Sean Kane-Holland, Author at Nature: Accessible for All

The Ocean County Office for Individuals with Disabilities provides a great resource for individuals with disabilities looking for opportunities to enjoy the summer fun at the beach with their –Accessible Beach Guide 2026

In this guide, information on accessible beaches, walkways, ramps, parking, and surf chair availability, as well as beach fees, lifeguard hours, and amenities, is readily available.

The guide is organized alphabetically by town and provides municipal phone numbers and websites for updated information. Please note that information in this guide is subject to change. It is recommended to check the municipality’s website or call before you visit to verify the information.

If you have any questions or would like to request hard copies, you may contact Sean Wright at swright@co.ocean.nj.us

The new legislative session has begun and NAFA is eager to advocate for smart policies that will help New Jersey build a safer, more accessible outdoor future. Taking this opportunity to notify the community of advocacy opportunities and legislation to ask your local reps to support. Stay tuned for updates!

We are dedicated to continuing to work with partners, legislators and the community for more accessible outdoor spaces and passive recreation.

You can find more about this Bill with the link below.

H.R.7751 – Parks to People Active Transportation Act, requires the DOT to establish a grant program for community greenways.

For public and private land managers and educational staff seeking to expand their recreational opportunities to undeserved communities with disabilities. Untied Spinal has produced a blog posting i would like to share with the Nature Accessible for All audience on How to fund adaptive outdoor recreational equipment and activities – United Spinal Association

United Spinal Association also has several working groups open to disability advocates. Their Outdoor Access Working Group knows that having fun does not come cheap for the disability community. Adaptive equipment and activities can cost thousands of dollars. They have identified funding sources to help offset the expense. This article shares their knowledge about writing successful grants for foundations and government sources. They have also compiled a list of organizations that welcome such grants.

Join the Spina Bifida Resource Network for their interactive series by and for adults with disabilities — featuring adults with disabilities as speakers, experts and discussion leaders.

This webinar is apart of their Empowered Conversations Virtual Speaker Series for Adults with Disabilities 21+

Wednesdays at 7:00 pm ET on Zoom

Link to register – Spina Bifida Resource Network – Speaker Series

The New Jersey East Coast Greenways is calling for advocacy! Tell NJ legislators: Don’t cut funding for walking, biking and greenways.

To grow the East Coast Greenway and other walking and biking infrastructure in New Jersey, we need funding from the state, especially in this moment when federal funding for these projects is being cut. The proposed FY27 budget that legislators are discussing right now would steeply cut funding to key state programs like Bikeways that give communities the resources they need to build greenways. These spaces are great resources for communities seeking accessibility for disabilities as they are built with accessibility and inclusion for all in mind and follow strict guidelines in their development.

The East Coast Greenway in New Jersey has supplied a form that residents can consider using to reach out to your legislator today. Tell NJ Legislators: Don’t Cut Safe Streets Funding

Last Tuesday, May 5th our partners over at Ocean Positive headed way inland to join 18 members of the NJ School of Conservation team for an inspiring training session talking about safe, inclusive outdoor recreation that builds communities and inspires others to care about the places we love from the ocean to the mountains.
This was done in conjunction with Pinelands Alliance’s – Nature Accessible for All campaign.

Ocean Positive was on the campus of NJ SOC for a Safe & Positive for All training — and what was supposed to be a 90-minute session turned into a genuine conversation about what it means to ensure that everyone who immerses themselves in nature can have a lifetime of safe and positive experiences.

What happens when you put 18 outdoor educators in a room and ask them to think about who might not feel safe or welcome in the spaces they steward? The staff at NJSOC, soon found out.
Educators. Field staff. People who spend their lives helping others connect with the natural world. They shared their inspiration and insight that makes this work matter.
By training the trainers, these best practices don’t stop with the 18 people in that room. They have the potential to reach the nearly 4,000 people who visit NJSOC each year for programs and field experiences — many of whom may be living with spinal cord injuries, movement and sensory limitations, or neurological differences that standard wilderness safety training too often overlooks.

The NJSOC team doesn’t just teach conservation — they live it. Making sure their programs are accessible and empowering for everyone is a natural extension of that mission.
Grateful to Kerry, Tanya, and the entire NJSOC team for having us. Nature is for everyone. Making that true in practice — not just in principle — takes training, intention, and teams like this one.