Connecting to nature as a person with disability

24 November 2025

In a recent ABC News article, author Eli Sutherland outlines the challenges associated with getting outdoors and enjoying nature for a person with a disability, including accessibility, and perceptions.

Assumptions about disability that play themselves out in every other aspect of our lives are also there in recreation

It takes a lot of mental and emotional labour to arrange outdoors adventures and can be particularly disappointing if all that labour goes to waste because a hiking trail is unexpectedly inaccessible.

That’s why it’s so refreshing to see organisations like Outdoors Victoria and Outdoors WA showcase disability-friendly activities, and even large mainstream organisations like Melbourne Marathon have taken strides to improve the accessibility of their events.

Disabled people deserve to be able to access the benefits of nature, outdoors spaces, and physical recreation, just like everyone else.

Consider the person, not the disability, and don’t underestimate people.

 Claudia Stevenson, President of Achilles Melbourne

See also All Abilities Inclusion, Outdoors Queensland’s page on disability-friendly outdoor activities