State News Archives - Nature: Accessible 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.

Last year the Nature Accessible for All campaign had awarded several stipends to individuals and other Non-profits who were working on projects to promote inclusion and accessibility in natural areas for those with disabilities.

One awardee is the Raritan Headwaters, which was seeking to complete an accessibility project to construct a 400-foot boardwalk connecting a parking lot to a dock overlooking the property’s beautiful pond, making it accessible for people in wheelchairs. It is with great honoree that we were able to provide assistance to such a wonderful project and make this space more accessible to the community.

You can read the full article from the Raritan Headwaters on there accessibility project – Here

Thank you!

More great news for those advocating for more accessible trails and green spaces for passive recreation. U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver introduced the Parks to People Active Transportation Act, a bill which would dramatically expand federal funding for greenway path projects.

Greenway paths help connect communities to natural spaces and parks, and the bill would specifically work to create equity in access to recreation and the outdoors.

You can view the main story – HERE

There is some exciting news for residents of South Jersey in way of new accessible trails for passive recreation. In a news report Camden County breaks ground on first mile-plus segment of its planned 34-mile LINK Trail between Audubon and Haddon Heights, aiming to finish the off-road path by year’s end.

Read the full article – Camden County LINK Trail