Inclusive Outdoor Education: Facilitating Groups That Include People with Disabilities

Abstract

As people with disabilities become increasingly involved in outdoor adventure programming, it becomes the responsibility of the practitioner to facilitate safe and effective inclusive programs. This article introduces the Model of Inclusive Facilitation that leads practitioners through a process of gathering information and learning techniques to facilitate groups that include both people with and without disabilities. The model includes: (a) developing a resource base of written materials and community contacts, (b) addressing personal attitudes as well as learning general language and interaction guidelines, (c) obtaining information specific to a client's disability, (d) designing adaptations to make programs structurally and programmatically accessible, (e) implementing the program, and (f) evaluating the process. The goal of the model is to enable facilitators to be comfortable and competent in including people with disabilities in their programs by developing the ability to focus on participants' abilities rather than disabilities.