Eco-Access champions the rights of disabled people to access nature

Accessible opportunities in the natural environment

Research estimates that between 5 and 12% of South Africans are moderately to severely disabled. This means that up to 5.5 million South Africans, who have special needs, also have the right to user-friendly programmes, facilities and resources.

In addition, there are people using prams, pregnant women, the families of people with disabilities, the frail aged and people with temporary disabilities, such as people using crutches, who benefit from the accessible facilities created through INCLUSIVE DESIGN.

The needs of all people should be included in the planning of all public places. 'All' people includes those who are:

Blind or partially sighted
Deaf or hard of hearing
Intellectually challenged
Mentally ill
Mobility impaired
Temporarily disabled
Children
Mature/aging
Pregnant
Illiterate
Limited by 'unseen' disabilities/diseases (kidney failure, heart failure, lung disease, HIV/AIDS, diabetes etc.)

Click here for further information about INCLUSIVE DESIGN

South African National Parks, as national assets, should be accessible destinations to everyone regardless of their mental, sensory or physical capabilities.

The Delta Environmental Centre (Gauteng Province)
The 180metre long Sasol Sensory Trail was initially conceptualised as a short environmental education trail for disabled people. Through consultation with Eco-Access, it was finally designed as an accessible interactive environmental education experience for the hundreds of learners who pass through the Centre on a weekly basis, including learners who happen to be disabled.

Much to the disappointment of many who expected this trail to be filled with self guiding mechanisms and audio recordings, it is simple, paved, has wide pathways and many interesting stopping points. It blends in with the surrounding environment and is based on the fact that the Centre offers personal interpretation to all groups that visit it.

The de Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre (North West Province) has a programme called ‘Reach for the Wild’. An accessible trail, named the ‘Rob and Julie Filmer Sensory Trail’, allows all people, including disabled people, the opportunity to experience the African bush.

It was also initially conceptualised as a trail for disabled people but now forms the basis of all de Wildt’s environmental education programmes. The environmental education centre is accessible and available for all those who participate in these programmes. Again, this Centre benefits from personal interpretation of the environment being offered to all groups.

SANParks Boulders Beach Boardwalk (Western Cape) is another example where everyone has the opportunity to visit the penguins on the beach using the boardwalk.

Owing to negative pressure from the surrounding community, parking and access to the boardwalk is extremely difficult without prior arrangements being made. However, once on the boardwalk, anyone can use it.

There are many other trails and programmes on which Eco-Access has advised in various parts of south Africa including, apart from those mentioned above, the Rob Filmer Lichen Trail at the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve in the Mpumalanga province, the Rhino Trail at the Berg-en-Dal camp at the Kruger National Park in the Mpumalanga province, the Fossil Trail at the Karroo National Park in the Northern Cape province, the PPC Discovery trail at the Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape province, the Dragonfly walkway and Jacana Bridge and the Kingfisher Birdhide at the Nylsvley Nature Reserve in the Limpopo province, The Palmiet Hiking Trail at the Hottentots Holland Nature reserve in the Western Cape Province and the bird hide and walkway at the Blesbokspruit Nature reserve in the Gauteng Province.