Wilderness and Persons with Disabilities

Persons with disabilities are using the National Wilderness Preservation System, and they are receiving a range of benefits from such wilderness use. The means-end theoretical and analysis perspective was used to explore the outcomes and related meanings associated with participating in a wilderness experi­ ence program for people with disabilities as well as those without disabilities. Data were collected through a questionnaire completed by 193 trip participants (74 with disabilities and 119 without disabilities) immedi­ ately after their wilderness experience, and a telephone interview with 29 of those same participants con­ ducted six months later. The wilderness visitors with disabilities are able to transfer the outcomes gained on the wilderness trip into parts of their lives when they return home—parts of their lives such as family, work, and their general perspective on life. The results show that participation in these inclusive wilderness trips results in a higher appreciation of nature and the wilderness for persons with disabilities. In fact, the wilderness environ­ ment is an integral component that generates these benefits. Article co-authors from left: Leo McAvoy, Tom Holman, Marni Goldenberg, and David Klenosky. Background Richards (1997); and Roggenbuck and Driver (2000). HavThe personal benefits that people in general gain from wiling a disability does not preclude persons from visiting derness and wilderness activities have been documented in wilderness, and persons with disabilities are using wildera number of studies. Extensive reviews of this literature are ness and other primitive environments (Lais, McAvoy, and available in papers published by Easley, Passineau, and Driver Frederickson 1992; McCormick 2001). The goal of the study (1990); Ewert and McAvoy (2000); Hattie, Marsh, Neill, and reported here was to develop a better understanding of the