANCA will:

work to connect ANCA members to public policy and advocacy resources they need to unify in response to an issue.

work to expand public awareness of issues that affect our members and profession.

work to increase financial support to the field of nature and outdoor education.

work to ensure that public access to nature and open spaces is inclusive and equitable.

work to build relationships to elevate our public policy and advocacy work.

Our plan will include calls to action when we need our members and the nature and environmental learning center profession to perform an action to call attention to an issue. Learn more about our Public Policy and Advocacy Strategy here (pdf).

Land Acknowledgement

ANCA's staff operates remotely throughout what is today the United States. Our main office is located on the ancestral and contemporary land of the Eastern Shoshone and Shoshone-Bannock in Logan, Utah, and our remote staff work and live on the land of the Anishinaabe peoples in Detroit, Michigan, and also on the land of the Shawnee and Miami, in Dayton, Ohio. We acknowledge that all of these peoples have endured extreme violence and forced removal throughout colonial history, and that the violent history continues today. We aspire to fully honor the legacy of these Indigenous peoples and to respect the lands we are on.
Learn more about land acknowledgement at nature centers.

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Mission & Values - Association of Nature Center Administrators

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Over 30 years ago, leaders of nature and environmental learning centers began to share ideas, experiences, and hard-won professional knowledge. Those conversations soon became the Association of Nature Center Administrators (ANCA), a professional association dedicated to leaders in the nature and en...

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https://idiinventory.com/

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Intercultural Development Inventory | IDI, LLC

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IDI, LLC specializes in the assessment and development of intercultural competence based on the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI).

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Birdability - Resource for accessibility (aimed toward birding but really helpful for all nature-enjoyers)

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Birdability - Resource for accessibility (aimed toward birding but really helpful for all nature-enjoyers)

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Add your own property to the map, the questions they ask helped us really ID our strengths and places we could improve.

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Through education, outreach and advocacy, Birdability works to ensure the birding community and the outdoors are welcoming, inclusive, safe and accessible for everybody. We focus on people with mobility challenges, blindness or low vision, chronic illness, intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental illness, and those who are neurodivergent, deaf or hard of hearing or who have other health concerns. In addition to current birders, we strive to introduce birding to people with disabilities and other health concerns who are not yet birders so they too can experience the joys of birding.

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Birdability focuses on removing barriers to access for birders with mobility challenges, blindness or low vision, are deaf or hard of hearing, have autism and other health concerns. Be welcoming and inclusive of diverse birders; learn about access considerations; find resources for birders who have

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14:04:29 From Glenna Holstein (she/hers) to Everyone:
	What is one DEI related goal you have (for yourself or your organization) as we begin 2023?
14:11:50 From Glenna Holstein (she/hers) to Everyone:
	â¢ Listen actively
	 â¢ Take care of you; take care of us
	 â¢ Consent to learn in public
	 â¢ Step up, step back
	 â¢ Assume positive intent; seek clarity when needed
	 â¢ Own your impact
	 â¢ Bring joy and curiosity to the group
	 â¢ Make the best use of our time
14:14:09 From Glenna Holstein (she/hers) to Everyone:
	What is one DEI related goal you have (for yourself or your organization) as we begin 2023?
14:14:51 From Suzanne Tuttle to Everyone:
	To convince our board to adopt a DEI statement for our organization.
14:15:00 From Jenn Kirts to Everyone:
	Our organization is beginning a staff/board committee on DEI this year.
14:15:03 From andy.williams to Everyone:
	Safely become more inclusive.
14:15:04 From Colleen Goff to Everyone:
	To take the first steps into beginning our DEI Journey
14:15:07 From Emily Edmonds-Langham & Susie Erdey | Teatown to Everyone:
	Spanish language support, whether on the web, in program, or out on the trails
14:15:10 From Karla Eitel (she/her) UI-MOSS to Everyone:
	Our organizational goal is to center racial equity as core and necessary to meeting our mission (and not the thing we get to after the ârest of the workâ is done).
14:15:11 From Caroline Crews to Everyone:
	My organizationâs 2023 goal is to draft and adopt a DEI statement!
14:15:21 From Carol Raymond to Everyone:
	Continue working to help the organization to become more inclusive and accessible
14:15:24 From Kristen Cooper, Irvine Nature Center to Everyone:
	add more free programming to our calendar to increase access to nature
14:15:25 From Dan Auer - ANCA to Everyone:
	To learn and grow with our ANCA community in our DEI work.
14:15:27 From Leigh Rovegno (she/her) to Everyone:
	To get more staff and board involved with this work beyond those who have offered to serve on our IDEA committee
14:15:38 From Jen Aguayo (she/her) to Everyone:
	Bringing DEI discussion and potential trainings back to the table after tabling it.
14:15:40 From Elaine Smith, Tanglewood Nature Center to Everyone:
	Finally move from learning to doing.
14:15:43 From Farmington Hills Nature Center - Ashlie (She/Her) to Everyone:
	Work on hiring a more diverse staff that represents our diverse and vibrant community
14:15:44 From Patty Weisse (she, her) to Everyone:
	Fold DEI goals into our organization's next strategic plan
14:15:46 From Jennifer Rydzewski to Everyone:
	How to take first action steps and gain buy-in from entire organization after goals have been developed and approved by board
14:15:47 From Celeste to Everyone:
	Have another diversity committee meeting, learn more, decide next steps, get more people involved
14:16:14 From Margo Olson (she/her) to Everyone:
	How to do outreach to find diverse candidates
14:16:21 From Melanie Costello - NIU Lorado Taft to Everyone:
	To include staff development around DEI (i.e. using inclusive language)
14:16:44 From Martin Hagne to Everyone:
	Work to implement changes in our organization, following our DEI statement created a year or so ago.
14:17:00 From Dan Auer - ANCA to Everyone:
	https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/da1lx5ttc0o2bcre
14:17:15 From Jennifer Rydzewski to Everyone:
	Replying to "To get more staff an..."
	
	In a similar spot with my organization, Leigh
14:17:34 From Bonnie, SLNSC to Everyone:
	Iâm the HR person At Squam Lakes Science Center and for us, we are planning to completely revise our personnel policies and to create/include our DEI goals, philosophy and practices. Iâve been revising documents already to be inclusive. We have made great progress with our DEI initiatives; with signage, sensory  additions, and formal DEI training for all staff and board members
14:17:38 From Jennifer Rydzewski to Everyone:
	Replying to "Finally move from le..."
	
	In a similar place with my organization, Elaine
14:52:14 From Farmington Hills Nature Center - Ashlie (She/Her) to Everyone:
	work on seeking & creating meaningful partnerships with organizations that represent marginalized & minority individuals
14:52:25 From Bonnie, SLNSC to Everyone:
	Our group chatted about our successes and challenges and we all shared our experiences and some helpful resources
14:52:30 From Jen Levy (she/her), ANCA to Everyone:
	Moving forward we need to continue to share these challenges and our successes.
14:52:41 From Karla Eitel (she/her) UI-MOSS to Everyone:
	I was struck by the way that the challenges of DEI efforts are embedded in systems that hold the problems in place. For example, wages and compensation.
14:52:58 From Jennifer Rydzewski to Everyone:
	Big takeaways for me:
	_DEI work relates to staff as well as the communities your group/organization serves
	_Visitors are encouraged when interacting with staff that they can relate to
14:53:01 From Farmington Hills Nature Center - Ashlie (She/Her) to Everyone:
	Karla - wages and compensation came up for us too!
14:53:39 From Emily Edmonds-Langham & Susie Erdey | Teatown to Everyone:
	housing access tied to that came up for us as well
14:54:08 From Berri Moffett (she/they) to Everyone:
	We briefly touched on the difference/ideas around internal dei (hiring, equity) vs. external (inclusion and accessibilty, outreach) and I am interested in further looking at how those things are different or overlap
14:54:31 From Bonnie, SLNSC to Everyone:
	We didnât get to the comp and benefits topic but that is an issue â¦
14:59:33 From Asa Duffee (he/him) â ANCA to Everyone:
	CONNECTS tomorrow: https://natctr.org/events/calendar/hiring-and-retaining-staff-23
14:59:49 From Asa Duffee (he/him) â ANCA to Everyone:
	All upcoming CONNECTS: https://natctr.org/events/connects
14:59:59 From Leigh Rovegno (she/her) to Everyone:
	Thanks so much!
15:00:03 From Asa Duffee (he/him) â ANCA to Everyone:
	Thanks all! ð
15:00:03 From Greg Fizzell (he/him) to Everyone:
	Thanks for the great conversation!
15:00:03 From Emily Edmonds-Langham & Susie Erdey | Teatown to Everyone:
	thank you!
15:00:05 From Emma Vasicek (she/her), Evergreen Audubon to Everyone:
	Thanks everyone!
15:00:06 From Karla Eitel (she/her) UI-MOSS to Everyone:
	Thank you!

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We launched a new ANCA Board & Committees Interest Form 

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We launched a new ANCA Board & Committees Interest Form 

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https://www.natctr.org/about/board-of-directors/opportunities

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Would you like to become more involved in ANCA? We welcome ANCA members to express interest in joining a Committee of the Board and/or the Board of Directors. We are especially interested in candidates who

share our Core Values, are passionate about our mission, and are motivated to advance our Vision of Success. Read about these here.

wish to further support our member services and events.

have a dedicated and consistent leadership ethic and enjoy working collaboratively with other leaders.

We also welcome candidates who are looking to add committee and board experience to their leadership development.

To learn more about the Committees and Board, please read the full list of ANCA Committees and the ANCA Board Job Description.

Interested?

If you'd like to join an ANCA Committee or the Board (or both), please complete the following form and we'll be in touch.
ANCA Board & Committees Interest Form
Know someone else who would be a great fit? Please send their name and contact info to ANCA Executive Director, Jen Levy at .

Committee candidates are shared with Committee chairs. Board candidates are vetted and advanced to candidacy by the ANCA Governance Committee.

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ANCA Committee and Board Opportunities - Association of Nature Center Administrators

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Would you like to become more involved in ANCA? We welcome ANCA members to express interest in joining a Committee of the Board and/or the Board of Directors. We are especially interested in candidates who share our Core Values, are passionate about our mission, and are motivated to advance ou...

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Michigan Nonprofit Association Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Assessment

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Michigan Nonprofit Association Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Assessment

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You do not need to be located in Michigan to use this resources.

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Assessment

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Assessment. Online registration by Cvent

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21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge-April 2023

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21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge-April 2023

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National Museum of the American Indian - Smithsonian 

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National Museum of the American Indian - Smithsonian 

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Home Page | National Museum of the American Indian

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The NMAI fosters a richer shared human experience through a more informed understanding of Native peoples.

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This Black History Month, we created a multi-media mixtape of Black-created resources-from our own archives and the wider field-that remind us of the multifaceted power of Black existence. Black offerings (both contemporary and from the archives) have the power to support the creation of the world we want, opening portals to other worlds. We hold true that there is more to Black life than resistance and mourning-this list reflects the joy, play, and tenderness too.

Collage by Monica Tyran & Naima Yael Tokunow

Track 1: "Reflect & Conjure: A Black August Map" - Change Elemental's Black Caucus
A piece that holds history and the future, honoring the ancestors (and places) that have led (and continue to lead) us toward a new, more equitable world.

Track 2: "Rooted in Source | One | July 4, 1976" - Elissa Sloan Perry
Elissa holds a mirror to the power of Black kinship and dreaming in her creative piece.

Track 3: "Dreaming in the Dark: Dark Practice for Dark Days" - Tamitha Walker-McKinnis
Return to an offering, brought back to you "by the spirit of joy and the prayerful embodiment of love, awe, and play...in the dark."

Track 4: CAN I GET A WITNESS - For the Wild
A "transmedia project that traces two queer Black Latinx femmes dancing before, and being danced by, the ecology, memory, and stories of the Tongass National Forest and Glacier Bay in Southeast Alaska (unceded Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian territories)."

Track 5: Collected Works - Faith Ringgold
The tactile tapestries of textile artist Ringgold pull a thread between the present and historic ways Black people have used pattern design to tell their stories.

Track 6: "A Change Management & Deep Equity Primer: The What, Why, How & Nuance" - Sheryl Petty
An offering for movement field shifters.

Track 7: The Book of Delights - Ross Gay
Lyric essays that explore the joy of honoring life's little pleasures.

Track 8: Collected Works - Kara Walker
The weighty silhouettes of the muralist take back power from harmful archetypes, reappropriating the way Black bodies appear in space.

Still from Can I Get A Witness

Tracks 9 & 10 (engage with simultaneously for maximum effect!): Sun Ra's music & Octavia Butler's Parable Series
We pump up the music as we turn the page, finding ourselves floating towards the otherworldly planes of Afrofuturism.

Cover design for Black Freedom Beyond Borders

Track 11: Black Freedom Beyond Borders - Wakanda Dream Lab
A "fan fiction anthology written by Black and Afro-Diasporic activists, organizers, movement leaders, and freedom fighters...seeking out new strategies, tactics, and hope for transforming immigration."

Track 12: Collected Works - Romare Bearden
Incredible multimedia work from the art historian and musician will connect you with the breadth of Black expression.

Track 13: Black History Month playlist - Solidarity Is This podcast
A curated series of episodes that cover topics from movement ecology to Black trans-power-building to field-shifting with Black LGBTQ migrants.

Homage to Romare - David Driskell

Track 16: Collected Work - David
Driskell's dynamic abstract and figurative work left its mark on Black modernism (his portrait of Romare Bearden is pictured here).

Track 17: Spotify Playlist - Change Elemental staff and Governance Team members
We contributed songs to aplaylistof music by Black artists that move us, root us to our lineage, makes us want to dance, and most fully express who we are!

Track 18: Soundsuits - Nick Cave
Intricate costume sculptures that respond to state-sanctioned racial violence with "alien second skin[s] that obscures race, gender, and class, allowing viewers to look without bias towards the wearer's identity."

Track 19: Collected Works - Mickalene Thomas
Groove to Thomas' explosive and intimate portrait collages.

Track 20: "summer, somewhere" - Danez Smith
We leave you with an excerpt from Smith's poem:
somewhere, a sun. below, boys brown
as rye play the dozens & ball, jump in the air & stay there. boys become new-blue water to fly, at least tide, at least history is what it is. it knows what it did. color of a July well spent. but here, not earth
turned a ruby gown. here, there is no language if snow fell, it'd fall black. please, don't call we say our own names when we pray.
we go out for sweets & come back.
us dead, call us alive someplace better.
for officer or law, no color to call white. not heaven, boys can't recall their white shirt
bad dog. bad blood. bad day to be a boy
spit back a father or two. I won't get started.
moons, gum-dark on all sides, beg bruise
Black August Collage credit: Naima Yael Tokunow, Monica Tyran, and Deborah Berry
Film still credit: Can I Get a Witness
Black Freedom Beyond Borders cover credit: Wakanda Dream Lab
"Homage to Romare" credit: DC Moore Gallery

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Black History, Present & Futures Month Mixtape

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This Black History Month, we created a multi-media mixtape of Black-created resources-from our own archives and the wider field-that remind us of the multifaceted power of Black existence. Black offerings (both contemporary and from the archives) have the power to support the creation of the wo

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https://grist.org/fix/opinion/disabled-hikers-outdoor-ableism/

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Chronic illness doesn’t stop me from enjoying the outdoors. Ableism does.

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Chronic illness doesn’t stop me from enjoying the outdoors. Ableism does.

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https://www.audubon.org/news/hiking-trails-and-maps-often-exclude-people-disabilities-group-changing

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Hiking Trails and Maps Often Exclude People With Disabilities. This Group Is Changing That.

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Started by Syren Nagakyrie, Disabled Hikers aims to make the outdoors more accessible for a diversity of people and marginalized communities.

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https://www.disabledhikers.com/blog-1

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A disability-led nonprofit for hikers, allies, and community leaders

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https://www.inclusiveplaygrounds.net

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Well-designed inclusive play spaces and parks welcome people and especially children of all abilities to play, learn and grow together. But did you know that their benefits extend even further? Inclusive play areas also allow adults of varying ages and abilities to actively engage with the children in their care. The playground can become a truly multi-generational gathering space for community enjoyment, socialization, healthy bodies and imaginative fun.

This online guide can help you in the creation of an inclusive play area unique to your community, from concept through installation and beyond. Our extensive experience allows us to help clients create unique and inclusive play areas in communities, schools, and other public and private institutions.

A universally designed, sensory-rich environment that enables children to develop physically, socially and emotionally. An engaging place that provides the just-right level of challenge and offers opportunities to succeed. A place that goes beyond minimum accessibility to create play experiences that meet a variety of needs and interests.

At an inclusive playground, children (and adults) of all abilities can interact with each other and do what everyone wants to do: PLAY!

Landscape Structures and General Recreation, Inc. create inclusive areas featuring activities that are age and developmentally appropriate, sensory stimulating and universally designed. Our design philosophy is influenced by the tenets of Universal Design, a theory of design that strives to make environments more usable, safer and healthier for all.

Our collaborative process engages your stakeholders, interprets community needs and ultimately results in a responsive design that reflects your vision. To this we apply our extensive experience with inclusive play, infused by our ongoing research into empirical evidence-based best practices.

This process creates a strong foundation for inclusive playground design, incorporating scientific findings into the play experiences themselves as well as the overall design.

Universal design is a process that enables and empowers a diverse population by improving human performance, health and wellness, and social participation.
- Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDeA Center), University of Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning

Because it benefits everyone regardless of condition. Applying Universal Design does not mean that all the fun and risk of a park and playground are eliminated. Instead, it helps to create a place where all can play, learn and grow together.

The benefits of inclusive play areas are far-reaching. They are also a welcome resource for parents with disabilities (wounded veterans, for example) and an aging caregiver population who want to interact with the children in their care.

You'll want to take a look at how accommodating your parking lots, restrooms and pathways are to people of varying abilities. That way, everyone can easily access your playground.

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Well-designed inclusive play spaces and parks welcome people and especially children of all abilities to play, learn and grow together. But did you know that their benefits extend even further? Inclusive play areas also allow adults of varying ages and abilities to actively engage with the children in their care.

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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/accessibility-disability-and-risky-play-in-the-outdoors/id1505606046?i=1000517259741

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In this episode, Cherlene speaks with Amanda St. Dennis, a disability and accessibility advocate on how to support children with disabilities in your outdoor play program.

Topics covered include: Risky play and disability, the importance of relationships, how to think creatively about accommodations, and so much more!

Download a written transcript of this episode

Host: Cherlene Eloria
Guest: Amanda St. Dennis
Sound Editing and Production: Alex Maltby

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disability and risky play in the outdoors

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‎The Child and Nature Alliance Podcast: Accessibility, Disability and Risky Play in the Outdoors on Apple Podcasts

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In this episode, Cherlene speaks with Amanda St. Dennis, a disability and accessibility advocate on how to support children with disabilities in your outdoor play program. Topics covered include: Risky play and disability, the importance of relationships, how to think creatively about accommodati...

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https://humansoutside.com/podcasts/ira-edwards-humans-outside-podcast/

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Listen to this episode on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

Amy Bushatz: No matter who you are or where you go heading outside is always worth it. Welcome to humans outside where we're using the Humans Outside 365 Challenge to build a life around spending time in nature while learning from fascinating outdoor minded. I'm Amy Bushatz. I've let curiosity be my guide as a journalist for 18 years, but life, including my husband's war injuries had burnt us out. So we moved sightunseen to Alaska to see if a change of scenery and new focus on outdoors. Was just the shift we needed. Since September, 2017, I've spent at least 20 consecutive minutes outside every single day, no matter what to explore, how nature can change my life, ready to hear from experts and outdoor lovers who make heading into nature just a part of who they are while we work to do the same. Let's go.

One of my favorite parts of hosting the Humans Outside Podcast is the incredible people I get to meet as part of doing these interviews. I have recorded over 80 interviews with some of the most fascinating people you can imagine. And today's guest is right up there at the top of the list of interesting and inspirational.

In fact, he's so interesting that the child proclaimed him the real life. Most interesting man alive. Ira Edwards has had careers that have included land planner and biologists for the state of Alaska and a mapping specialist for the us department of agriculture. And he has worked as a state park ranger and in Nordic skiing. He subsistence hunts and fishes, which is a term used in Alaska.

That means he does those things to put food on his table. And for the last decade, he's done all of these things from a wheelchair. That's because while working to clear trees from a state park area, not unlike the wooded area you hear me talk about that's right behind my house, one of the trees he was removing fell, hit him and left him paralyzed.

But he does not use his injury to keep him inside. If anything, he's turning the sports, hobbies, and lifestyle. He loves into inspiration for others who also are facing recovery from a life altering injury. To do that he leans on positivity and the push getting outside gives him. Ira, thanks so much for joining us today on humans outside.

Ira Edwards: Yeah, it's nice to be here.

Amy Bushatz: So we start our episodes imagining ourselves in our guests. Favorite outdoor space, or I would imagine you have many, so one of them as if we're just hanging out, having a conversation with you somewhere outside that you super love. So where are we with you today?

Ira Edwards: My favorite activity is Nordic skiing. So I have done that a lot of my life, and I still continue to do that from the wheelchair with a sit ski. So. Somewhere with a groomed cross country ski trail could be Hatcher pass near the Palmer area could be Kincaid park and Anchorage. I like being out in the fresh air and sliding on snow.

Amy Bushatz: Yeah. And that should be easy for people who are not familiar with Alaska to imagine because they see lots of pictures of me out there skiing very poorly. So.

Ira Edwards: And I've uh, skied very well. And I've coached a lot of people that have skied even better than me. So, uh, I uh, am definitely a part of the groom trail crowd, even though I love back country skiing. I don't tromp through the deep snow, like I used to,

Amy Bushatz: if you hit the groom trails and you see what a mutual friend of ours, Ed Strable, calls cartoon tracks off the trail, going into a snowbank. That was me.

Ira Edwards: I have seen such tracks. Definitely looks like a silhouette of a person in the snowbank.

Amy Bushatz: Yes, Amy was here. That's this first sign.

So can you tell us, how did you become somebody who likes to go outside?

Ira Edwards: So I grew up in the Palmer, Alaska in the early eighties. My father moved us up to Alaska to be a nurse for the public health service at the native hospital, with what used to be the Indian health service. And uh, like maybe some of your listeners that grew up in the seventies and eighties your parents told you to be home by dark. So that's what we did. We didn't have a lot of parental supervision. Luckily a lot of us uh, survived. I don't actually know anyone that got killed as a little kid by not being home before dark.

Amy Bushatz: Dark happens pretty late here. So that's a real big parameter in the summertime, but shorter in the winter.

Ira Edwards: Yeah, usually we were home when we got hungry.

Amy Bushatz: Yeah, that's when my kids turn up too. It's crazy how that works crazy.

So if you don't mind, tell us about your accident and the journey to getting back to a place where you could be active. Give us just a little bit of history.

Ira Edwards: Yeah, like you said, I was working for Alaska state parks as a park ranger and in Alaska, that's a law enforcement position that also includes public safety. And part of public safety is keeping the public safe, obviously. So I had a lot of training in trail construction and recreation management, trail building, and also having burned and heated with firewood most of my life. Having built trails for the state I had a lot of training and removal of trees with chainsaws and things like that.

We had a super big windstorm right before the Thanksgiving holiday, and unfortunately there were many trees across all the trails. It was probably comparable to what we had in January in t his winter in Palmer, but it was uh, farther up towards Willow.

Um, Yeah, so we were removing down trees across the trails to get them ready for the Thanksgiving holidays, so people could go Nordic skiing, people could go snow machining out to private cabins and public use cabins. And one of the trees we were trying to take down is what's called a widow maker. The top half is broken off and leaning across the trail. There's a lot of safety issues with that. So we tried to take it down safely, but instead of falling the way we planned, the top broke off the tree and pushed the trunk down my safety path. And when it cracked, I ran and you pick a path and run and you pack down your safety path, clear out the bushes out. Did not expect the tree to chase me down my safety path that should have fell in a different direction.

So yeah, I was uh, basically a nail and the tree was a hammer. I got pounded and pile drived into the ground. So I did not only break my back. I broke a lot of other bones, punctured organs, cut part of my aorta. I did not bleed out, but uh, it could have but yeah, my spinal injury is from, for people that don't know you have, cervical is your neck spines. You have thoracic, which is your mid middle back. You have lumbar, which is your lower back. And you have sacral, which is your tailbone and pelvis area. So I broke um, spines and a lot of other parts and messed up my spinal cord from what's called T nine down to the L three area. Uh, So that's the bendy part of your back so the bendy part of my back is now bolted together with 12 inches of steel. And I don't bend so well anymore, but I have perfect posture for the rest of my life.

Amy Bushatz: So you, I imagine the recovery process from this not just from having broken your back and having the perfect posture situation, but now you're in a wheelchair you're recovering from puncture, punctured organs. You're recovering from almost bleeding out on the trail. What does that recovery process look like? How long did that take for you to go from, you know, just devastating injury to back even in a spot where you could potentially become active again.

Ira Edwards: Yeah. It was a hard recovery for me mentally and physically, I was uh, never knocked out. So I knew, and I was a highly trained uh, EMS person had a lot of trauma and medical experience dealing with others and rescuing other people in the wilderness.

So I knew right away that I was in bad shape and the crew that I had with me, I was able to luckily instruct them on how to save me and how to get my radio out so I could call for help, but I knew I was messed up. Didn't know how badly until we got to the hospital. So yeah, , I was able to look at the MRI and tell the doctor, he should knock me out and fix me.

But yeah I was kept under a medical coma for a few days and I was in intensive care ICU for a full month and that's a long time to be in intensive care. So I was in pretty rough shape. And then I spent almost a total of four months in the hospital doing rehab and learning how to do activities of daily life. Like how to it didn't break my neck to worry about not using my hands, but you know, there's a lot of things being a wheelchair. I'm a six foot five and it was 250 pounds. So I'm four 10 right now sitting down. So there's a lot of things that I was used to doing, being really tall that I can't do anymore just cause I'm short.

Uh, So learning how to live like that how to go to the bathroom, all kinds of things. But yeah, it was uh, I, yeah, it was probably eight months before I felt healthy enough to do anything active again, which was mentally challenging. And then, I mean, it's 12 years later and I'm still learning how to do things.

Amy Bushatz: Yeah. So there has to be, or imagine there, there's a moment where you have a decision almost where you are deciding, if you were going to be active and try to go back to doing the things you love or not. Is, am I making that up and some drama in my head? Or did you have that moment?

Ira Edwards: Yeah, when I was in rehab in the hospital and also while I was in intensive care I used volunteer at a adaptive sports program called Challenge Alaska. And since I loved to ski, I helped out with the ski school. I never dealt with physically disabled people, but I helped some of the special kids from time to time, but I had seen ski sit skiing. So I knew it was a possibility to ski again. So it was definitely a goal of mine while I was in the hospital to be able to ski again.

And since that's been a major part of my life for all of my adult life and something in my childhood I made that a goal. So. Having a goal is definitely something that drives people. Um, I mean, very few things in life can be accomplished without goals and some path and direction.

Amy Bushatz: Yeah. Yeah. And so you identified that goal. But today, you know, as we said earlier, you are extremely active. You do more stuff outside than I do, and I'm not in a wheelchair, right? Like you're, you have more varied activities than many, many, many people. So, how do you go from this moment of, I, you know, my goal is to ski, to, I'm gonna get out there and I'm gonna do all of these things regardless like this isn't keeping me down.

Ira Edwards: It may seem like I do a lot, but I honestly do less than half of what I used to do. I didn't have a lot of resources as a child. We had a large family. I I'm the oldest of six. So, um, things were always on a budget, but I luckily had a lot of friends that they're parents were able to take them on a lot of cool adventures.

And so I learned how to do a lot of things in the outdoors, not only from my dad and some of his experiences, but with friends and their families. So I used to do a lot of things. I'm still relearning how to do some things. Like I still haven't climbed the Butte in 12 years. I'm hopefully gonna do that if it ever stops raining. But yeah. So. I personally feel like I'm not doing that much, but again, I didn't have social media to tell people all about it before. So it may seem like I'm doing a lot, but it doesn't feel like that to me.

Amy Bushatz: How do you, how do you deal with that feeling of wanting to do more but not having the option?

Ira Edwards: Some of it is frustrating. I got hurt on the job and uh, so I'm involved in workers' compensation. So they have not done a great job of helping take care of me and all my medical issues. My health insurance, would've been a lot better option than workers' comp for taking care of everything. But uh, so that's somewhat frustrating, but I've got a lot of friends and there's a lot of different organizations around the country that help out people with disabilities.

So I've been able to experience a lot of things. And also help buy some of the equipment to make that work. I mean, I mentioned I love skiing. For the average person, a pair of skis is approximately six or $700 for a high end, big mountain type of ski, $300 for bindings, maybe $400 or $500 for boots. So I still have skis and bindings, but my boot is now a full suspension chair that I sit in that costs nine to $12,000.

So that's a really expensive single ski boot. Not everyone is really able to afford that. So I've been able to apply for grants to get some of those things. Um, So that's uh, something that you normally wouldn't have to think about just because everything adaptive is very specialized. My hand cycle costs $14,000 and it's the equivalent of Shimano LX, which is lower midline. So that's and it weighs 50 pounds. So that's my super high end bicycle is a 50 pound tricycle with midline to low end components. And that costs $14,000. So yeah, the that's a limitation for a lot of people with disabilities is just getting out. Luckily Challenge Alaska, the sports program has a lot of equipment to loan people if they need it. Me being gorilla size, they didn't have anything to fit.

Amy Bushatz: You mentioned you did fundraising, and I know you work with other people who find themselves newly disabled or newly facing this challenge. So what do you tell them and how do you help them change a mindset or go forward in this life change that is in such a way that will help them in the future? Is that helping them stay positive? Is that getting outside? What does that look like?

Ira Edwards: Uh, yeah, I've spent some time visiting people in hospitals and um, various other things. And then just trying to help people get outside. I mean, I refer people to Challenge Alaska, if possible, if it's something easy, like biking or skiing that's something that they specialize in.

I mean, I help teach in instruct in those kind of things, but they have all the equipment and they have people that do this full time. There are other things like going out fishing I can take people in my boat or The Chive recently helped me get a side by side. I've taken out people to Knik glacier.

Yeah. So I've been able to help people realize that losing a limb or losing your legs or other disabilities is not really the end of the world because I fail at lots of things and if I can do it, it still works pretty good. And. I have a, not the world's worst injury, but there's a lot of people that get injured less than I am that don't feel they can do anything.

So I uh, show them that even though I have a challenging injury it's still possible to get out stuff and do things. Some of that is a mindset you have to believe you can do it. And if I mean, there's an old Henry Ford quote, if you think you can, you will, if you think you can't, you won't. S o a lot of people have never experienced the outdoors in their life and didn't know anything about it before they got hurt.

And now they're presented with an opportunity and definitely think they can't because they couldn't do it before. And they definitely can't do it now. So that's a kind of a stereotype of people with disabilities as they're not able to do anything. So I have a disability, but I do not think of myself as disabled. Um, There's kind of a difference in wording there and a difference in philosophy. .

Amy Bushatz: Yeah. Yeah. And I, I mean, it words matter, right? Like that, how you term that into just even to yourself. And I imagine also other people talking to you, but how you use those words has a direct influence on how you see the world, how you see your mindset um, and um, that influence results in action or not

Ira Edwards: Exactly. So, I just show people. Things are possible. And maybe not everyone is interested in hunting or fishing. But things like hand cycling. Or if I take people on the side by side, out to the glacier and Knik glacier is about 20 miles away from the town I live in Palmer. It's off the end of the road.

So it's usually ATVs or dirt bikes or in the winter, sometimes people can fat bike or cross country ski out to there or run. It's only 13 miles on the short course in the winter when it's frozen. But in the summer, it's 28 miles each way. Um, so uh, in a motorized device, that's a lot easier. But yeah, having the wind in your face, seeing beautiful views is inspiring to normal people, but for people that haven't been able to get outside, it shows them that life is still possible and life can involve a lot of things indoors and ou t. It's just, you have to believe you can. .

Amy Bushatz: Is there an outdoor thing that you do today that really surprises people like that they, that they just, I mean, people who are suffering an injury or not, that they just assumed was off the table, but you regularly do that they're then surprised is not off the table.

Ira Edwards: Yeah, hunting and fishing. I built a new house. Thanks to moving back to Palmer there was nothing accessible to buy, so we even able to be fixed up. So I had to go through the process of building. And if everyone's familiar with, since COVID all kinds of construction is super expensive, so I haven't been out much fishing this year. But when I take my skiff out of Whittier um, the Harbor master, at least before COVID has been there for 20 plus years. And I was the only person in a wheelchair that launched a boat. In the whole time she'd been there. And then hunting, I have not been able to harvest an animal every year, but I have not had to buy beef for over 25 years.

So there are a lot of ways I've been able to fill my freezer. It's more challenging, but it's still totally possible. And I also have a lot of friends that help, but uh, yeah. I mean that a lot of that is believe me, you can, and it takes me a lot longer to do. So having patience is important. But yeah, everything takes me twice as long and then takes me three times as long to prepare for it in the first place.

Amy Bushatz: Yeah. And I was just thinking of like the- I think people who don't hunt don't really understand the physical factors of that. Not just getting to the location, but you know, bringing the animal back and then butchering, harvesting, field dressing. However it is you tackle the tackle that it depends on where you live, right,. Is a very physically demanding activity. It's not easy. And so I just, I imagine that just takes a tremendous amount of patience to move through that in, in an adaptive way.

Ira Edwards: Yeah. I mean, I had in my previous life done everything, human powered you know obviously I drove a highway vehicle to a trailhead or something like that, but I took a backpack and would hike in and work harder than most people that had ATVs because I was willing to make it work.

Because I can't walk now I've had friends with ATVs that have taken me out with. And I'm still able to shoot really well. My spine is bolted together, so I can't bend the way I used to. So I had to relearn how to shoot which was challenging. Cause I was a, what I considered an expert marksman before and I'm back to that, but I had to re reteach myself how to shoot.

Butchering an animal. I mean, a moose sign quarter can weigh 150 pounds or more. And I could easily lift that up no problem before. Now I can push that up if I'm sitting on the ground, but only so high, so friends or a winch to haul it into the back of a ATV or side by side is helpful. I mean, a lot of people use power tools that aren't disabled. But having a disability, that's a requirement for me nowadays something you wouldn't have to think about if you've, I mean, I had never owned a motorized device. I've used them a lot for work. I didn't feel the need to own one. Um, Yeah.

Amy Bushatz: How do you think having this outdoor mindset this love of spending time outside and all of these outdoor activities that you enjoyed before your injury changed your ability to recover from it as compared to somebody who didn't have that do you see outdoor recreation as having a role in helping you stay positive and move forward?

Ira Edwards: Uh, for sure. I mean, I, like I said, I have done a lot more things prior to my injury than what I do right now. So that gave me things that I had a goal to strive towards to do them again. I mean, I have a little butt pad I can strap on like a climbing harness and it lets me scoot around on the ground.

So I've done lots of things with that. I'm not always in my wheelchair when I'm away from home, either on a bike or a ski or snow machine or a side by side or a four wheeler. A lot of things have changed. But it's still something. The fact that I had experienced those things beforehand gave me some reason to try to get out there and do it again.

And I also was fairly skilled driving motorized devices. I mean, snow machines are challenging. You have to know what you're doing. Driving through mud holes or trying to avoid mud holes in the first place on a motorized device. So I have not had a lot of problems adapting because I knew how to do those things before.

My upper body strength, cause I start to lose muscles at about the bottom of my ribcage and I pretty much don't have anything below my waist. I have some muscles, but not a lot that can do anything. So it's I've gotten a lot stronger in the upper body. I went from a size large to a double, extra large.

And my shoulders got, I got a new suit for my brother's wedding and I grew 12 inches around my shoulders since my injury. So that a obvious, I adapted because I had to. But yeah, some of the things I, I liked to do them before and that definitely gave me goals, but also gave me the experiences to be able to do them.

Amy Bushatz: Right So this is sort of a little bit of a diversion, but I'm actually very curious about this. So you'll have to forgive me. We both know how cold it can get here in Alaska. So typically dressing warmly and doing winter activities like skiing or even more so activities where you're not moving a lot um, are a exercise in responding to feelings of cold. So I'm wondering how you go about keeping your low body warm enough if you cannot feel those temperature fluctuations or have that sensation of "I'm feeling cold."

Ira Edwards: Yeah. I uh, start to lose sensation at my waist and I have almost no sensation going down my thighs and that's pretty much all gone by the time I get to my knees. So even though I don't have motor function, I still have some feelings sort of almost down to my knees. It's kind of like like, I can sort of feel something if I bang my knees into it, but not really. Yeah. So, cold is a definite concern. I've had some pretty bad frostbite not like I lost toes, but I was concerned about that for a little while.

But yeah, I dress differently than I used to. I mean, I can still wear, and I also, because I'm sitting. I have poor circulation. When you physically walk, your body has valves inside the veins that actively pump blood back to the heart. I am not walking, so I don't use those veins to actively pump blood.

So my circulation is much more reduced than the normal person. But I wear down booties if I'm cross country skiing, which seemed like overkill, and I put sock warmer toe warmers inside there just to make sure. Um, If I'm riding machines or skiing, I use snowboard boots uh, also because it's like little kids, you need extra help putting your feet into boots.

And I used to snowboard so I can joke about it, but snowboarders also need extra help putting their feet into boots. Um, But uh, yeah, they open up wide so I can get my foot in and they're made with a lot of ... intuition foam, which is a specialized moldable foam that stays super warm and I can keep my feet warm in those.

And if it's below five below or so, I will put chemical heaters inside there. And those those last eight to 10 hours. And I am most likely not outside for more than eight to 10 hours. If I'm on a snow machine, out in trips or I've been ice fishing, I will take the boots off and put new toe warmers inside there after a while. But yeah. I've had some pretty bad frostbite and that's something I have to be really careful of because I can't feel it. And I have an, an advantage that since I've been a little kid, my body temperature is almost a full degree warmer than normal. So I'm hovering close to a hundred degrees all the time. even though I have So even circulation, I'm not quite as cold as some people.

Amy Bushatz: Hey, humans, if you wanna build your own outdoor habit, the Humans Outside 365 Challenge is a great way to get started. You can even score some really cool and exclusive challenge swag, including a finisher, decal, and metal in the process. All you need to do is visit humansoutside.com/challenge. You'll also get an outdoor challenge guide written by me for you, an exclusive challenge tracker and insider info all year long. You don't wanna be left out of this. Go to humansoutside.com/challenge to learn more now, okay. Back to the show.

So I'm wondering what people who are not facing these kinds of challenges can do to help people who are to make the outdoors more accessible, to make it more friendly, to make it so that people who are facing injuries like yours can enjoy the same kinds of things that you know, those of us who have not been injured enjoy . What, how can we assist? What can we do

Ira Edwards: Access is the biggest issue. There isn't any that's mm-hmm I mean, that's pretty much what it is. I mentioned that I've

Amy Bushatz: is that true in the lower 48 or just here in Alaska?

Ira Edwards: Everywhere I've ever been.

Amy Bushatz: Okay.

Ira Edwards: I mentioned that I've built lots of trails or actively worked on trails . Every year I try to teach a uh, adaptive trail construction class at the state trails conference.

But people want to keep motorized devices off trail. And back in the eighties, ATVs and three wheelers used to be fairly skinny. Now there's pretty much nothing narrower than four feet. Most hand cycles and wheelchairs are close to two and a half, three feet wide, but they still put the rocks less than two feet apart to block the access in the trails. And that in itself blocks access. I may not be able to use every trail, but if I can't get to the trail in the summer or the winter, it doesn't matter how active and how good I am at doing things. I can't actually get to the trail. Or they put those steel posts with concrete in the middle to barricade things. Those are often put too narrow to actually physically get from the parking lot to the trail. So access year round on all kinds of things is a huge challenge and policy makers, even though I spent a lot of time, I was on the state trails board for several years, have chosen to not address that. And that's a nationwide thing.

The us forest service and the national park service are starting to, but they still haven't fixed the old trails they're working on going forward. And there's still lots of cool trails that people like to hang on that aren't accessible, even if the trail is doable or maybe like I said, like, I wouldn't know if it's doable or not cause I haven't had the chance to try it.

Amy Bushatz: Yeah. It's interesting because I did not think about accessibility before this conversation as being simply getting on the trail, I have always thought about accessibility as being the trail itself. Right. Is it flat? Is it graded? Is it, you know

Ira Edwards: I'm stubborn, I cna get a lot of places that some people can't get that aren't even disabled.

Amy Bushatz: But I never thought about it in terms of you can't even get to the trail, because the posts are too close that never even occurred to me. I'm gonna be honest.

Ira Edwards: That's that is the biggest issue nationwide for people with disabilities is access and it's not, you don't have to make the trail accessible. Someone like me can figure that out on their own, whether or not they can do it. And of course, good signage to say this is a super challenging trail might make me choose not to go on that trail. Because there's, I mean, all the trails have like signs like green, blue, black kind of difficulty ratings.

And that's getting better for people with disabilities being able to rate the trails, but there's a lot of really cool wheelchair accessible trails that you can't actually get to. I mean, even with the park service in Denali, they just recently right before COVID they built a whole bunch of wheelchair trails that you

Amy Bushatz: Like Kesugi ken?.

Ira Edwards: Uh, No that's state parks. They a pretty good job with that. Some of the trails are too steep, but that's my own fault for not being able to make it up it, but they're at least accessible, but in um, Denali national park some of their campgrounds, they built some really cool trails with super packed gravel. And until very recently, they, you physically couldn't get onto the trails and they built the trails, designed them and designated them ready for disabled access, but they still blocked them off.

Amy Bushatz: But I can't even imagine that moment where you get there and you're like Awesome. Aces. No. Yeah. So has to be extremely frustrating

Ira Edwards: And I never thought about it before I got hurt. I mean, I knew two people in wheelchairs. One of them did nothing. The other guy gets out and does things, but he is not active outdoors. He just lives his life. The other person stays inside all the time. And I'm not really great friends with them, but I, those were the only two people I knew. So I did not want to be like them because I did a lot of things outdoors.

So I never thought about the challenges of getting around in a wheelchair. I mean, and I was already super outdoors and super in tune to wheelchair access in buildings and things like that because I. helped provide recreational access. But then not until I actually had to try to get around and do stuff on my own, did I ever think, oh, even though I tried, it's not good enough.

Amy Bushatz: Right. Right. So access is the biggest thing. Is there anything else, any other steps after, you know, if we get somehow conquer that what's next?

Ira Edwards: I mean money, I mean, access is a policy, a governmental. Uh, I mean, if private land owners build trails so they can have recreational stuff on their private property, that's a different issue.

But yeah, I mean there's and a lot of it comes down to public policy um, funding for disabled sports funding for access. It, it comes down that everything accessible costs more .Um, building accessible trails actually doesn't cost more because usually when you build trails, you make them wide with a bulldozer and then you make them narrow again by shoveling all the dirt back onto the trail. So to not shovel the dirt back onto the trail, leave them three feet wide or four feet wide is cheaper. It's kind of a weird thing way to think about it that it's less expensive to build accessible trails in some instances. But yeah, so it's a lot of policy work and advocacy but there's not a whole lot you personally, Amy can do to help me unless you wanna help take me with you on some adventure.

Amy Bushatz: Well, but it's, but there's, I think that you're making a very valid point about the policy and the accessibility, because it's keeping the interests of people who are outside of your own personal experience. So me as somebody who is not in a wheelchair, keeping the interests and needs of somebody who is in the forefront of my mind or as equal to my own needs and priorities. When we talk about things like this, when we talk about building trails, you know. I, as a as a reporter, do quite a lot of reporting on just local trails here in Alaska. And it's as simple as me saying when I do those stories, for example. Okay. So is this going to be a trail that's wide enough to get a wheelchair onto? What's the accessibility plan for this? How are you addressing that? And even just beginning to ask those questions and for people who are listening to this, who don't do reporting, it's asking the same questions when they have the opportunity. Because news stories, address questions that readers ask. And so it's asking the questions themselves when they're doing it. And I, you know, in my ex, in my experience as a reporter and as a reader of news, just continuing to ask those questions eventually does cause change. People stop, start getting annoyed by being asked the same question every time and not having a good answer.

Ira Edwards: And definitely the squeaky wheel gets the grease for sure. . Yeah, but it, a lot of it is if you're making a choice to restrict access for ATVs or something like that, think about what else you're restricting. That's the other thing, a lot of people just don't want the motorcycles on the trail, but a bicycle can get it. If you're blocking, if you're letting a bicycle through any, a dirt bike and motorcycle can get on that same trail. So you're not really excluding the ATVs by only letting bicycles through the slots or the gaps and hikers can get through the gaps too. But. It, having some thought put into what you are excluding besides the targeted exclusion.

Because a lot of other people fit within that realm. And like I said, you can still exclude ATVs and let wheelchairs through. And a lot of it might be asking what someone in the wheelchair needs, like before you go out and build something. Talk to somebody in a wheelchair. I know it's really cool.

The Borough recently, well, right before COVID built a wheelchair accessible lookout trail up a Government Peak.. The problem is, is that it's a super steep first 25 feet. You can't get to it. And then it goes over some big roots and some other steep sections. So the lookout point is super nice and flat and I made it work to get there when we did the trail opening because we had the press there, but it is nowhere near accessible. And unless you had someone to help push you the whole way. But they didn't have someone come look at it during the construction. So the contractor did a great job on the trail, but he didn't know what not to do or what to do to begin with.

Cuz it just, it wasn't a part of the bid. He was told to build a trail with certain grades and certain areas and uh, they had a definite trail plan, like where to put it.. Um, But they hadn't actually talked to anyone in a wheelchair. It was someone's grand idea that someone new someone in the wheelchair and they should build a perfect lookout there.

So it was a great idea, but nobody talked to anyone in a wheelchair until the grand opening.

Amy Bushatz: Right, right. And it's almost like, uh,, the devils and the details and you have to, to actually talk to somebody who's dealing with this and not just make presuppositions..

Ira Edwards: Yeah. I mean, a really good friend of mine. He used to build trails here in Palmer and he moved to bend Oregon and they're building some new bike trails in the area and they're requiring the contractor to have someone with a disability work with them to give them what they need to do to do a bid on the trails, which is really cool to do a trail assessment, they want someone in a wheelchair to do the assessment with the contractor. So each in order to give a bid, you have find someone in the community to do that with you. I unfortunately can't go down to do that with him. So I'm reaching out to some other friends that have wheelchair bikes or hand cycles in the Pacific Northwest, but at least some, this is the first time I've heard that a trail building organization wants to have someone from the disabled sports community consulted in actually designing these trails, not, because what you think might work for someone like myself, is I is a great thought, but until you talk to me, I might say, oh, that's super easy, or like there's no way I can possibly do that. And a lot of people just don't think about it because it's not their personal experience.

Amy Bushatz: Right. Right. And that goes back to that idea of taking the extra step to keep the possibility open that experiences other than yours are also a priority. And that's really hard to do even for the best intentioned person that can be hard to do. You know, so I'm not trying to pass judgment on, on people who don't do that. Um, And again, like what you're saying today has never, literally never occurred to me, that the accessibility of a trail is more than just having a paved path or a leveled path. And literally comes down to the gates, the width of the gates in front of the trail. It's such an obvious thing, but did not occur to me.

Ira Edwards: And I never had to think about it before I got hurt. I mean, one of those most popular spots in all of Alaska is Glen Alps, Flat Top in Anchorage, and they built a super nice, super beautiful paved parking lot that handles twice the size and twice the number of cars it's still full all the time. They put it an electronic parking pass reader. You can just use your, a, your card on that. And all the sidewalks were eight inches, tall square berms, square sidewalks. The curb was eight inches tall, they didn't have any wheelchair ramps in it. I went up there a couple weeks after they opened it. This was shortly after I got out of the hospital and there was no physical way to get onto the trails, even though the trails were flat. Cuz I can't step up eight inches. I can bump up a curb about six inches.

So they actually put a wheelchair ramp on the wheelchair parking spaces. And then they made all the curbs, those super curvy S-shaped sidewalk curbs, cuz then I can carry some momentum and roll straight up the curb. . But yeah, they just, you know, they never thought about that and they did what they were supposed to do, they made the parking spaces, the right size, there's hash marks next to the parking spaces. So you can get out of your car, but initially you couldn't get onto the trails. And it's, you don't think about that. Cuz the you never had to worry about it.

Amy Bushatz: Yeah. Yeah. Well, thank you. This has been really eye opening for me. I, again, something as simple as that is just not something that I thought about, and I'm gonna tell you, I'm gonna start asking some different questions when I do my news reporting here locally. So, because again, this is, it's what we talked about before. It's people asking questions and people being interested in the answers.

Ira Edwards: Yeah. And that's super helpful because, I mean, like I said, I may choose to decide not to ever do those trails again, because I couldn't make it work, but if I can't try it out, I'll never know.

Amy Bushatz: That's right. So we close our episodes talking about two things. First of all, I love to know my guest favorite outdoor gear or an outdoor Item that they just really love or can't live without most essential whatever.

For some people that's just as simple as something as awesome as a really good snack, which I endorse . For me, you know, like I love my certain kind of water bottle. So what what's yours? What is your most essential favorite outdoor gear?

Ira Edwards: The thing I use more than anything else is I have this strap on butt pad, made it a whole bunch of air cells. And I sit on it like a climbing harness and just strap it on. Then I can scoot around on the ground for gardening or riding on a snow machine, riding on an ATV. But part of being paralyzed is I have a lot of muscle atrophy in my lower body. So my, you can actually touch my bones through my skin and my butt. Um, And then it's something you have to be really careful about when you're not in your wheelchair. So in order to keep myself healthy and keep myself doing it all I use that almost daily. So ,

Amy Bushatz: And I have to tell you, you're the only person who's ever recommended a butt pad as their favorite outdoor gear. So, um, yeah.

Ira Edwards: Yeah. So, but I mean the other parts, it depends on what the season is. I mean, obviously skis, I work for Rossignol ski company in Toko ski wax. Um, so skis, I have a favorite ski for Nordic and a favorite ski for Alpine. In the summer, I have a little MSR reactor cook stove, which goes with me everywhere because it's small, it's compact, it's super efficient way better than a jet boil cost about twice as much as a jet boil, but you know, it works better. Yeah, it depends on what I'm doing. Cause I do activities year round, but I still use the butt pad year round and almost every day,

Amy Bushatz: all season butt pad. I like it.

Ira Edwards: Yeah

Amy Bushatz: . All right, and as a final thing uh, we love to walk out of these episode. Uh, Hearing about our guests FA a favorite Mount outdoor moment. You may have more than one, but just something that you just sort of like, remember back. just as an example, I love to think back through these times where I'm just going through wild fly flowers up on like the high Alpine and just like, it's like a dreamscape that's totally real. And that's a moment that I go back to. So what about you? What's a, what's a favorite outdoor moment that you like to go back to.

Ira Edwards: Um, My favorite spot in all of Alaska, and I've seen a lot of Alaska because of work and I've made the work choices to not make a lot of money, but see Alaska is the Mint Hut up in Hatcher Pass. It's up on top of a big dome and a shelf and it has probably one of the best views. I think it's even better than the Sheldon Hut in Denali National Park which is widely touted as having amazing views. Um, And I was up there probably three weeks, two and a half weeks before I broke my back. So I still keep thinking that someday I'll figure out how to ride my hand cycle to the base of it and using my butt pad to scoot up the 800 foot hill up to the shelf.

But yeah, that's that was probably my favorite spot in all of Alaska. And I've still think about it all the time is that someday I'll figure out how to get back up there. I mean, I'm sure I could drive a snow machine up there with a permit. But that would let other people drive on the same trail cuz everyone follows another trail. So I don't wanna be that guy that gets everyone else in trouble, but somehow I'll figure out a way to get back there someday.

Amy Bushatz: I absolutely believe that you will, and I cannot wait to hear about it. ]

Ira thank you so much for joining us on Humans Outside today. I sure appreciate your time and sharing and hearing the advice that you've.

Ira Edwards: Yeah, it's been great to be here.

Amy Bushatz: Thanks so much for listening to this week's episode of humans outside. If you've enjoyed this episode, take a second to leave a rating or review wherever you get your podcasts that makes it easier for others to find the podcast too. Your positive review makes a huge difference. Now go get outside until next time. We'll see you out there.

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How You Can Create Accessible Nature for All Outdoor Users (Ira Edwards, Disability Advocate and Very Interesting Man) - Humans Outside

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Listen to this episode on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts. The following is an edited transcript of this episode of Humans Outside. Amy Bushatz: No matter who you are or where you go heading outside is always worth it. Welcome to humans outside where we're...

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https://humansinnature.org/2022/03/10/improving-access-to-nature-for-people-with-disabilities/

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Those who spend lots of time in nature on hiking trails and visiting local/state/national parks know how helpful it can be to have well-maintained trails and proper signage. Many parks don't take this into consideration and what most don't realize is how inaccessible these nature spots become, especially for people living with with disabilities. Having access to nature is beneficial to people of all ages, races, income groups, and abilities. Living with a disability can impact all different types of people at any age, so how can we make nature more accessible to these people?

The first step in making nature more accessible begins before people even step foot on park grounds. Providing visitors with updated information on trail conditions makes a big difference for people with disabilities. Knowing whether trails will be rocky, muddy, slippery, etc. and whether there are steep inclines/changes in elevation is important. Having this information readily accessible allows people with disabilities to plan ahead and avoid unexpected safety concerns. Another important aspect to notify visitors of beforehand is whether there are benches or other places to sit along the trail. People who may need a safe, comfortable place to sit to rest or for other reasons are going to want to know ahead of time if that will be available to them. Knowing that will be available to them takes away an added stressor and makes it that much easier for them to enjoy their time outside.

The importance of proper signage is often overlooked and even when signage is available, it usually only caters to able-bodied people. For example, it's important to include signs and barriers at various heights to include those who have different eye-level views. People who use wheelchairs are going to have a lower eye-level view and placing all signs at higher heights makes it hard to comfortably read them. Including signage with Braille or audio descriptions is so important for people who are blind or visually impaired. Trail maps given out at ranger stations and visitor centers should also be available in Braille. People are much more likely to spend time in nature and reap the benefits when they know they can do so comfortably and safely.

Another aspect that gets overlooked is the extra space that people living with disabilities might need when visiting these nature spots. The physical width of trails plays a role in accessibility. Widening trails as well as the entrances/gates to enter makes it easier for people who use wheelchairs to access them. Having accessible restrooms at campsites means including a handicap stall and grab bars near the toilet and shower if included. This is also information that should be accessible online before visiting.

Having access to ways to enjoy nature in a comfortable, safe way should not be a luxury. Everyone deserves access to this and being conscious of the ways we can make that a reality is the first step towards creating change. One way you can help is opening this conversation up to lawmakers making decisions on the maintenance of nature spots near you, as well as those working directly for local/state/national parks!

Check out our other articles on accessibility and National Parks!:

References:

Improving Health and Wellness Through Access To Nature. American Public Health Association. (2013, November 5). Retrieved February 21, 2022, from https://www.apha.org/policies-and-advocacy/public-health-policy-statements/policy-database/2014/07/08/09/18/improving-health-and-wellness-through-access-to-nature#:~:text=Access%20to%20nature%20has%20been,being%2C%20and%20greater%20social%20capital.

Zhang, G., Poulsen, D. V., Lygum, V. L., Corazon, S. S., Gramkow, M. C., & Stigsdotter, U. K. (2017). Health-Promoting Nature Access for People with Mobility Impairments: A Systematic Review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 14(7), 703. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14070703

Freudenberg, P., & Arlinghaus, R. (2009). Benefits and Constraints of Outdoor Recreation for People with Physical Disabilities: Inferences from Recreational Fishing. Leisure Sciences, 32(1), 55-71. https://doi-org.proxy2.library.illinois.edu/10.1080/01490400903430889
https://www.wta.org/news/magazine/features/helping-disabled-people-find-belonging-outdoors

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Improving Access to Nature for People With Disabilities

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How can we make nature more accessible for people with disabilities? Those who spend lots of time in nature on hiking trails and visiting local/state/national parks know how helpful it can be to have well-maintained trails and proper signage. Many parks don't take this into consideration and what most don't realize is how inaccessible these...

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https://adata.org/factsheet/ADANN-writing

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( Printer-friendly PDF version | 311 KB)
(Large Print PDF version | 319 KB)
( Spanish version)

Words are powerful.

The words you use and the way you portray individuals with disabilities matters. This factsheet provides guidelines for portraying individuals with disabilities in a respectful and balanced way by using language that is accurate, neutral and objective.

1. Ask to find out if an individual is willing to disclose their disability.

Do not assume that people with disabilities are willing to disclose their disability. While some people prefer to be public about their disability, such as including information about their disability in a media article, others choose to not be publically identified as a person with a disability.

2. Emphasize abilities, not limitations.

Choosing language that emphasizes what people can do instead of what they can't do is empowering.

3. In general, refer to the person first and the disability second.

People with disabilities are, first and foremost, people. Labeling a person equates the person with a condition and can be disrespectful and dehumanizing. A person isn't a disability, condition or diagnosis; a person has a disability, condition or diagnosis. This is called Person-First Language.

4. However, always ask to find out an individual's language preferences.

People with disabilities have different preferences when referring to their disability. Some people see their disability as an essential part of who they are and prefer to be identified with their disability first - this is called Identity-First Language. Others prefer Person-First Language. Examples of Identity-First Language include identifying someone as a deaf person instead of a person who is deaf, or an autistic person instead of a person with autism.

5. Use neutral language.

Do not use language that portrays the person as passive or suggests a lack of something: victim, invalid, defective.

6. Use language that emphasizes the need for accessibility rather than the presence of a disability.

Note that 'handicapped' is an outdated and unacceptable term to use when referring to individuals or accessible environments.

7. Do not use condescending euphemisms.

Terms like differently-abled, challenged, handi-capable or special are often considered condescending.

8. Do not use offensive language.

Examples of offensive language include freak, retard, lame, imbecile, vegetable, cripple, crazy, or psycho.

9. Describing people without disabilities.

In discussions that include people both with and without disabilities, do not use words that imply negative stereotypes of those with disabilities.

10. Remember that disability is not an illness and people with disabilities are not patients.

People with disabilities can be healthy, although they may have a chronic condition such as arthritis or diabetes. Only refer to someone as a patient when his or her relationship with a health care provider is under discussion.

11. Do not use language that perpetuates negative stereotypes about psychiatric disabilities.

Much work needs to be done to break down stigma around psychiatric disabilities. The American Psychiatric Association has new guidelines for communicating responsibly about mental health.

12. Portray successful people with disabilities in a balanced way, not as heroic or superhuman.

Do not make assumptions by saying a person with a disability is heroic or inspiring because they are simply living their lives. Stereotypes may raise false expectations that everyone with a disability is or should be an inspiration. People may be inspired by them just as they may be inspired by anyone else. Everyone faces challenges in life.

13. Do not mention someone's disability unless it is essential to the story.

The fact that someone is blind or uses a wheelchair may or may not be relevant to the article you are writing. Only identify a person as having a disability if this information is essential to the story. For example, say "Board president Chris Jones called the meeting to order." Do not say, "Board president Chris Jones, who is blind, called the meeting to order." It's ok to identify someone's disability if it is essential to the story. For example, "Amy Jones, who uses a wheelchair, spoke about her experience with using accessible transportation."

14. Create balanced human-interest stories instead of tear-jerking stories.

Tearjerkers about incurable diseases, congenital disabilities or severe injury that are intended to elicit pity perpetuate negative stereotypes.

Resources

People First Language and More, Disability is Natural!

Guidelines: How to Write and Report About People with Disabilities, and "Your Words, Our Image" (poster), Research & Training Center on Independent Living, University of Kansas, 8th Edition, 2013.

Mental Health Terminology: Words Matter and "Associated Press Style Book on Mental Illness," American Psychiatric Association, 2013.

Content was developed by the ADA Knowledge Translation Center, and is based on professional consensus of ADA experts and the ADA National Network.

ADA Knowledge Translation Center
http://adakt.washington.edu/

The contents of this factsheet were developed under grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90DP0086). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this factsheet do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

© Copyright 2018 ADA National Network. All Rights Reserved.
May be reproduced and distributed freely with attribution to ADA National Network ( www.adata.org).

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Guidelines for Writing About People With Disabilities

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( Printer-friendly PDF version | 311 KB) (Large Print PDF version | 319 KB) ( Spanish version) The words you use and the way you portray individuals with disabilities matters. This factsheet provides guidelines for portraying individuals with disabilities in a respectful and balanced way by using language that is accurate, neutral and objective.

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https://disability.stanford.edu/sites/g/files/sbiybj26391/files/media/file/disability-language-guide-stanford_1.pdf

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A good resource on how to better engage with individuals with sensory needs and actions for organizations to be more inclusive

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This piece is from the Canadian Broadcasting System speaks poignantly for the need to do authentic work before coming up with land acknowledgement statements.

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This piece is from the Canadian Broadcasting System speaks poignantly for the need to do authentic work before coming up with land acknowledgement statements.

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They've become so commonplace that you'll hear land acknowledgments at the start of hockey games, during academic conferences and even written at the bottom of corporate email signatures.

In an era of reconciliation, they're political statements meant to recognize First Nations, Inuit, and Métis territory, however many Indigenous people argue they've grown to become superficial, performative - and problematic.

CBC Indigenous spoke with five First Nations people about the issues they see, what they expect when others make land acknowledgments and advice on how they can ring less hollow.

Make it meaningful

For Ta7talíya Michelle Nahanee, who offers workshops on how to give territorial acknowledgments, land acknowledgments shouldn't be copied, pasted and read statements but rather meaningful personal commitments. Nahanee is Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) from Eslha7án (Ustlawn) in B.C.

"I don't tell people which word to use, but I ask them to consider each word critically," said Nahanee, founder and CEO of the Vancouver-based business Nahanee Creative, a company that provides education and awareness to promote social change.

"I want people to be able to back up what you're saying, truly believe in it, and be ready to answer the question when someone criticizes you."

That also means taking the time to research specific names of nations rather than sweeping generalizations, and being cautious of subtext.

Even though they're called land or territorial acknowledgments, Nahanee said using the phrase "I acknowledge" can imply that it's not true.

"You wouldn't say, 'I acknowledge that my hair is brown, my eyes brown.' You just are on the land of these peoples," she said.

It's also important to keep the wording in the present tense, she said.

"A tool of colonialism is to keep us in the past tense," said Nahanee.

"To speak about your territorial acknowledgment in the past continues that dominant narrative."

Do the work

Hayden King, who is Anishinaabe from Beausoleil First Nation in Ontario, helped write Ryerson University's land acknowledgment in 2012. It's something he said he now regrets.

King said some of the problems he sees in Toronto is that land acknowledgments are simply inaccurate, include the same nation multiple times under different terms, or misinterpret treaty concepts such as the Dish With One Spoon into a metaphor of a "multicultural utopia."

"There's a ... sort of historical untangling that's required to do this right, well and in a genuine way," he said.

"It really actually becomes harmful to the actually existing Indigenous nations that are still trying to negotiate and unravel their diplomatic relationships with each other."
Watch the Baroness von Sketch Show's satirical take on land acknowledgments:
King wants to see institutions, organizations, or whoever plans on making a land acknowledgment to collaborate with and support Indigenous communities.

"A land acknowledgment should be an obligation," said King.

That doesn't always have to be something that is public, either, he said.

"Do the internal work before you decide to step out into the world with your reconciliation mime. Do something different, actually work with Indigenous communities in a meaningful way."

Action is required

That sentiment was echoed by Devon Saulis, a member of the Tobique First Nation who lives in Ottawa.

"It's the very bottom layer you can do," she said of land acknowledgments.

"Actions speak louder than words."

Like King, Saulis said she's personally not a fan of land acknowledgments because of their performative nature. Even when acknowledgments point to wanting to build better relations and future with Indigenous people, she said, often institutions or organizations fail to put action to those words.

"You can have the nicest, most beautiful and most respectful land acknowledgment of all time but if you have no actions to back up your words, then why are you bothering?" said Saulis.

"If you're going to explicitly say in your land acknowledgment that you want better relations, then you have to prove and you have to show consistency and that you're actually doing those actions."

For Claudette Commanda, an Algonquin elder from Kitigan Zibi, Que., the issue boils down to the concept of land back.

"Are they ready to give us back our land? There has to be absolute action behind it," she said.

"Not just saying that we're scoring a brownie point on our Truth and Reconciliation Commission report card. There's much more to just words."

A first step to building relationships

When it comes to action, Kahsennoktha George wants to see companies and institutions participating in systemic change.

She is from Kanesatake in Quebec and is the ambassador and education and mobilization officer for Mikana, a non-profit organization that works for social change by educating different audiences on the realities and perspectives of Indigenous peoples.

"A starting point would be to initiate some kind of sustainable relationship with the people that you're going to be acknowledging," said George.

"The problem is that there are people, groups, institutions and systems that are benefiting from the continued land dispossession of Indigenous peoples while making territorial acknowledgments."

Despite the problems with land acknowledgments, George wants people to continue making them. She views them as opening the door toward decolonizing practices, reconciliation, or bridging awareness into action.

"It's still the beginning of some kind of conversation," she said.

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What's wrong with land acknowledgments, and how to make them better | CBC News

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They've become so commonplace that you'll hear land acknowledgments at the start of hockey games, during academic conferences and even written at the bottom of corporate email signatures. In an era of reconciliation, they're political statements meant to recognize First Nations, Inuit, and Métis territory, however many Indigenous people argue they've grown to become superficial, performative - and problematic.

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The Autism Nature Trail (The ANT) at Letchworth State Park is a first-of-its-kind experience in nature designed for visitors on the autism spectrum and with a range of abilities—appropriate and enjoyable for all abilities and ages.

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The Autism Nature Trail (The ANT) at Letchworth State Park is a first-of-its-kind experience in nature designed for visitors on the autism spectrum and with a range of abilities—appropriate and enjoyable for all abilities and ages.

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https://autismnaturetrail.com/

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VISITOR SURVEY:

If you've been to The ANT, please share your feedback!

The Autism Nature Trail (The ANT) at Letchworth State Park is a first-of-its-kind experience in nature designed for visitors on the autism spectrum and with a range of abilities-appropriate and enjoyable for all abilities and ages.

Visiting The ANT

The ANT is located adjacent to the Humphrey Nature center, inside Letchworth State Park. To visit, use the Castile entrance to Letchworth during park hours.

Once inside the Castile entrance, it takes about 5 minutes to reach The ANT by car, following the signs.

Use the Castile entrance

The Castile entrance to Letchworth State Park is at: 6787 County Rd 38, Castile, NY 14427. The easiest way to reach it is to approach from NYS Route 39/19A.

Always check the Calendar to be sure The ANT will be open when you plan to visit, and find out about planned activities and events.

Things to see and do

The ANT is a one-mile looped main Trail with eight stations at various intervals, offering a range of experiences from quiet engagement to active exploration and adventure.

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News from The ANT

Get news and updates from the Autism Nature Trail delivered via email.

Trail Map

The ANT is designed as a series of accessible and safe outdoor spaces in nature, yet far from the distractions and often overwhelming stimuli of everyday outside life.

Facilities & Accessibility

The Trail is a flat hike on a stone dust surface. The Trail is ADA compliant and generally suitable for wheelchairs. There is very limited cell service on the Trail.

There are restrooms located in both the Humphrey Nature Center and Trailside Lodge. The Nature Center facilities have handicap stalls, and a baby/small child diaper changing area.

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This incredible place has been built through a public-private partnership and campaign to raise the $3.7 million dollars required to build the trail and provide an endowment for its maintenance, operations and programming forever.

Donors & Sponsors

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The Autism Nature Trail (The ANT) at Letchworth State Park

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VISITOR SURVEY: If you've been to The ANT, please share your feedback! The Autism Nature Trail (The ANT) at Letchworth State Park is a first-of-its-kind experience in nature designed for visitors on the autism spectrum and with a range of abilities-appropriate and enjoyable for all abilities and ages.

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Contrast Rebellion - to hell with unreadable, low-contrast texts!

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Low-contrast font color and unreadable texts? To hell with them!

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Environmental Educators of North Carolina - Our Programs

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Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education Cooper Center for Environmental Learning.

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https://www.thesocialcreatures.org/thecreaturetimes/the-social-model-of-disability

Renee shared this concept in the discussion group and I found it really valuable so I wanted to share this article about it!

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Edited by Stephen Braren & David Putrino, P.T., Ph.D.

Roughly one billion people-15% of the global population-experience some form of disability, according to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO). In the United States alone, about 1 in 4 adults live with a disability [1], which is defined as "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities" under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In July 1990, the landmark passing of the ADA made the U.S. the first nation to ban the discrimination of people with disabilities from employment, education, health care, transportation, housing, and other areas of public life. While the ADA has undoubtedly reduced barriers for individuals with disabilities, many still face substantial obstacles to living and working fully in society. The persistence of these barriers may be largely explained by how we think and talk about disability. In particular, the question raised by some is, is a disability a medical issue rooted in the individual? Or is it more a social issue created by society?

The Medical Model of Disability

The "medical model of disability" has long informed mainstream public and professional perceptions of disability, and views disability as a problem that exists within a person's body, only to be solved by medical doctors. This model frames the body of a person with a disability as something that needs to be "fixed," suggesting that "typical abilities" are superior and that physical or mental impairments should be "cured" with the help of an outside force [2]. This framework, which is still embedded in modern approaches to health care and education, frames an individual's impairment as the cause for their inability to participate fully in society.

Take for example, a wheelchair user trying to access a building's entrance that has stairs but no ramp. According to the medical model, this person's difficulty with entering the building is due to their mobility impairment, rather than because the building's entrance does not have a ramp. In essence, the medical model places the burden of disability on the individual, focusing on what is 'wrong' with the person, rather than what is 'wrong' with the situation, context, or environment.

A consequence of the medical model of disability is that people with disabilities often report feeling socially excluded, undervalued, and treated as if they are completely incapacitated or objects of pity [3]. But for many, the main disadvantage of living with a disability is less about their own body and more about society's response to them. This response often comes in the form of an unwelcoming reception, in terms of social attitudes and institutional norms, as well as built physical environments that promote exclusion.

The Social Model of Disability

Conversely, the "social model of disability"-developed by disability rights activists in the 1970s and 80s-suggests that if societies were set up and constructed in a way that was accessible for people with disabilities, those individuals would not be restricted from full participation in the world around them. In other words, the social model of disability views the origins of disability as the mental attitudes and physical structures of society, rather than a medical condition faced by an individual.

Essentially, the social model says that individual limitations are not the cause of disability. Rather, it is society's failure to provide appropriate services and adequately ensure that the needs of disabled people are taken into account in societal organization. Simply constructing sidewalks and entrances that are wheelchair accessible, for example, can turn a disability into an ability.

In her book What Can a Body Do? How We Meet the Built World, Sara Hendren sums up this idea nicely: "Ability and disability may be in part about the physical state of the body, but they are also produced by the relative flexibility or rigidity of the built world ... [disability] reveals just how unfinished the world really is."

In a Forbes article titled, "We Have Been Disabled: How The Pandemic Has Proven The Social Model Of Disability," psychologist Dr. Nancy Doyle outlines what she describes as "the responsibility that society holds for the disablement of others." She writes, "If everyone was taught sign language at an early age, a deaf person would no longer be disadvantaged. If towns were built and planned with physical disabilities in mind and there was no social stigma attached to looking or sounding different, then having a physical impairment would no longer be disabling."
Ultimately, the social model of disability proposes that a disability is only disabling when it prevents someone from doing what they want or need to do.
This idea changes how we typically think of disability by placing the burden of responsibility on society rather than the individual. This means that changing aspects of the built environment can change how we think about disability.

But changing how we talk about disability can also change how we think about it. The social model of disability makes an important distinction between "impairments" and "disabilities."Impairments can be thought of as the functional limitations an individual might face (i.e., not being able to walk). Disabilities, on the other hand, are the disadvantages imposed on individuals by a society that views and treats impairments as abnormal, hence worthy of exclusion.

Physical and mental impairments are a natural and common part of being human that are deserving of accommodations and civil rights protection. They can (and frequently do) happen to anyone at any time via illness, accidents, genetic conditions, aging, and more. If sufficient accommodations are provided, however, impairments do not need to equate to disability. It is only right for society to design its physical and social infrastructure around this fact of life.

Ultimately, how a person with a disability chooses to view or talk about their impairment-whether in line with the medical model of disability or the social model of disability-is up to them. However, until we adequately examine and address society's response to people with disabilities-including the direct role that the public's perception of disabilities plays in creating disablement in the first place-barriers to inclusion will undoubtedly persist. And we need to remember that the barriers to more inclusive environments are not just concrete, but ingrained in our thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes. It is only when viewing disability through this lens that we can begin to change people's perspectives on how everyday organizations and environments should be inclusively structured, and begin to actively counter the way disabled people are so commonly viewed in society: not as objects of medical treatment, charity, and tokenism or inspiration porn, but rather as full and equal members of society with human rights.
In-text references
[1] Okoro CA, Hollis ND, Cyrus AC, Griffin-Blake S. Prevalence of Disabilities and Health Care Access by Disability Status and Type Among Adults - United States, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018;67:882-887. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6732a3

[2] Goering S. Rethinking disability: the social model of disability and chronic disease. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2015;8(2):134-138. doi:10.1007/s12178-015-9273-z

[3] Mairs N. Waist-high in the world: a life among the nondisabled. Boston: Beacon; 1996.

Have a question or wish to request a topic? Contact us. We'd love to hear from you!

Sarah Buder is a writer and editor based in Brooklyn, New York. She works as part of the editorial team at Dwell, an architecture and design-focused publication. Her work reflects her greatest passion: exploring the vast range of human experiences and identities through a cultural and advocacy lens.

Dr. Rose Perry is the Founder & Executive Director of Social Creatures, and a neuroscientist and physiologist researching social determinants of risk and resilience across the lifespan. Outside of the lab, she frequently serves as a consultant or scientific advisor for nonprofit organizations to translate research findings and methodology to applied settings.

Edited by Stephen Braren & David Putrino, P.T., Ph.D.

Roughly one billion people-15% of the global population-experience some form of disability, according to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO). In the United States alone, about 1 in 4 adults live with a disability [1], which is defined as "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities" under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In July 1990, the landmark passing of the ADA made the U.S. the first nation to ban the discrimination of people with disabilities from employment, education, health care, transportation, housing, and other areas of public life. While the ADA has undoubtedly reduced barriers for individuals with disabilities, many still face substantial obstacles to living and working fully in society. The persistence of these barriers may be largely explained by how we think and talk about disability. In particular, the question raised by some is, is a disability a medical issue rooted in the individual? Or is it more a social issue created by society?

The Medical Model of Disability

The "medical model of disability" has long informed mainstream public and professional perceptions of disability, and views disability as a problem that exists within a person's body, only to be solved by medical doctors. This model frames the body of a person with a disability as something that needs to be "fixed," suggesting that "typical abilities" are superior and that physical or mental impairments should be "cured" with the help of an outside force [2]. This framework, which is still embedded in modern approaches to health care and education, frames an individual's impairment as the cause for their inability to participate fully in society.

Take for example, a wheelchair user trying to access a building's entrance that has stairs but no ramp. According to the medical model, this person's difficulty with entering the building is due to their mobility impairment, rather than because the building's entrance does not have a ramp. In essence, the medical model places the burden of disability on the individual, focusing on what is 'wrong' with the person, rather than what is 'wrong' with the situation, context, or environment.

A consequence of the medical model of disability is that people with disabilities often report feeling socially excluded, undervalued, and treated as if they are completely incapacitated or objects of pity [3]. But for many, the main disadvantage of living with a disability is less about their own body and more about society's response to them. This response often comes in the form of an unwelcoming reception, in terms of social attitudes and institutional norms, as well as built physical environments that promote exclusion.

The Social Model of Disability

Conversely, the "social model of disability"-developed by disability rights activists in the 1970s and 80s-suggests that if societies were set up and constructed in a way that was accessible for people with disabilities, those individuals would not be restricted from full participation in the world around them. In other words, the social model of disability views the origins of disability as the mental attitudes and physical structures of society, rather than a medical condition faced by an individual.

Essentially, the social model says that individual limitations are not the cause of disability. Rather, it is society's failure to provide appropriate services and adequately ensure that the needs of disabled people are taken into account in societal organization. Simply constructing sidewalks and entrances that are wheelchair accessible, for example, can turn a disability into an ability.

In her book What Can a Body Do? How We Meet the Built World, Sara Hendren sums up this idea nicely: "Ability and disability may be in part about the physical state of the body, but they are also produced by the relative flexibility or rigidity of the built world ... [disability] reveals just how unfinished the world really is."

In a Forbes article titled, "We Have Been Disabled: How The Pandemic Has Proven The Social Model Of Disability," psychologist Dr. Nancy Doyle outlines what she describes as "the responsibility that society holds for the disablement of others." She writes, "If everyone was taught sign language at an early age, a deaf person would no longer be disadvantaged. If towns were built and planned with physical disabilities in mind and there was no social stigma attached to looking or sounding different, then having a physical impairment would no longer be disabling."
Ultimately, the social model of disability proposes that a disability is only disabling when it prevents someone from doing what they want or need to do.
This idea changes how we typically think of disability by placing the burden of responsibility on society rather than the individual. This means that changing aspects of the built environment can change how we think about disability.

But changing how we talk about disability can also change how we think about it. The social model of disability makes an important distinction between "impairments" and "disabilities."Impairments can be thought of as the functional limitations an individual might face (i.e., not being able to walk). Disabilities, on the other hand, are the disadvantages imposed on individuals by a society that views and treats impairments as abnormal, hence worthy of exclusion.

Physical and mental impairments are a natural and common part of being human that are deserving of accommodations and civil rights protection. They can (and frequently do) happen to anyone at any time via illness, accidents, genetic conditions, aging, and more. If sufficient accommodations are provided, however, impairments do not need to equate to disability. It is only right for society to design its physical and social infrastructure around this fact of life.

Ultimately, how a person with a disability chooses to view or talk about their impairment-whether in line with the medical model of disability or the social model of disability-is up to them. However, until we adequately examine and address society's response to people with disabilities-including the direct role that the public's perception of disabilities plays in creating disablement in the first place-barriers to inclusion will undoubtedly persist. And we need to remember that the barriers to more inclusive environments are not just concrete, but ingrained in our thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes. It is only when viewing disability through this lens that we can begin to change people's perspectives on how everyday organizations and environments should be inclusively structured, and begin to actively counter the way disabled people are so commonly viewed in society: not as objects of medical treatment, charity, and tokenism or inspiration porn, but rather as full and equal members of society with human rights.
In-text references
[1] Okoro CA, Hollis ND, Cyrus AC, Griffin-Blake S. Prevalence of Disabilities and Health Care Access by Disability Status and Type Among Adults - United States, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018;67:882-887. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6732a3

[2] Goering S. Rethinking disability: the social model of disability and chronic disease. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2015;8(2):134-138. doi:10.1007/s12178-015-9273-z

[3] Mairs N. Waist-high in the world: a life among the nondisabled. Boston: Beacon; 1996.

Have a question or wish to request a topic? Contact us. We'd love to hear from you!

Sarah Buder is a writer and editor based in Brooklyn, New York. She works as part of the editorial team at Dwell, an architecture and design-focused publication. Her work reflects her greatest passion: exploring the vast range of human experiences and identities through a cultural and advocacy lens.

Dr. Rose Perry is the Founder & Executive Director of Social Creatures, and a neuroscientist and physiologist researching social determinants of risk and resilience across the lifespan. Outside of the lab, she frequently serves as a consultant or scientific advisor for nonprofit organizations to translate research findings and methodology to applied settings.

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The Social Model of Disability Explained - Social Creatures

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In this article of The Creature Times, we are breaking down the "medical model of disability" and the "social model of disability," highlighting the role that society plays in producing disablement.

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“I don’t just want technical and logistical access. I don’t just want inclusion, I want liberatory access and access intimacy. I want us to not only be able to be part of spaces, but for us to be able to fully engage in spaces. I don’t just want us to get a seat at someone else’s table, I want us to be able to build something more magnificent than a table, together with our accomplices. I want us to be able to be understood and to be able to take part in principled struggle together—to be able to be human together. Not just placated or politely listened to.”

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13:48:16 From Glenna Holstein (she/hers) to Everyone:
	https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_j7AyVGDkNqKwGGbY8kY7jeMvSYHdp7z0hf03LDbsNY/edit?usp=sharing
14:00:54 From Mindy Schwartz (she/her) - ENC to Everyone:
	WET! (Orange County, CA)
14:00:57 From Jennifer Vieth to Everyone:
	Cold with a layer of snow and ice
14:01:05 From Jenn Kirts - Chippewa Nature Center to Everyone:
	Central Michigan...snow!
14:01:05 From Glenna Holstein (she/hers) to Everyone:
	Welcome all!  What is spring looking like in your area?
14:01:12 From Jeanette Tacon  Cinti Nature Center to Everyone:
	Fairly chilly.  Frost this morning.   Cinti, OH
14:01:13 From Kirsten to Everyone:
	Maple syrup!
14:01:13 From Saundra McBrearty -Ohio to Everyone:
	50 Degrees in central Ohio.
14:01:14 From Kelli Kennon-Lane to Everyone:
	Sunny, windy, a little chilly in Eastern Iowa
14:01:20 From Julie Uram (she/her) Nature At The Confluence to Everyone:
	In northern Illinois the snow has melted so the rivers and creeks are high...yay muddy hiking!
14:01:21 From Kristen Cooper, Irvine Nature Center to Everyone:
	frost on the meadows in the morning & highs of 60 during the day in Baltimore
14:01:23 From Sarah Jacoby Murphy - RMSC Cumming Nature Center to Everyone:
	Also snowy here in Western NY!
14:01:27 From Paulina Gutierrez (she/ella) to Everyone:
	Snowstorm yesterday but super sunny today! I am in Colorado!
14:01:29 From Tiffany Ritter she/her - Houston Arboretum to Everyone:
	HOUSTON - birds singing, flowers blooming, nice cool 65F day
14:01:29 From Jennifer She/Hers - Tenafly Nature Center to Everyone:
	55 and sunny in NJ
14:01:31 From Karla to Everyone:
	Cold and snow in Moab
14:01:35 From Katie Cevaal to Everyone:
	We heard wood frogs yesterday and had snow this morning in Southwest Michigan!
14:01:35 From Bonnie@Squam Lakes Natural Science Ctr. to Everyone:
	Sunny and warming up in Holderness, NH
14:01:37 From Sarah to Everyone:
	Hastings MN - Currently 22 degrees....waiting for our first 50 degree day this yeat
14:01:37 From Cassidy (she/her) to Everyone:
	third spring?
14:02:12 From Renee to Everyone:
	Sunny and chilly in Iowa
14:02:13 From Johnson, Priscilla to Everyone:
	Oregon- cold
14:02:13 From Patty Weisse (she, her) to Everyone:
	The Finger Lakes region in upstate NY was snowy.  Beautiful today.
14:02:29 From andy.williams to Everyone:
	Bloue skys, 65 degrees
14:02:40 From Catherine G. (she/her) NBNC to Everyone:
	Hello from central Vermont! Sunny here
14:07:54 From Heather Manier, NAI to Everyone:
	Hello! Thank you for having this conversation. Could you turn on captioning?
14:08:30 From Asa Duffee (he/him) â ANCA to Everyone:
	Yes, thank you for the reminder Heather ðð»
14:08:58 From Heather Manier, NAI to Everyone:
	Thank you for being so quick!
14:09:42 From Renee to Everyone:
	When we restrict access to anything, it will affect the marginalized and oppressed first and most.
14:10:32 From Glenna Holstein (she/hers) to Everyone:
	Great point, Renee. ^^
14:13:23 From John Harrod, PDE to Everyone:
	https://corpsthat.org/
14:13:59 From Jenna (she/her) - Eagle Bluff to Everyone:
	It's a really awesome class! I've done levels one and two.
14:15:35 From Dan Auer - ANCA to Everyone:
	https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/association-of-nature-center-administrators-anca-peer-connec-da1lx5ttc0o2bcre
14:16:44 From Emily Prauner - she/her to Everyone:
	Signage - ensuring multiple languages are represented
14:16:46 From Glenna Holstein (she/hers) to Everyone:
	What barriers to access are you aware of at your center?
14:17:06 From Mike, Blue Lotus Center (he/him) to Everyone:
	how to host an audit of the facility for accessibility
14:17:07 From Emily Prauner - she/her to Everyone:
	Programming - do other groups utilizing interpreters?
14:17:08 From Lauren to Everyone:
	We are looking for ideas on how to increase accessibility on our education farm.
14:17:09 From Cassidy (she/her) to Everyone:
	making space for sensory seekers and sensory avoiders
14:17:11 From Mindy Schwartz (she/her) - ENC to Everyone:
	getting access to an âoff-roadingâ wheel chair that can be checked out by our visitors - our trails are mulched and regular wheelchairs struggle.
14:17:12 From Katie Cevaal to Everyone:
	Accommodating children that come on field trips with all physical and learning abilities, as well as program and camp participants of all abilities
14:17:13 From Caitlin Potter - Cedar Creek Reserve, MN to Everyone:
	Narrow, bumpy trails
14:17:14 From Leigh Rovegno (she/her) and Katie Finch (she/her) to Everyone:
	Audubon Community Nature Center - we are looking to do an 'accessibility audit' to help us identify priority areas
14:17:28 From andy.williams to Everyone:
	Design of new playscape to be fully accessible
14:17:35 From Caitlin Potter - Cedar Creek Reserve, MN to Everyone:
	Buildings that were built pre-ADA or not up to code - many doors with steps down to the outside
14:17:35 From Kristen Cooper, Irvine Nature Center to Everyone:
	Irvine has a no-pet policy (no dogs on the trails) and I am curious how we can welcome those with service dogs.
14:17:35 From Carol Raymond (she/her) to Everyone:
	Squam Lakes Natural Science Center has added it to our new strategic plan, and working at meeting many goals.
14:17:38 From Whitney, Tom & David - Baltimore Woods Nature Center to Everyone:
	How to identify the barriers to access that exist for the communities we serve, or don't yet
14:17:38 From Catherine G. (she/her) NBNC to Everyone:
	Trail accessibility, signage describing conditions on trails
14:17:39 From Jenn Kirts - Chippewa Nature Center to Everyone:
	Providing opportunities for more people to access more areas at our site. Also figuring out ways to make our exhibit gallery more accessible to more people.
14:17:44 From Glenna Holstein (she/hers) to Everyone:
	The ground rules are written in the first column of padlet as well, for your reference. :-)
14:17:44 From Kristin Love to Everyone:
	At Elachee Nature Science Center (Gainesville, GA), we are in the beginning stages of conceptualizing a sensory trail to provide better experiences to individuals with different needs along an existing paved 0.4 mile trail.
14:17:55 From Catherine G. (she/her) NBNC to Everyone:
	Hearing assistive devices, esp those that work outdoors!?
14:17:57 From Colleen Goff - Okefenokee Swamp Park (GA) to Everyone:
	Ideas for safe accessibility for boats
14:18:10 From John Harrod, PDE to Everyone:
	Reacted to "It's a really awesom..." with ð
14:18:26 From Catherine G. (she/her) NBNC to Everyone:
	Accommodations for folks interested in volunteering with us
14:19:24 From Laura Lee to Everyone:
	My microphone is not working unfortunately so I will have to be a listener/use the chat
14:20:05 From John Harrod, PDE to Everyone:
	Replying to "getting access to an..."
	
	Delaware Nature Society has a Ranger for  trails that fits a wheelchair.
14:21:03 From Mindy Schwartz (she/her) - ENC to Everyone:
	Replying to "getting access to an..."
	
	awesome!  do you have more info you can share about that?
14:22:39 From Hunter Klingensmith (She/Her) to Everyone:
	Kelli, I love following your center!
14:24:08 From Dan Auer - ANCA to Everyone:
	https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/association-of-nature-center-administrators-anca-peer-connec-da1lx5ttc0o2bcre
14:48:40 From Kelli Kennon-Lane to Everyone:
	https://contrastrebellion.com/
	
	This is a decent site to inspire a conversation about website accessibility (and design) for those with visual impairments.
14:48:50 From Katie Giorgio (she/her) Indian Creek Nature Center to Everyone:
	Reacted to "https://contrastrebe..." with â¤ï¸
14:49:50 From Bonnie@Squam Lakes Natural Science Ctr. to Everyone:
	Reacted to "https://contrastrebe..." with â¤ï¸
14:50:28 From Heather Manier, NAI to Everyone:
	We did also talk about partnering with advocacy groups in your area
14:51:12 From Katie Cevaal to Everyone:
	for Michigan folks: We got our off road wheelchair from the Mary Free Bed Foundation
14:51:23 From Dan Auer - ANCA to Everyone:
	Reacted to "for Michigan folks: ..." with ðð¼
14:52:30 From Rachel Anderson (she/hers) to Everyone:
	I love the idea of having an off road wheelchair. We should also consider that many with disabilities have very individual needs and are unable to move into a wheelchair other than their own
14:52:58 From Patti Bonnin to Everyone:
	TPWD has the GRIT chair at several of their parks now
14:55:23 From Jeanette Tacon  Cinti Nature Center to Everyone:
	Renee - that was lovely.   is that in a document you can share?
14:55:25 From Heather Manier, NAI to Everyone:
	Thank you Renee!
14:55:31 From Michelle Silvers to Everyone:
	https://eenc.org/programs/#UDL
14:56:13 From Catherine G. (she/her) NBNC to Everyone:
	A quote from Mia Mingus: âI donât just want technical and logistical access. I donât just want inclusion, I want liberatory access and access intimacy. I want us to not only be able to be part of spaces, but for us to be able to fully engage in spaces. I donât just want us to get a seat at someone elseâs table, I want us to be able to build something more magnificent than a table, together with our accomplices. I want us to be able to be understood and to be able to take part in principled struggle togetherâto be able to be human together. Not just placated or politely listened to.â
14:56:31 From Jeanette Tacon  Cinti Nature Center to Everyone:
	Reacted to "A quote from Mia Min..." with â¤ï¸
14:56:38 From Kelli Kennon-Lane to Everyone:
	Reacted to "A quote from Mia Min..." with â¤ï¸
14:56:52 From Bonnie@Squam Lakes Natural Science Ctr. to Everyone:
	Reacted to "https://eenc.org/pro..." with â¤ï¸
14:57:00 From Katie Giorgio (she/her) Indian Creek Nature Center to Everyone:
	Reacted to "A quote from Mia Min..." with â¤ï¸
14:57:13 From Dan Auer - ANCA to Everyone:
	https://natctr.org/services/forums
14:57:21 From Renee to Everyone:
	Replying to "Renee - that was lovâ¦"
	The passage I read is from Disfigured: on fairy tales, disability, and making space by Amanda LeDuc
14:57:25 From Julie Uram (she/her) Nature At The Confluence to Everyone:
	not nature specific, but the book "The Care We Dream Of" is a great book about liberatory justice
14:57:33 From Renee to Everyone:
	Reacted to "A quote from Mia Minâ¦" with â¤ï¸
14:57:42 From Mike, Blue Lotus Center (he/him) to Everyone:
	Reacted to "https://eenc.org/pro..." with â¤ï¸
14:57:57 From Rachel Anderson (she/hers) to Everyone:
	Reacted to "A quote from Mia Min..." with â¤ï¸
14:58:07 From Dan Auer - ANCA to Everyone:
	https://natctr.org/events/calendar
14:58:44 From Renee to Everyone:
	Iâll be sharing a book list and mobility device option in the padlette tomorrow.
14:58:50 From Catherine G. (she/her) NBNC to Everyone:
	See you all at North Branch Nature Center in May! ð
14:59:00 From Heather Manier, NAI to Everyone:
	Thank you so much for inviting me. I have to join another meeting.
14:59:18 From Katie Cevaal to Everyone:
	Thank you!
14:59:19 From Katie Giorgio (she/her) Indian Creek Nature Center to Everyone:
	Thank you so much!
14:59:27 From Catherine G. (she/her) NBNC to Everyone:
	Thank you everyone - this was so great to be a part of!
14:59:28 From Rachel Anderson (she/hers) to Everyone:
	Thank you all so much for sharing and look forward to continuing to review the resources everyone is adding to the padlet!
14:59:32 From Michelle Silvers to Everyone:
	Thank you!
14:59:37 From Erik  to Everyone:
	Love this group and all your great ideas!
15:00:17 From Leigh Rovegno (she/her) and Katie Finch (she/her) to Everyone:
	Thanks so much!
15:00:22 From Caitlin Potter - Cedar Creek Reserve, MN to Everyone:
	Thank you all!
15:00:23 From Asa Duffee (he/him) â ANCA to Everyone:
	Thanks everyone ð
15:00:25 From Mindy Schwartz (she/her) - ENC to Everyone:
	Thank you!  Great conversation.
15:00:31 From Saundra McBrearty -Ohio to Everyone:
	Reacted to "Thanks everyone ð" with â¤ï¸
15:00:33 From Ashley Krusen (She/her) to Everyone:
	Thank you all so much!
15:00:34 From Carol Raymond (she/her) to Everyone:
	Thanks, all!
15:00:35 From Mike, Blue Lotus Center (he/him) to Everyone:
	This was my first ANCA event. 10/10! Thanks everyone!

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EENC is starting the next cohort for the UDL in EE online course on June 19th, 2023.

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Environmental Educators of North Carolina - Our Programs

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Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education Cooper Center for Environmental Learning.

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What a great discussion yesterday! I've done a lot of research into the various all terrain adaptive/mobility equipment available and would like to share what I've found so far and open a master thread of options here.

Not-a-Wheelchair "The Rig"- Built from bike parts and requires similar maintenance. $5,099-$5,799 (1 battery vs 2 batteries) Range- 10-20 miles. Weight Capacity 225 lbs

Action Trackchair - Tank like chair with tracks that can traverse difficult terrain. Base model starts at $13,775. Range up to 7 miles. Weight Capacity 300lbs

Terrain Hopper - mobility off road vehicle with options for manual steering control or joystick. $18,995. Range 8-24 miles, Weight Capacity 350 lbs

Grit Freedom Chair manual wheelchair using lever system to propel. $2,995-$5,995. Weight capacity 250 lbs

Alinker Walking Bike - a non-motorized walking-bike without pedals. $2995. Weight capacity 265 lbs (currently working on a 400 lbs model)

AccessRec Grass Mat Mobility/accessibility grass mats made with polyethylene for use on grass and soft surfaces to provide a stable surface for wheelchairs, bicycles, people, and more. $849 per 100 ft

Free Wheel attaches to the footrest of a wheelchair and transforms it into a three-wheel all-terrain vehicle. $899

Freedom Trax  motorized off-road attachment for manual wheelchairs. $6,335. Range 8 miles

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What a great discussion yesterday! I've done a lot of research into the various all terrain adaptive/mobility equipment available and would like to share what I've found so far and open a master thread of options here.

Not-a-Wheelchair "The Rig"- Built from bike parts and requires similar maintenance. $5,099-$5,799 (1 battery vs 2 batteries) Range- 10-20 miles. Weight Capacity 225 lbs

Action Trackchair - Tank like chair with tracks that can traverse difficult terrain. Base model starts at $13,775. Range up to 7 miles. Weight Capacity 300lbs

Terrain Hopper - mobility off road vehicle with options for manual steering control or joystick. $18,995. Range 8-24 miles, Weight Capacity 350 lbs

Grit Freedom Chair manual wheelchair using lever system to propel. $2,995-$5,995. Weight capacity 250 lbs

Alinker Walking Bike - a non-motorized walking-bike without pedals. $2995. Weight capacity 265 lbs (currently working on a 400 lbs model)

AccessRec Grass Mat Mobility/accessibility grass mats made with polyethylene for use on grass and soft surfaces to provide a stable surface for wheelchairs, bicycles, people, and more. $849 per 100 ft

Free Wheel attaches to the footrest of a wheelchair and transforms it into a three-wheel all-terrain vehicle. $899

Freedom Trax  motorized off-road attachment for manual wheelchairs. $6,335. Range 8 miles

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From an Accessibility in the Outdoors webinar at Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

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For sponsorship information, please CLICK HERE. The KPNC Sensory Forest has a series of experiences along an accessible trail that are designed to engage all 7 senses and immerse us in a multi-sensory journey. There is no better place for sensory therapy than nature! Nature inherently engages all 7 external senses - yes...

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Blue Sky Funders Forum is a funders collaborative that exists to inspire and increase philanthropic investments and the community of funders supporting equitable access to meaningful outdoor experiences and connections to nature. Our vibrant membership welcomes all types of funders and supporters of this vision. We aspire to spark meaningful connections and collaborations and provide strategic vision for a stronger, more unified movement.

Blue Sky is a working group of the Environmental Grantmakers Association.

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Highlights

Camping to Connect guides young men of color into nature to teach them outdoor and life skills, providing community and mentorship, and showing that the outdoors was meant for them, too.

Save the date for Blue Sky's Annual Convening. We look forward to gathering in Washington, D.C. from May 9-11, 2023.

We're thrilled to welcome Onika Abraham Lee as Blue Sky's Executive Director! Get to know her more at the link.

Case Studies

Building on a 145-year history, American Forests' mission is to create healthy and resilient forests from cities to wilderness that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water and wildlife. American...
Learn more >

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Camping to Connect guides young men of color into nature to teach them outdoor and life skills, providing community and mentorship, and showing that the outdoors was meant for them, too. Save the date for Blue Sky's Annual Convening. We look forward to gathering in Washington, D.C. from May 9-11, 2023.

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https://natctr.org/news/land-acknowledgements-326

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by Asa Duffee, Marketing & Communications Coordinator
ANCA - Asheville, NC
NATURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTERS connect inextricably to the land around them. Their missions are rooted in understanding and exploring the history, present, and future of that land, and invariably involve sharing experiences with their communities on that land.

What does it mean, then, when a nature center is situated on stolen land? After all, centers in North America are largely on land that colonizers stole from Indigenous peoples through profound violence. Those Indigenous peoples still maintain a connection to the land, too, so how can nature centers fully respect that connection?

There are no simple answers, but some nature centers are reflecting on these nuanced queries. This has led to centers adopting one small tool, a territorial or land acknowledgement, as part of their programs, events, and communications.

At their most basic, land acknowledgements recognize Indigenous peoples' historical and ongoing connection to the land. Some are simple and brief, whereas others are more detailed and potentially personal. Typically, a host verbally makes the acknowledgement at the beginning of a meeting or event, but an acknowledgement can also be in written form as appropriate.

Land acknowledgements have historically been a part of some Indigenous cultures, and are growing in usage throughout Canada and the United States.

How nature centers are using land acknowledgements

Some leaders of environmental learning centers see acknowledgements as a tool to contextualize the full story of the land they're on. They also recognize that acknowledgements are a starting point for action, rather than a complete action by itself.

"Our territorial acknowledgment strives to recognize that throughout time people experience the land in a variety of ways. We are not the owners of the land, but we own our connection to and responsibility for the land," says ANCA Member Catey McClary, President & CEO of Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. "We see the land acknowledgment not just as a statement to read, but an opportunity to facilitate a shared experience."

The staff at Tremont developed an acknowledgement in the summer of 2019 and is continually developing its use in different meetings and programs. This reveals an important aspect of all land acknowledgements: there's not just one acknowledgement that staff can memorize and recite word-for-word. The specific acknowledgement depends on the situation: a staff meeting and a week-long residential program will incorporate land acknowledgements very differently, and every person can make an individualized statement. Further, different locations require different acknowledgements, even if those locations are a few miles apart.

ANCA Organization Member North Cascades Institute now uses an acknowledgement to begin every program and institutional meeting, after initially developing its acknowledgements in 2015.

"It's a very useful tool for grounding people in place and time," says North Cascades Institute's Executive Director Saul Weisberg. Rather than a rote statement, he sees it as an important part of the organization's relationships with Indigenous communities and Tribal entities, as well as its own connection with the land.

ANCA Organization Member Denali Education Center is currently building acknowledgements to use in its programs and meetings. Executive Director Jodi Rodwell says that by recognizing Indigenous connection to the land, "we can better represent the place where we are."

What do land acknowledgements achieve?

A common argument against land acknowledgement is that it's a token gesture when delivered by non-Indigenous people or institutions. In other words, it's an action that may not actually decolonize spaces or promote Indigenous rights, and might just serve to make non-Indigenous people feel like they're taking action.

This is why Weisberg says acknowledgements are part of a bigger picture of connecting with Indigenous communities and addressing colonialism - especially in the context of nature and environmental learning centers as place-based organizations.

"It's just the barest beginning," he says. "The real point of this is to begin a genuine relationship."

All the ANCA Members interviewed for this story made this point clear: a respectful land acknowledgement is based on more than one person's words, and behind the statement should be authentic action and connection. The statement is just the tip of the iceberg, not the iceberg itself.

McClary says it was vital for Tremont to engage in dialogue to develop its acknowledgements, and did so with members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and the National Park Foundation among others. "Receiving feedback from EBCI and other leaders of National Parks was a critical starting point of a conversation that strives to ensure we don't create this for participants, but with participants," she says.

The North Cascades Institute also reached out to Tribal members to share its acknowledgement effort, and received feedback from some. Weisberg specifically advises "that nature centers offer to compensate Indigenous people for being part of this work. There is a long history of asking people to take their valuable time to work on our issues."

Rodwell says that in addition to building on Denali Education Center's connections with Indigenous communities, she thinks that acknowledgements will have a direct impact on non-Indigenous program attendees. She notes that by incorporating these statements into every program, the Center can push back against a racist stereotype of Native people existing only in the past, and make clear that Native people have an ongoing connection to the land.

"We need to do this."

Having helped develop acknowledgements at North Cascades over five years ago, Weisberg says that nature centers shouldn't delay in creating their own and incorporating them into programs and events. The Institute took time to create its acknowledgements and institutionalize them, but he thinks that it doesn't have to be a drawn-out process.

"Right now, I think we should have done it quicker. Dealing with issues like racism and colonization, we're never going to get it 'right,'" Weisberg says. "It's a lifelong journey, and we're going to fail, but we fall forward and we get up and keep moving. You can't fail until you get something out there, and you try it."

Weisberg adds that he thinks nature centers have a particular responsibility to do land acknowledgements, given their connection to the land.

"We need to do this," he says. "This is not an optional thing when we're teaching outside with people."

RESOURCES

These external resources share more information about Indigenous land acknowledgements and how to develop them.

A GUIDE TO INDIGENOUS LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Native Governance Center's guide, including tips for creating a land acknowledgement.

BEYOND TERRITORIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
An âpihtawikosisân blog post reflecting on territorial acknowledgements and actions beyond them.

NATIVE LAND
A website run by Native Land Digital, including a map of territories, languages, and treaties.

A website that maps Indigenous Nations, territories, and Indigenous communities.

HONOR NATIVE LAND: A GUIDE AND CALL TO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The U.S. Department of Arts and Culture's page about land acknowledgement.

NORTH CASCADES INSTITUTE'S LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT GUIDE
The North Cascades Institute has a guide for how to use its own land acknowledgements. We've made this available to ANCA Members in the Policies & Procedures folder of the Sample Documents & Resources on the Member Portal.

EXAMPLES OF WRITTEN LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AT NATURE CENTERS

Blandford Nature Center
Fallen Timbers Environmental Center
Islandwood (bottom of page)
North Cascades Institute
North Branch Nature Center (bottom of page)
Severson Dells Nature Center (bottom of page)

THIS ARTICLE was originally published in the Winter 2021 issue of Directions, the ANCA journal. Members can always access the full issue via the member portal.

Want more stories like this? Scroll down to sign up for our mailing list.

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Land Acknowledgements: Why and How Are Nature Centers Using Them? - Association of Nature Center Administrators

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by Asa Duffee, Marketing & Communications CoordinatorANCA - Asheville, NC NATURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTERS connect inextricably to the land around them. Their missions are rooted in understanding and exploring the history, present, and future of that land, and invariably involve...

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"For Feldman, there was a big gap that people weren't aware of in risk management. She found that there were shining DEI statements and risk management plans, but they weren't talking to each other. Feldman noticed that risks are not limited to environmental uncertainties, but social ones too... Feldman wanted a guide that reflected the dynamic world of language.

Perhaps the most important feature of this guide is its ability to help us educate ourselves on potentially lesser known histories of phrases or words that are regularly used outdoors. As writers, the last thing we want to do is unintentionally offend our subjects or readers. Feldman explains, "if you're going to use [the guide], use it intentionally. Know that you're making a choice in your language and you're not just being passive." "

- Emma Mares, Outdoor Writer's Association of America

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Inclusive Language Guide - Taylor Feldman

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Included - End to end people analytics platform with embedded DEI metrics

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Successful diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives boost employee engagement, spur innovation, and increase the likelihood of meeting financial goals. But before launching any initiative, writing a DEI statement aids in aligning stakeholders and serves as a declaration of your company's commitment to DEI initiatives.

Here we'll define what a statement is, provide DEI statement examples, and help guide you through the process of writing your own.

What is a DEI Statement?

A DEI statement outlines a company's commitment to furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. While no two DEI statements will look identical, they'll usually touch on the role of DEI in shaping company values and the overarching ways that DEI manifests itself through company actions.

What Should a DEI Statement Include?

In most cases, a DEI statement will include the following:

A statement of the company's mission

An explanation of how DEI connects to said mission

A call-out to specific underrepresented groups

High-level examples of DEI efforts

DEI Statement Examples

To better contextualize the nature of DEI initiatives, let's look to the statements put out by industry leaders. The following DEI statements can be found on each of these companies' websites.

1. Indeed

You Belong at Indeed

At Indeed, our mission is to help all people get jobs. While our backgrounds are broad and our talents are many, our best work happens when our voices are heard. Channeling our unique perspectives to make a positive impact on each other, our communities, and our world helps every Indeedian feel they #BelongAtIndeed.

2. Uber

Leadership's commitment to diversity

Creating greater equity is one of the 6 company-wide priorities established by our CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, for 2021. This means increasing demographic diversity at Uber and becoming a more actively anti-racist company and ally to the communities we serve. Every member of the Executive Leadership Team is doing their part to make this a reality, especially making sure their entire organization is behind this. Increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion is at the core of the company's strategy, and commitment to it starts at the top.

3. Netflix

Inclusion & Diversity

Netflix's greatest impact is in storytelling. Stories like The Harder They Fall, Never Have I Ever, Love on the Spectrum, Yasuke, and Squid Game broaden representation, empathy and understanding. We create and connect these stories to people all around the globe - removing the barriers of language, device, ability or connectivity. Better representation on-screen starts with representation in the office. Our work has to be internal first, so it can impact what we do externally. We believe we'll do that better if our employees come from different backgrounds, and if we create an environment of inclusion and belonging for them.

4. Slack

Creating an inclusive environment

We're dedicated to hiring diverse talent and ensuring that we treat you with respect and support throughout the interview process and once you join Slack. We embrace diversity and strive to create conditions that provide everyone with an equal opportunity to thrive. We offer several programs and initiatives to foster these values.

5. United Way

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Statement of Principle

We take the broadest possible view of diversity.

We value the visible and invisible qualities that make you who you are.

We welcome that every person brings a unique perspective and experience to advance our mission and progress our fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community.

We believe that each United Way community member, donor, volunteer, advocate, and employee must have equal access to solving community problems.

We strive to include diversity, equity, and inclusion practices at the center of our daily work.

We commit to using these practices for our business and our communities.

Join us in embracing diversity, equity and inclusion for every person in every community.

6. Comcast

Our Commitment to DE&I

We know that a diverse, equitable, and inclusive company is a more innovative and successful one. Across our workforce, products, and content, we embrace diversity of background, perspective, culture, and experience, and together with our partners, we have been working to fight injustice and inequity for decades. From bringing broadband and digital skills training to underserved families; to creating opportunities for underrepresented entrepreneurs; to amplifying diverse voices; we're committed to leveraging our unique platforms to help create positive change.

7. Google

Build For Everyone

Google is committed to continuing to make diversity, equity, and inclusion part of everything we do-from how we build our products to how we build our workforce.

Google is growing to fulfill that vision. In the past few years, we've doubled in size-today, we have more than 100,000 employees in 170 cities spanning nearly 60 countries. Operating at this scale brings an elevated level of responsibility to everything we do-including a workforce that's more representative of our users, and a workplace that creates a sense of belonging for everyone.

Thank you for joining us on this journey.

How to Write a DEI Statement

To begin writing your DEI statement, you'll first want to take stock of both your company's mission and its approach to DEI. Your DEI statement shouldn't reiterate your values verbatim or provide a laundry list of current and past efforts, but they will help to serve as a foundation.

From there, here are the steps you should take.

Step 1: Create a headline.

While your headline could be a blunt label like [Company Name] Statement on DEI, the best headlines provide a bit more specificity.

For example, Indeed's headline reads, You belong at Indeed. This direct address immediately welcomes the reader, regardless of background, into the Indeed workplace. It also emphasizes the notion of belonging, which alludes to the company embracing different voices.

Step 2: Write the statement.

Based on our examples, you can see that DEI statements generally range in length from 50-100 words. While the content of each statement varies, there are some common threads running through several of them.

Commitment- Each company expresses a commitment to diversity. Google, for example, states a desire to "make diversity, equity, and inclusion part of everything we do-from how we build our products to how we build our workforce." Notice how this addresses DEI in both internal and external senses.

Examples- Many companies choose to touch upon how their commitments to DEI are evident through their work and policies. Netflix, for example, mentions several of its popular films and series, each representing the voices of underrepresented groups along lines of race, nationality, and disability. The key to this component is brevity. Later in the statement, you can elaborate on more specific examples of DEI efforts; however, your DEI statement should create broad strokes.

Summary- While there are a variety of ways to conclude your DEI statement, an effective approach could be to tie DEI to your company's values. After noting some of its DEI-related efforts, Comcast notes: we're committed to leveraging our unique platforms to help create positive change. By stating this, Comcast, a global telecommunications company, notes that its commitment to DEI works in tandem with its overall goals of creating positive change.

Step 3: Give your DEI statement a home.

Some companies house their DEI statement under their About Us page, while others devote an entire page to diversity efforts. In most cases, the latter option will be the most effective.

On Uber's diversity and inclusion page, you'll find not only their DEI statement but also their annual People and Culture report, quotes from their Chief DEI officer, and links to pages that describe the ways in which Uber embraces workers from specific backgrounds.

Make Your Efforts Count

When all is said and done, creating a DEI statement can seem like a relatively simple task; however, acting on its values can prove a bit more difficult. For many companies, hiring and retaining truly diverse pools of talent can be challenging, and even the most well-crafted DEI statement will do little to help. That's why you should consider a data-driven solution developed by experts in the field.

Included is an AI-powered DEI data analytics platform that drives diversity in recruitment and hiring outcomes. By gathering and analyzing candidate data, Included delivers full visibility to the recruitment pipeline. Want to see DEI hiring trends? Or which recruiting sources yield the most diverse candidate slates? Included will show you all that and much more.

DEI statements are a great way to outline your org's commitment to diversity and inclusion. Included is the data-driven DEI solution that will help you act on that commitment.

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7 DEI Statement Examples and a Guide To Writing Your Own - Included

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Successful diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives boost employee engagement, spur innovation, and increase the likelihood of meeting financial goals. But before launching any initiative, writing a DEI statement aids in aligning stakeholders and serves as a declaration of your company's commitment to DEI initiatives.

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When I worked at the Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee, we paired the release of an Anti-Racism statement with a video of our staff reading the statements, a post/article explaining our process, and a "glossary" of terms to help folks who might be at a place where they are uncomfortable with terms like "white supremacy."  I don't think our approach was perfect, but these resources were definitely valuable, both for folks reading our statement on their own and for staff engaging in conversations with folks about the statement.

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Mapping

We strive to map Indigenous territories, treaties, and languages across the world in a way that goes beyond colonial ways of thinking in order to better represent how Indigenous people want to see themselves.

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Native Land is a resource to learn more about Indigenous territories, languages, lands, and ways of life. We welcome you to our site.

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Environmental Nature Center Land Acknowledgement 

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Environmental Nature Center Land Acknowledgement 

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Environmental Nature Center Land Acknowledgement

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Irvine Nature Center Land Acknowledgement Statement 

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Irvine Nature Center Land Acknowledgement Statement 

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13:57:56 From Dan Auer - ANCA to Everyone:
	https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/association-of-nature-center-administrators-anca-peer-connec-da1lx5ttc0o2bcre
14:01:29 From Glenna Holstein (she/hers) to Everyone:
	Hi Alicia!!!
14:02:10 From Glenna Holstein (she/hers) to Everyone:
	Columbine is going bonkers in Milwaukee :-)
14:02:22 From Asa Duffee (he/him) â ANCA to Everyone:
	Hey everyone! Iâm Asa, the Director of Marketing & Communications with ANCA. Just saw some beautiful fire pink yesterday ð
14:02:34 From Jenn Kirts - Chippewa Nature Center to Everyone:
	Jenn Kirts (she/her) - Chippewa Nature Center, Midland, MI - Golden Alexander and Wild Columbine is looking good right now!
14:02:37 From Alicia - Chattahoochee Nature Center to Everyone:
	Alicia Thompson, Chattahoochee Nature Center, I am stoked about Stokes Asters now in bloom!
14:02:44 From andy.williams to Everyone:
	Andy Williams (he, him, his)  Indian pink, penstemon  â¦ summer flowers in bloom in Memphis
14:02:49 From Colleen Goff to Everyone:
	Hello everyone! Colleen Goff from the Okefenokee Swamp Park in Waycross, GA.  Spiderwort is EVERYWHERE right now
14:02:51 From Morgan Bryant to Everyone:
	Morgan Bryant, she/her, Indian Creek nature Center Cedar Rapids Iowa. Raspberry blooms are in full swing!
14:02:54 From Sydney Foster to Everyone:
	Sydney Foster with Indian Creek Nature Center in Cedar Rapids Iowa. Golden alexander is in bloom currently
14:03:13 From Rachel Bailey (she/her) to Everyone:
	Rachel Bailey from Indian Creek Nature Center in Cedar Rapids, IA. My strawberries and raspberries are in bloom!
14:03:15 From Beaver Creek to Everyone:
	Kirsten Beaver Creek Reserve
14:03:16 From Kitty Pochman, (she/her), LLNF to Everyone:
	Hi All ~ Kitty Pochman, she/her, ED of the Linda Loring Nature Center on Nantucket Island, MA. The Ladies Slipper Orchids are blooming in my yard.
14:03:30 From Rachel Carter Koch to Everyone:
	I'm Rachel from Warner Park in Nashville, TN (she, her, hers) . I was just on a hike admiring the spiderwort.
14:03:33 From VanWyhe, Libby to Everyone:
	Libby VanWyhe, she/they, Outdoor School for All... Oregon.  Purple azaleas.
14:03:37 From Margaret Janz (she/her) to Everyone:
	Margaret Janz, interpreter in Cincinnati area. Magnolia and tulip poplar trees have some blossoms and a pawpaw tree near our center still has some flowers blooming!
14:03:39 From Sarah Bois to Everyone:
	Sarah Bois, Director of Research and Education at the Linda Loring Nature Foundation, Nantucket, MA. Sandplain blue-eyed grass in bloom this afternoon!
14:03:45 From Jenny Atkinson, The Whale Museum to Everyone:
	Hi, all - nice to be with you all! Madrona trees are in bloom here on San Juan Island, as are the rhododendrons.
14:03:58 From ODC Network to Everyone:
	Vanessa Gutierrez, Community outreach and inclusion manager at ODC Network (Outdoor Discovery Center) in Holland, MI.
14:04:27 From Emily Burke (she/her) to Everyone:
	Emily Burke, Conservation Director at Grass River Natural Area. Fringed polygala is blooming along the boardwalks here! ð
14:04:58 From Corey Batson (She/They) to Everyone:
	Corey Batson, she/they, Program Director for Crossroads at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin. Nodding Trilium is just beginning to bloom here!
14:05:15 From Margaret Janz (she/her) to Everyone:
	Such great Midwest representation today!
14:05:20 From Carley to Everyone:
	Hi! I am Carley from the Farmington Hills Nature Center and my pronouns are she/they.
14:05:37 From Rachel Fort (She/her) to Everyone:
	Rachel Fort (She/Her), Tualatin Hills Nature Center in Beaverton, Oregon. in the land of the Kalapuya,  Allium, chives, rhodies and azalias are in bloom
14:05:48 From Glenna Holstein (she/hers) to Everyone:
	Listen actively
	Take care of you; take care of us
	Consent to learn in public
	Step up, step back
	Assume positive intent; seek clarity when needed
	Own your impact
	Bring joy and curiosity to the group
	Make the best use of our time
14:08:19 From Glenna Holstein (she/hers) to Everyone:
	Where are you in your statement/acknowledgement journey? E.g. Just heard about them? Thinking about writing one? In the process? Wrote one and wondering what to do next? Etc.
14:08:49 From andy.williams to Everyone:
	Thinking about writing one
14:09:02 From Margaret Janz (she/her) to Everyone:
	Have a committee that's talking about writing one
14:09:05 From VanWyhe, Libby to Everyone:
	Wondering what to do next
14:09:08 From Anne Robinson  (she, her) to Everyone:
	We have talked about it but there is no movement to go forward
14:09:08 From Carley to Everyone:
	In the process of writing one
14:09:10 From Jenn Kirts - Chippewa Nature Center to Everyone:
	Our DEI Committee will meet for the first time next week and exploring a statement/acknowledgement is one of the first things the committee is tasked to discuss.
14:09:11 From Kitty Pochman, (she/her), LLNF to Everyone:
	We have written one but do not use it yet
14:09:13 From Emily Burke (she/her) to Everyone:
	In the process. Weâve been talking about writing one for a few years now and have been gathering examples we like
14:09:19 From Rachel Carter Koch to Everyone:
	We have been working on one, but we are having much trouble figuring out who the land belonged to. Our area was a place of travel, but we can't find a people that stayed here.
14:09:30 From Lenore Herbst to Everyone:
	We have one sentence but not sure its sufficient.
14:09:34 From Rachel Fort (She/her) to Everyone:
	We have a committee working on it
14:09:35 From Kelli Kennon-Lane (she/hers) to Everyone:
	Writing one - and the learning around the process - is a priority for our organization.
14:09:35 From Jenny Atkinson, The Whale Museum to Everyone:
	I have heard about them and often include in a verbal introduction - definitely a growing practice in our region. I just started working with our team about drafting one for your review/discussion before posting publicly. So, this session is very timely and appreciated.
14:09:38 From Alicia - Chattahoochee Nature Center to Everyone:
	Researching, have spoken with board and leadership about goal to develop by end of this fiscal year.
14:09:41 From Colleen Goff to Everyone:
	In the early stages of writing one with our board and CEO
14:09:42 From Michele Cardinaux, Metro Parks to Everyone:
	As a District we have been working on this for awhile and we are very interested in other work out there. We do have a short form completed and a dedicated webpage.
14:09:51 From ODC Network to Everyone:
	DEI Statement: Done, Acknowledgment: In process of first draft.
14:10:36 From Michelle Silvers to Everyone:
	Consult with EL organizations to develop DEI statements
14:10:38 From Sydney Foster to Everyone:
	Thinking about writing a statement within the next year, I am researching other statements currently to prepare to start drafting soon.
14:24:46 From Brooks Paternotte to Dan Auer - ANCA(Direct Message):
	Just emailed our LAS to you
14:24:56 From Dan Auer - ANCA to Brooks Paternotte(Direct Message):
	Thanks!
14:29:31 From VanWyhe, Libby to Everyone:
	I'd be interested in the preschool age-appropriate version of the acknowledgement. Can you share that?
14:29:58 From Michele Cardinaux, Metro Parks to Everyone:
	Us too!
14:30:35 From Dan Auer - ANCA to Everyone:
	https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/association-of-nature-center-administrators-anca-peer-connec-da1lx5ttc0o2bcre
14:52:52 From Margaret Janz (she/her) to Everyone:
	Answering a question from our group about next steps: We're talking about having policies and procedures for informing tribes about our plans for management of our parks (building things, planting things, etc) and for finding incidental remains and cultural artifacts as we do work. We also want to have a plan for continuous and onboarding training
14:55:29 From Margaret Janz (she/her) to Everyone:
	Special thanks to our breakout group - such helpful conversations!
14:55:53 From Sarah Bois to Everyone:
	Reacted to "Special thanks to ou..." with ð
14:55:54 From Dan Auer - ANCA to Everyone:
	https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/association-of-nature-center-administrators-anca-pe
14:55:59 From Sarah Bois to Everyone:
	I learned so much and lots to think about. Thank you!
14:56:08 From andy.williams to Everyone:
	Reacted to "Special thanks to ou..." with ð
14:56:17 From andy.williams to Everyone:
	Removed a ð reaction from "Special thanks to ou..."
14:56:19 From andy.williams to Everyone:
	Reacted to "Special thanks to ou..." with ð
14:56:27 From VanWyhe, Libby to Everyone:
	Yes, I really appreciate hearing about your stories and challenges.  Brave work!!
14:57:11 From Jennifer Vieth, Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nat. Ctr. (She/her) to Everyone:
	Thanks for hosting the DEI sessions. Each was very valuable.
14:57:44 From Dan Auer - ANCA to Everyone:
	https://natctr.org/events/2023-summit
14:58:15 From Asa Duffee (he/him) â ANCA to Everyone:
	Scholarship applications for the Summit are due in one week!
14:58:55 From Dan Auer - ANCA to Everyone:
	https://natctr.org/services/forums
15:00:01 From Kitty Pochman, (she/her), LLNF to Everyone:
	Thanks everyone! Great conversations.
15:00:30 From Asa Duffee (he/him) â ANCA to Everyone:
	Thanks all ð
15:00:31 From Claire, on behalf of Michele Cardinaux, Metro Parks to Everyone:
	Thank you all!
15:00:33 From Emily Burke (she/her) to Everyone:
	Thank you!
15:00:34 From Michelle Silvers to Everyone:
	Thanks!