As a Dad of a daughter who experiences disabilities and as a professional who has spent his career working in National, State and City parks conserving nature and building trails, I found myself at odds when I realized a lot of my work that I had felt proud of in the past was just another barrier to accepting my daughter for who she was and preventing her from finding herself and living life to the fullest, especially in nature. WhenRead more

Hiking with a child who uses a wheelchair has its challenges and its opportunities. The first time we tried hiking with our daughter Lydia, we knew nothing about what it would take. Getting ready took us longer than the actual hike! We spent an hour checking and re-checking our packing list, a couple of hours driving to the trailhead, twenty minutes unloading everything from the car and setting up Lydia with all her accessories in the wheelchair. But the accessibleRead more

This week the nation seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when on Tuesday a Minnesota jury delivered the verdict declaring Derek Chauvin guilty on all counts in the death of George Floyd. After a year of unrest and a number of other deaths suffered in the Black community, this verdict is a glimmer of hope for reform and needed change within our systems. At PEAK, we work for inclusion, equity, and social justice, not just for those with disabilities,Read more