Access to Adventure for People with Disabilities

The pandemic plunged Waypoint Adventure into uncertainty as we tried to figure out a way to reach our community in a safe way. People with disabilities are disproportionately impacted by the COVID crisis. They have always been at risk of social isolation and are now at elevated risk due to more limited opportunities for engagement in meaningful activities during the COVID pandemic.

As the pandemic has persisted, feelings of anxiety, stress, fear, and isolation have been widespread across all demographics, and many people have (re)discovered outdoor adventure as a powerful means to health and enjoyment. However, for those with disabilities, outdoor adventure experiences remain largely inaccessible. For example, one major state initiative for getting people access to the state DCR parks is the Universal Access Program (UAP), which closed at the beginning of the pandemic, and remains closed today with no indication of opening any time soon.

As a result, the Waypoint program staff adapted and changed our business model to identify new ways to provide much needed support to our community. In the early days of the pandemic we launched a wheelchair rental program – bringing adaptive equipment to participant’s homes to allow them to get outdoors. Most significantly, we have pioneered a private lesson program model. Private lessons have been running since June 2020 and will continue running as long as it is safe to do so.

In 2020 we ran 148 programs, serving 549 participants. For reference, in 2019 we ran 144 programs, serving 1,643 participants. That’s 4 more programs than the prior year! During this pandemic our typical program size has dropped from 8-15 people per program to 1-3 people, significantly decreasing the number of people that we were able to serve in 2020. The need now is greater than ever, when many programs have closed or gone completely virtual – Waypoint Adventure has remained open. We now offer private and small group kayaking, hiking, cross country skiing, snow shoeing and cycling lessons.

Another element that we have implemented in response to the pandemic is an online registration process which reduces the time staff spends coordinating programs and increases program capacity. Additionally, Waypoint has developed criteria and training for volunteers and per diem program facilitators to lead private lessons - again increasing program capacity without making it necessary to hire more full-time staff. In 2019, per diem staff led 3 program; 2020 saw 20 programs. We have been in close communication with partner organizations and schools that have typically participated as a group - many of whom have used their budget to send participants individually for a private lesson.

The biggest initiative of 2020 was launching a more extensive scholarship program. Participants on programs are asked to pay 25% of what it costs to run a Waypoint Adventure, as we strongly believe that someone with a disability should not have to pay more than someone without a disability experiencing the same activity, even though the equipment costs and preparation/program customization time needed are much higher. That said, no one is ever turned away. This past year 60% of participants on private lessons have requested (and received) partial to full scholarships. For reference, prior years saw around 30% of participants receiving scholarships.

Your donations helped us to:
• Continue to run programs when many places were shut down.
• Pilot and launch our private lesson/small group programming.
• Receive and make modifications to a GRIT freedom chair.
• Purchase 2 kick sleds (to be used in our current piloted cross country ski program).
• Remove the financial barriers to participation through our scholarship program, allowing everyone to get outdoors.

Just one story from this past year was when we were able to take a 13 year old boy with a recent spinal cord injury out with the GRIT freedom chair. His injury occurred during an ATV accident when he went off a retaining wall. His family reached out to Waypoint to learn more about the adaptive equipment that we have. We let him borrow the GRIT chair, which allows him to independently get around outdoors with his family. He also got to try out the bowhead adaptive bike that allowed this 13 year old boy to truly be a 13 year old with complete independence (and speed).

There are enough physical barriers limiting access these days, the last thing we wanted to add was a financial barrier as well. We are grateful for your continued support of our mission and we look forward to the coming year.

Looking ahead, the outlook for being able to return to group programming is brightening, and the demand has already picked up significantly. As of March 5, 2021, our staff will be fully inoculated – increasing our ability to safely interact with other inoculated populations. Projections for this year are showing a higher demand for programs than we can meet as a staff. We’re diligently looking to hire more program coordinators to be able to meet that demand.

Links:

• To learn more about Waypoint Adventure, check out our website!