SARAH WILL: Thank you. My name is Sarah Will. I am with AXS Vail Valley. We are a nonprofit up in the Vail valley expanding recreation programs and services for people with disabilities, and I just wanted to thank you all for all of the work that you do. It seems so much to so many, and to also to the people in this room who put their time and energy into making the outdoor experience what it should be.
I’m really here just to listen and learn, and just a quick comment that I didn’t see addressed in a lot of the questions here regarding outdoor accessibility in campgrounds and also in our local communities. Our police department has asked the question on accessible bear proof trash cans. It’s kind of off the beaten path here but how do you make it bear proof and accessible at the same time? Very difficult question, and they’ve kind of come to me looking for some answers, and I’ve looked at so many different designs and I was wondering if that was on the on the plan for public parks and also for mountain communities that may have such issues.
That’s about it, and just thank you for all your work and continue on.
[Additional remarks made after all registered speakers concluded their testimony:]
SARAH WILL: I had one comment on regarding the trail access, and to where people might park for accessible parking, and determining the distance to a different type of accessible route, something that would be determined to be a little bit easier to to map that out, so that people know how far they can go.
For instance, somebody who uses a power chair would want to know how far they go before their battery might not give them any more.
PHILIP PEARCE (BOARD MEMBER): And how to get back.
SARAH WILL: And how to get back. They know that information better than we do, and to have some of those people on the committee so that that is well researched, to be a feasible distance for that to happen.
As well as that they are making a lot of devices these days that can access trails. Three wheeled hand cycles. For instance, I just went on a it was a 20 mile ride through some of the roughest terrain that I’ve been on in a long time with 2 foot Jeep trails troughs that are doable with certain equipment.
So to also be aware of the equipment that is available to people with disabilities to access these trails, but not make them so easy in sections that would not be challenging to people without disabilities. Just to know all the options.
And also to well mark the the restroom facilities, so that you can tell how far you can go without having to turn back to your point of origin, and there are so many possibilities with accessible restrooms for people with disabilities just in regular chairs but also for hand cycles, and for a hand cyclist this would be very important to know where there is a wheelchair accessible to transfer off of your hand cycle onto a regular wheelchair to access that bathroom to have it well marked in the basic needs of what people need.