I’m trying to make my Mount St.Helens guides fairly inclusive. But of course I’m a cis white able-bodied childless person, so there are things that it wouldn’t even occur to me to take into account.
So I’m asking for your help. What sorts of things do you need information on? What should I be on the lookout for? When it comes to accessibility, accommodating kids, whatever, how can I help you have a better experience?
I’ve done things like look for kid-friendly hikes and activities, wheelchair-accessible adventures, short hikes for folks with mobility issues, that sort of stuff, but I’m sure I’m overlooking the fine details that would really help people, and I haven’t even begun to consider what folks with sensory, neurological, and other issues may need. I can’t make this guide perfect, of course, but I’d like it to be much better than anything else currently out there. So if you can, please weigh in, and let me know what you need.
Thank you all so much!
You might point out that for folks with fear of heights the latter part of the route (nearer the end) can be intense. Suggest they get someone else to drive the route. (My sister had this problem on the latter parts of the route)
For people with respiratory issues, maybe a short guide to what is in bloom when?
For people with mobility issues who do not use assistive devices (aside from a cane) it would be helpful to know distance and type of terrain, grade of slope, that sort of thing, for unpaved trails. Like, is the trail flat, or does it slope off to one side? Is it smooth or rocky? Are there areas which are convenient for resting?
How far apart are bathrooms spaced? (For some people, it’s not good enough that all the bathrooms are wheelchair-accessible, if they’re four hours’ apart.)