Disability Advocate Stories Archives - Nature: Accessible for All

The Best Day Ever documentary follows adaptive mountain bikers Greg Durso and Allie Bianchi as they tackle the daily challenges of disability—and find joy, connection, and belonging in Vermont’s mountain biking community.

Set in the Green Mountains, this is a story of grit, independence, and what’s possible when community and creativity come together. At its heart is the world’s first fully adaptive trail network—built to prove that everyone belongs outside.

Visually stunning and emotionally powerful, Best Day Ever challenges perceptions of disability and celebrates community.

They’re raising funds to expand adaptive trails and equipment access—because for a wheelchair user, a mountain bike isn’t just fun. It’s freedom.

Check out the video and full story – https://www.bestdayever.mov/?blm_aid=2582740493

It is with great eagerness and excitement that we can now count the Accessible Nature Trail at Pemberton Lake as a well-awaited accomplishment for the fight to make outdoor spaces more accessible for individuals of varying abilities. On Friday, October 10th we unveiled the Pemberton Lake Accessible nature trail. This 0.7-mile trail encourages visitors of all abilities and especially those with mobility concerns to explore the forest and lake habitats that the out-and-back trail traverses.

Check out the full article from the Pine Barrens Tribune – https://www.pinebarrenstribune.com/articles/featured-stories/newly-blazed-trail-gives-those-with-mobility-issues-access-to-natures-realm-alongside-pemberton-lake/

The South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO) has announced the launch and development of a Regional Active Transportation Plan (ATP) for Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem Counties. The plan aims to enhance mobility, accessibility, and safety for all residents and visitors by connecting key regional destinations, promoting economic growth, and integrating with larger trails networks in the future. The plan focuses on undeserved communities and incorporates analyses of demographic, safety, and traffic stress factors to develop a comprehensive, interconnected network of active transportation infrastructure. Prioritized improvements and implementation steps are scheduled to begin in 2026. As part of this effort, the SJTPO invites the public to share input on current transportation experiences, travel patterns, challenges, and desired transportation improvements. Your voice is vital in guiding strategies and improvements for a better transportation network for everyone. The survey will be open until November 31, 2025.

• English – https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SJTPOATP
• Spanish – https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SJTPOATPesp

Check out this podcast from 2023. In this episode, Sean explains what he is doing to expand access to natural areas for people of all ability levels and how you can get involved.

Sean is the Access Nature Disability Advocate for Pinelands Alliance. He is focused on preserving, restoring, and interpreting natural and historic resources for current and future generations and ensuring everyone in our diverse collective community has a chance to enjoy the magnificence of New Jersey’s great outdoors.

Podcast Links:

Nature Disability Advocacy With Sean Kane-Holland

Nature Disability Advocacy Wit… – The Pine Barrens Podcast – Apple Podcasts

The United Spinal Association’s Advocacy Department has several popular working groups which provide opportunities for members to organize around the issues that matter most to them. Find out more about each group on their website – Advocacy Working Groups – United Spinal Association and complete the form to join any or all groups.

In this video Access Nature Disability Advocate Sean Holland takes the GRIT for a spin on the beach to test what the capabilities of our new mobility assistive equipment is, for our inclusive nature programs.