Over the years we’ve come
to realize that “disability” is a very relative
term. Thousands of people with a wide variety of disabling
conditions have traveled with Wilderness Inquiry. On a Wilderness
Inquiry trip, what’s most important is each individual’s
attitude and their willingness to get out and do things.
Our trips are integrated, meaning that each group typically
includes people who have a disability and those who do not.
What brings them together is their interest in doing a wilderness
adventure. We do whatever it takes to make our trips accessible,
but disability is not the overt focus. We just want to get
out there and enjoy the wilderness together.
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WI helped break
down my belief that I will be sitting in my chair, watching
others do what I no longer can do. I was afraid before
the trip, that I was going to be the “disabled”
needing lots of help. No one on this trip ever made
me feel anything like that.
- Nancy D., 50, has paraplegia
This was my first experience
“hanging out” with people with such an array
of disabilities...I was a bit uneasy at first...but
I grew to love everyone on this trip—by the end
of the trip, the disabilities had all but disappeared.
- Kelly B., 34, is nondisabled |
We serve persons with a variety of disabling conditions,
including:
Alzheimer's Disease
Amputation
Asthma
Ataxia
Attention Deficit Disorder
Autism
Blindness/visual Impairment
Cancer
Cerebral Palsy
Chemical Dependency
Coronary Disease
Cystic Fibrosis
Deaf/Hard of Hearing
Developmental Disabilities
Diabetes
Epilepsy & Seizure disorders
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Fibromyalgia
Heart disease
Hepatitis
Huntington's disease
Mental Illness
Multiple Sclerosis
Muscular Dystrophy
Parkinson's Disease
Polio/Post Polio
PTSD
Spina Bifida
Spinal Cord Injuries:
Quadriplegia, Paraplegia
Stroke
Tourette Syndrome
Traumatic Brain Injury |
We also provide adapted equipment as needed, including canoe
and kayak seating, mobility aids, accessible bathroom facilities
and many other things. This gear really helps people participate
as equals, but it is not what makes Wilderness Inquiry
so accessible. The most important element is that we treat
people as equals. We work with everyone to help figure out
what we need to do to maximize full participation in a straightforward,
non-condescending manner. In short, we just do it.
Of course, many people have specific questions about their
ability to participate. Over time, we will add more and more
to this website to try and answer some of the more common
questions (please bookmark this site). In the meantime, please
call or e-mail us if you have questions.
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register for international trips 