Communications and Outreach Archives - Nature: Accessible for All

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.

Greetings Nature Accessibility Advocates,

May brings a wide range of observances that highlight both the progress made and the work still ahead in advancing accessibility and inclusion. Here we address just a few chances to highlight observances for May. Among the most widely recognized is National Mobility Awareness Month, which focuses on the importance of mobility solutions and independence.

The month also includes National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, which raises awareness of communication disorders and access to critical services, as well as Global Accessibility Awareness Day (celebrated this year on May 21), which highlights the importance of accessible digital and physical environments. Other notable recognitions include Lupus Awareness Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, and ALS Awareness Month, each underscoring the diverse needs that must be considered in inclusive design.

With so many important observances throughout the month, May serves as a powerful reminder that accessibility is not one-size-fits-all, and that continued collaboration, education, and action are essential to building environments, programs, and services that work for everyone.

Greetings,

This update is from the desk of Clarke King, National Federation of the Blind of NJ Legislative Director

NFB is asking New Jersey residents to take immediate action to support Assembly Bill A3578 by contacting members of the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Timely outreach is critical to ensure this legislation advances. View the bill here: NJ A3578 | 2026-2027

Why Support A3578

• A3578 supports Electronic Ballot Return (EBR), enabling blind voters to use screen readers to access and return ballots independently.

• Ensures voters who are blind can cast their ballots privately and independently, without relying on assistance from others.

• Addresses barriers that limit full and equal participation for individuals with disabilities.

• Strengthens legal protections and promotes accountability in areas directly impacting access, independence, and civil rights.

Sample Email

Subject: Please Support A3578

Dear Assembly member,

I am writing to respectfully urge your support for Assembly Bill A3578.

A3578 supports Electronic Ballot Return (EBR), allowing blind voters to independently and privately complete and return their ballots using screen reader technology. This ensures equal access to voting while preserving voter privacy and independence.

I respectfully ask that you vote YES on A3578 when it comes before the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

Phone Script

Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I am calling to support Assembly Bill A3578. This bill allows blind voters to cast their ballots privately and independently using screen readers via Electronic Ballot Return. I respectfully ask that the Assemblymember vote YES on Bill A3578 in the Judiciary Committee. Thank you.

Assembly Judiciary Committee Contacts

Rep. Louis Greenwald (D) Phone: 856-435-1247 Email: AsmGreenwald@njleg.org

Rep. Anthony Verrelli (D) Phone: 609-292-0500 Email: AsmVerrelli@njleg.org

Rep. Ellen Park (D) Phone: 201-308-7062 Email: AswPark@njleg.org

Rep. Sterley Stanley (D) Phone: 732-875-3833 Email: AsmStanley@njleg.org

Rep. Carol Murphy (D) Phone: 856-242-2018 Email: AswMurphy@njleg.org

Rep. Roy Freiman (D) Phone: 908-829-4191 Email: AsmFreiman@njleg.org

Your outreach matters. Legislators rely on hearing directly from constituents and NJ residents when considering legislation. Please take a moment today to call or email your Assembly representatives and urge them to support Bill A3578. Together, we can advance policies that promote equality, independence, and opportunity for all.

Hello Access Nature Community,

Excited to share the launch of a new pilot program designed especially for teens in our community — Unstoppable.

Unstoppable is a peer-based program for teens ages 13–20 with Spina Bifida and similar disabilities that is being managed by the Spina Bifida Resource Network. The program is designed to create a welcoming and supportive space where teens can connect with one another, build confidence, strengthen self-advocacy skills, and explore greater independence — all while having fun.
Through group activities and conversations, participants will have opportunities to:

Connect with other teens who share similar experiences
Build friendships and peer support
Develop confidence and independence
Strengthen emotional well-being
Try new activities in a safe, judgment-free environment
Our first gathering will take place:

Registration is required. A parent or guardian must complete the registration form.
If you have a teen who might enjoy connecting with peers and building new skills, we encourage you to register early as space for this pilot program may be limited.

Please click here to download the event flyer for full program details and registration information.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact SBRN at info@thesbrn.org or 908-782-7475, or reach out to Andrea Bachmann-Brady, Program Leader, at 570-234-6957 or onecrazygreek1970@yahoo.com

Disability Rights NJ has released a public notice for a Public Input Survey. The purpose of this survey is to gather information and opinions that will help the organization’s leadership to determine 2027 priorities, goals, and objectives for the protection and advocacy of individuals with disabilities.

The results of this survey are meaningful in order to collect feedback from a wide range of people about disability issues, and this valuable input helps them make decisions about the work they will conduct.

Who they want to hear from:

• People with disabilities
• Family and friends of individuals with disabilities
• Stakeholders and advocates
• State agency representatives
• Court, criminal justice, and law enforcement personnel
• Disability service providers, caregivers, and support personnel
Other individuals and agencies involved in disability advocacy and service provision

Surveys will be accepted until June 2, 2026.

On average, the survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete.

You can download a PDF version – Survey PDF and send it to their office at 210 South Broad Street, Third Floor, Trenton NJ 08608.

Hello All,

April 25th is National Trails Day. The Nature Accessible for All campaign would like to highlight inclusive and accessible opportunities for this year’s Trails Day promoted by the Rails to Trails Conservancy.

This is part of a regional effort to highlight the importance of trails for transportation, recreation, and community development.

This is a great opportunity for community interaction and engagement as well as meeting local decision-makers, potential partners, and stakeholders to experience trail projects firsthand and build momentum around priority projects in your area.

You can use this map to help you locate events happening close to you.